The Iliad (OP) [Abridged, Audiobook] [Audio CD]

Homer (Author), Derek Jacobi (Narrator), Robert Fagles (Translator), Bernard Knox (Introduction)

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Translator ROBERT FAGLE is chairman of the Department of Comparative Literature at Princeton University.

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Publisher: Penguin-HighBridge; Abridged edition (January 24, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1565119312
• ISBN-13: 978-1565119314
• Product Dimensions: 5.9 x 5.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,210,476 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sir Derek Jacobi's masterful reading is pure pleasure, October 23, 2005

By 

T. Luck "theloniusluck" (Boh.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Iliad (OP) (Audio CD)

I recall asking a bookseller years ago if he had this Jacobi audio narration of The Iliad in his store. His response, "We don't do audio. Bookstores are for books." Fine and dandy. But The Iliad was an oral poem to begin with, and for those who want to hear it, regardless of having read it or not, there is no better place to start. Yes, it is abridged, but the choice of abridgement seems sensible, though I would have preferred the poem in its entirety. Another reviewer refers to Jacobi, a mentor of Kenneth Branaugh, as the greatest living Shakespearean actor. Though there are many fine Shakespearean actors currently performing around the world in dozens of fascinating roles, it is easy to imagine that Jacobi is one of the finest. His reading of Homer's ILIAD is intense and riveting and a must for fans of the poem in English. PS: Check out Jacobi in his most brilliant performance as the lead in I, Claudius (available on DVD and VHS).

N.B. : this Robert Fagles translation/Derek Jacobi narrated audio version is also available on AUDIO CASSETTE (here at amazon)

Sir Ian McKellen's very fine narration of Fagles' translation of The Odyssey in an unabridged audio cassette recording is available for purchase here at amazon.com.

Sir Derek Jacobi's narration of Allen Mandelbaum's translation of The Odyssey is available in abridged CD or audio cassette versions, also here at [...]. As I am a big fan of Jacobi, it is odd that I've not yet listened to his Odyssey reading.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Buy for Those Who Hate to Read, March 7, 2005

By 

Confederate (Bethesda, MD) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Iliad (OP) (Audio CD)

Reading's wonderful. There's nothing like curling up with one and leaving reality for an hour or two. But it's even nicer to lay back, close one's eyes and listen to this wonderful classic tale told by the greatest living Shakespearian actor on the planet. And this translation of the Iliad is perfect for such storytelling.

A friend, criticizing Brad Pitt's Achilles in the recent movie TROY, complained that Pitt's portrayal of the world's greatest warrior was one who was too much of a philosopher and cynic. "Just like Homer's Achilles," I reminded him. And there's no shortage of Achilles' righteous indignation at the pompous Agamemnon, son of Atreus, who sacrificed his only daughter, Iphigenia, to Artimis for favorable winds to ill-fated Troy. Given this, it should be no trouble choosing sides: Agamemnon, the great king of kings or Achilles, of whom Agamemnon called "the most dangerous man I've ever met."

Jacobi first came to the attention of many Americans for his portrayal of the Roman Emperor Claudius Drusus Nero Germanicus, the wily old republican who became the adoptive father of Nero, the mad emperor. Since the death of Lawrence Olivier, Jacobi has generally been regarded as the greatest living Shakespearian actor. Olivier, in his last days, apparently disagreed, saying Jacobi was greater than he. In the midst of all this modesty and tribute, the viewer/listener will have to come to his or her own conclusion.

This is a wonderful CD.