Odyssey [Audiobook, Unabridged] [Audio CD]

Homer (Author), Stanley Lombardo (Narrator, Translator), Susan Sarandon (Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 15, 2006

The classics are rapidly receding from public consciousness, and modern revisions of them, such as the film O Brother, Where Art Thou, are in genuine danger of never being linked to their original inspiration. Noted classicist Stanley Lombardo breathes new life into one of the most famous and beloved ancient works with an engaging and vibrant audio performance of Homer's Odyssey. This state-of-the-art compact disc recording provides high-quality access to one of the greatest works in world literature.

“Lombardo has brought his laconic wit and love of the ribald . . . to his version of the Odyssey. His carefully honed syntax gives the narrative energy and a whirlwind pace. The lines, rhythmic and clipped, have the tautness and force of Odysseus’ bow.”—Chris Hedges, The New York Times Book Review

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The definitive English version of Homer for our time." -- The Common Review

From the Publisher

The translation (published in print by Hackett Publishing Company in 2000) and narration are by Stanley Lombardo, Professor of Classics at the University of Kansas. He is an award-winning translator and an acclaimed performer.

Susan Sarandon, Academy Award® winning actress, guides the listener through the Iliad / the Odyssey / the Essential Iliad / the Essential Homer by reading the engaging introduction, the background stories and synopses. [for each of the 24 books.]

The Common Review
"The definitive English version of Homer for our time."

"The quality of Lombardo's voice, which has an honest, unshowy American core, makes these performances sound fresh, intimate, and believable--very different from those theatricized oral interpretations that overplay the "epic" note." -- Richard P. Martin, Stanford University

"The excellence of Lombardo's performance can't be lauded too much. There's no other translator of the world's greatest poetry that is also a world-class reader." -- Douglass Parker, UT at Austin

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Publisher: Parmenides Audio; Unabridged edition (March 15, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1930972067
• ISBN-13: 978-1930972063
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.4 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #441,917 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #67 in Books > Books on CD > Poetry & Drama
  • #70 in Books > Books on CD > Literature & Fiction > Poetry
  • #89 in Books > Books on CD > Literature & Fiction > Drama

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If it can help 8th graders, it can help anyone!, June 17, 2007

By 

G.G. (Millington, TN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Odyssey (Audio CD)

I purchased this to accompany the class set of "The Odyssey" for my 8th grade Reading students. I thought the reading was excellent, and my students loved hearing it aloud, as it is meant to be enjoyed. It helped their comprehension immensely-they rarely had questions when listening, while they asked numerous questions when trying to read alone. There are a few places where the book and the cd do not match exactly, but it's never more than one word at a time. The introductions are, however, often not quite accurate-the information is not always with the proper chapter. The information is correct, just misplaced.

5.0 out of 5 stars Students loved it, September 28, 2010

By 

DKO - See all my reviews

This review is from: Odyssey (Audible Audio Edition)

I used the audio version of Stanley Lombardo's Odyssey with college sophomores, without a written version, to try to capture the oral nature of the original experience. The students loved it, and our discussions were very good; different, but not less precise, than with a written text. I've also used Ian McKellen's audio version of Robert Fagles' translation. Lombardo reading Lombardo was better: I liked Lombardo's rapid, concrete American storytelling. Highly recommended.

7 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars OK substance, weak packaging., March 8, 2008

By 

Kenneth D. Gartrell "www.kengartrell.com/BLOG/" (Boston, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Odyssey (Audio CD)

This product can lead to a waste of time and money if you are not careful.

It is a difficult product to review. The subtraction by addition of Susan Sarandon generally starts out with all the wrong ideas. Her contribution is screechy, preachy and inartistic.

It is also exhausting and irritating to listen to a translation when someone thinks that Anglo-Saxon profanity adds anything to a work that was not first written in Anglo-Saxon profanity.

The product packaging, finally, is out of date because it is awkward to add in an iTunes digital/music database system.

Lower costs by not spending the money for a CD version, and download at a lower cost. Perhaps in a downloaded format it will also be easier to shed the useless appendage of the Sarandon commentaries -- which give a tacky "Bull Durham Effect."

Mr. Lombardo has a decent translation, but he is also far too amateur at voice and diction to read his own text. His voice is strained and flat. Much poetry is sacrificed to the delivery.

There are better versions of this classic by other authors. So, look around before buying this one.