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The Odyssey cover art

The Odyssey

Written by: Homer, D. S. Carne-Ross, Robert Fitzgerald - translator
Narrated by: Dan Stevens
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Publisher's Summary

"In classical Greece men called rhapsodes memorized and recited “The Iliad” and “The Odyssey.” My own rhapsode is the English actor Dan Stevens, whom fans of “Downton Abbey” will know as Matthew Crawley. He’s been performing the Robert Fitzgerald translation, and no Hellene could do it better." — Wall Street Journal

Robert Fitzgerald's translation of The Odyssey has been the standard translation for more than three generations of students and poets. Macmillan Audio is delighted to publish the first ever audio edition of this classic work, the greatest of all epic poems. Fitzgerald's supple verse is ideally suited for audio, recounting the story of Odysseus' long journey back to his wife and home after the Trojan War. Homer's tale of love, adventure, food and drink, sensual pleasure, and mortal danger reaches the English-language listener in all its glory.

In keeping with the oral tradition of the time, Dan Stevens, whose many celebrated performances include Downton Abbey's Matthew Crawley, makes this epic tale come alive. The listener becomes totally immersed in the adventure and drama of the story—this is the way The Odyssey was meant to be experienced.

Also included on the program is a portion of the poem read in ancient Greek so that listeners may experience the lyricism and music of the original language.

©1998 Farrar, Straus and Giroux, Inc. (P)2014 Macmillan Audio

What the critics say

“Fitzgerald's smooth, musical verse is perfectly matched in this performance by the light, honeyed tones of Dan Stevens, the British actor who played Matthew Crawley in the first three seasons of "Downton Abbey." Stevens has beautiful, clear articulation, and wonderful pacing, and he really seems to enjoy the poetry of the words. I confess that I could listen to him all day.” —The Boston Globe

“The lightness of Fitzgerald's touch, his almost conversational poetry, is well suited to the spoken word and to an audio version. His translation is in turn well served by the audio production... The reader is the talented actor Dan Stevens… his tone is not conventionally ‘bardic,' which is to say not dark, ponderous or declamatory, but rather young, bright and noble – as if King Harry had decided to deliver Homer instead of his St. Crispin's Day speech.” —The New York Times

What listeners say about The Odyssey

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It's a classic for a reason

Poetic, full of life lessons, hauntingly beautiful narration.

In university (I am a drop out) the Professor asked us all to get this transaltion and instead I got Fagle's. The teacher was right. This Odesey I will read again and again, plus by different translators for sure anyway. As someone from a Hinduism-lite background it reminds me in some ways of the Ramayana, but without my adolescent 'but who's the supreme diety?' personal anguish of reading Vedic scriptures.

I love hearing the decsription of dawn every time. Men kill, cry, get lost, distracted, abused and forebear up to a limit in this book.

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A timeless epic

A beautiful epic performed beautifully by the narrator. I loved the translation and the way it was read by the narrator. I don’t need to search for a better translation.

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Dan Stevens does it again!

Well done! Enjoyed Fitzgeralds translation and as usual, Dan Stevens does a marvelous job as narrator.

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