The Iliad

Anton Lesser gives a successful and engaging presentation of one the world's oldest stories. Johnston's modern translation maintains several traditions of the ancient rhetorical style, and Lesser honors the patterns of repeated names and titles without hurrying or rushing through the many honorifics. Lesser smoothly moves from narrating the action to voicing the different characters. He doesn't overplay the difference between men and women, gods and goddesses, but makes minor adjustments in his tone or pace to suggest the nature of the character. Lesser's British accent is pleasing, and his pronunciation of Greek place names and characters is accurate. R.F. (c) AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine

To listen to a good translation of Homer's works artfully rendered by a skilled oral interpreter is always a delight to a spoken-word audiophile. The spirit of the original rhapsodes (literally, stitchers of tales), who were able to "sing" the stories of Achilles, Odysseus, and the battle of Troy while accompanying themselves with a lyre, is now being reborn with wonderful recorded versions. IN Audio's production of Homer's complete work is a very acceptable choice. Using Samuel Butler's nineteenth-century translation, John Lescault's narration is polished and clear, with subdued vocal characterizations. At times Lescault does sound a bit liturgical, as if he were intoning a sacred text in a cathedral instead of entertaining a relaxed company of imbibing guests in a marble palace. Still, the story is so strong that listeners can easily lose themselves in a time when gods and men fought for the beautiful Helen. P.W. (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine

This excellent abridgment achieves the rare distinction of rendering the whole work more accessible. The sharpened narrative arc increases the emotional intensity of this most ancient and exciting of war stories, yet all the most moving speeches remain. Atmospheric details abound. Narrator Anton Lesser inhabits the characters--men and gods--speaking their words with fluidity. Only the first few books seem rushed. Characters are mentioned in quick succession; one almost envisions the Achaeans and Trojans trotting from their locker rooms onto the field as their names and positions are announced. Once introduced, however, the warriors battle to their honorable ends, and the listener is gripped by the story's unrelenting pace. Orchestral selections herald each segment, highlighting the gravity and profundity of the poem's themes. J.L.B. (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine

Petulant gods and goddesses champion their favorite mortal heroes in this immortal tale of the fall of Troy. Samuel Butler's translation shines in this abridgment of the classic epic poem. Roger Rees's narration is impeccable, giving each character just enough nuance to bring it to life without losing the rhythm of the narrative. The production opens and closes with something like a Greek chorus and is punctuated throughout with bits of instrumental music. These moments give the listener a few seconds' pause amidst the clash of arms, while lending an air of authenticity to the scenes. J.J.F. (c) AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine

The magnificence of this timeless tale is highlighted by the eloquent reading of George Guidall. His guttural anger; sprightly joys; loud, authoritative commands; quiet, tender tones; and pithy asides hold the listener's attention from the very first book. He has the strength and stamina of Achilles and Agamemnon themselves, and his performance demonstrates a deep understanding of the epic, making this audiobook a fine teaching tool. There's no doubt that the best place for this tape is the high school or college classroom. Students will enjoy and understand the massive work so much better when their own reading is augmented by Guidall's masterful interpretation. D.D.G. Winner of AUDIOFILE Earphones Award (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Robert Fagles's vigorous, celebrated translation of THE ILIAD receives a lively and engaging reading from renowned actor Derek Jacobi in this abridged production of Homer's classic. Set near the end of the Trojan War, the story is less a battlefield drama than a grand-scale, ancient soap opera in which a trifling contest among the gods has wrought the devastating ten-year siege of Troy and stirred all of the most familiar and primal human passions--love, jealousy, hatred, honor, loyalty, betrayal--among a large and convincingly human cast. Jacobi's characterizations are superb; the main players are distinct and clearly drawn--from Achilles, in his famous snit, to diffident Paris, heroic Hector, and the meddlesome gods themselves. M.G. (c) AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine

This audio presentation does a good job of making Homer's text accessible to contemporary listeners and giving a sense of what hearing this epic poem might have been like for ancient Greeks. Susan Sarandon's introductions to each book of the poem are a large part of the production's accessibility. Her delivery is balanced and engaged, but somewhat distant; the summaries of the action will help keep listeners from getting lost. By contrast, Stanley Lombardo's narration is more of a performance as he enters into the drama of the Trojan War. Lombardo clearly relishes the intense imagery of the poem, nearly chanting the metaphors Homer piles up to evoke this mythic battle. G.T.B. (c) AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine

Whatever one thinks of Mitchell's new--and controversial--translation of Homer's epic poem of love and war, it begs to be read aloud. Listeners may choose not to wade through the lengthy introduction, read by Mitchell himself, which contains lots of helpful background information about ancient Greek society but unnecessary recitation of long swaths of the poetry. Those who do will be rewarded by Alfred Molina's rich tones and robust narrative style when the original poetry begins in Book One with "The rage of Achilles--sing it now, goddess, sing through me." Impeccable pacing and subtle inflections, along with plenty of vocal punch for the battle scenes and confrontational dialogue, make the sometimes coarse vernacular feel appropriate to what Mitchell calls the "spirit of the text." Let's hope we get to hear Molina finish the story for us in THE ODYSSEY. S.G. (c) AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine

One recognizable characteristic of THE ILIAD in any translation is its extensive dialogue. Every character, mortal or otherwise, has something to say--and it's usually a lot. Dan Stevens has a gift for dialogue, so it's little surprise that his performance of this title is highly enjoyable. Whether listeners are familiar with the genre or coming to it cold, Stevens takes Robert Fitzgerald's translation and becomes a one-man show, making it accessible and exciting. One small criticism of his performance is that Stevens sometimes gets so invested in the dialogue that he speaks a bit too quickly for every word to sink in--but this never continues for long, and it takes nothing away from its overall value. N.J.B. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine

We don't know much about Homer, but we do know that he didn't write for readers--he wrote for listeners. Narrator Dominic Keating makes some small concessions to the modern ear, lightening his voice to indicate a female speaker and changing his tone or accent slightly when two or more men are speaking. But mostly he leaves Homer in control, giving us a bardic version as a single singer would have delivered it. Caroline Alexander's faithful and forceful translation is served well by this approach. She approximates the hexameter cadences of the original (within the limits of English) so that Keating can drive us through the action scenes without losing the tenderness of Andromache's few moments of love and loss of Hector. D.M.H. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine

Tony Award-winning actor Audra McDonald performs Emily Wilson's new translation of one of the world's oldest stories. The ten-year war between the Greeks and the Trojans nears its end, but Achilles, the mightiest warrior of his time, refuses to continue fighting after receiving a gross insult from Agamemnon. Without Achilles, the Greeks begin losing droves of warriors, and the Trojans can almost taste their long-fought-for victory. McDonald gives a performance for the ages as she narrates this epic with a masterful sense of rhythm, drawing out the suspense of the back-and-forth between the Greeks and the Trojans. Her voice captures the clamor and clash of war, bringing to our mind's eye the deadly battle between men and gods alike. K.D.W. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine