The Iliad: The Fitzgerald Translation

I bought this used and had to return it because of water (?) damage to the packaging, but I got the same item from the library, and it's a suburb translation and reading. Highly recommended.

Overall, this is a hell of a production. Dan Stevens does a great job with delivering all the thousands of lines of the Iliad and keeps it lively and dramatic. Even the roll call of captains and companies works very well. I've included all the chapters on my phone and have mixed them in with my morning drive-time music. Any random book or chapter just works on it's own. Very, very cool and looking forward to getting the Fitzgerald Odyssey audio book soon.The Fitzgerald translation is my favorite version of The Iliad, and one of the reasons is his use of the Greek name forms. Instead of Achilles and Ajax, he has Akhilleus and Aias. Unfortunately, the audio version, while beautifully delivered and very moving, has changed the names back to the Latinate forms. *sigh* Had to take off a star, from an otherwise perfect project.

The reader is too young, too soft, too inexperienced in the ways of war, women, and wondering far away from home. He has never lost a soul in battle, at least that is what he sounds like. He sounds "squeaky." He sounds as if the only wondering that he has ever done has been trying to figure out which campus coffee shop to go to - there is no bronze in his tongue, no mettle in his words. His tongue is coated with milk. When I listen to this I cannot feel the drums of the Boeotian, and through his voice I cannot hear the echoing mummer from the oars of the Achaeans as they strike then skim over the surface of the wine dark sea. His oars sound like ping-pong paddles in a hot tub in Brighton. His education is good and his accent is cute; now he needs to lift some weights, get into a cage match and lose a few a bout or two. Then, then I would like to hear him once more in about 20 years. Why didn't they find a veteran of the Greek army who speaks English to read this? Haven't they read it? I suppose the thing that they don't get is that the Spirit of Homer is still alive and men still wonder after trying to return home from war. Like the pages of Homer, that will never change. Maybe to better capture our times they should have gotten Barnie the Dinosaur to read it with an RP accent?

Wonderful narration by Dan Stevens and fantastic translation.This is perfect for someone like me, who commutes to work and never had readthe Iliad in school and wants to know what it is all about. Fascinating to hear something written 2500 years ago.Delighted with this purchase.It is rare I can say I am 100% Satisfied, but I am.

If you have never been angry you have no reason to harken to Homer. Almost everyone else will be steadied by listening to Dan Stevens beautifully articulated, intelligently disciplined reading of Robert Fitzgerald's dramatic translation. Here you may begin to surf the "one great wave" of song that travels to us "from Troy."

This is a superb translation. It is eloquent yet clear and not difficult to read. I also have the Dan Stevens CD as an accompaniment. When Mr. Stevens reads the text I feel as though I am sitting and listening in the Downton Abbey library. He interprets the words beautifully.

Very clear and well readI found this more understandable than the book

Fitzgerald's translation has always been my favorite, so I am very happy to have this recording and hear the sounds rather than reading it silently.