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Few literary works carry the burden of that of Homer. The Odyssey. Believed to have been composed practically 3,000 years in the past, the traditional Greek epic was principally loved by college students of classical literature and followers of historical historical past. However Christopher Nolan’s formidable movie adaptation – starring Matt Damon, Elliot Web page, Zendaya, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Travis Scott, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, Lupita Nyong’o and others – introduces this legendary universe to a wider viewers.
Launched in theaters on July 17, the Common Photos movie is Nolan’s newest challenge after Oppenheimer in 2023 and was produced with a reported finances of $250 million. However for these seeking to perceive the story – and rapidly – earlier than watching the movie, an audiobook provides a shortcut to considered one of literature’s longest tales.
Over the centuries, translations of this written epic have come to quantity over 500 pages, detailing the decade-long journey of Odysseus as he makes an attempt to return residence from the Trojan Battle. However on Audible, a number of audio variations of The Odyssey – informed by famend performers and students – introduced new vitality to Homer’s historical poem in just some hours.
Here is a take a look at the perfect audiobook variations of The Odyssey which you’ll take heed to on-line now. A bonus: Amazon is at the moment providing a limited-time Audible provide that provides you entry for simply $0.99/month in your first three months of service. The provide additionally features a $20 web site credit score. Use Audible to stream hundreds of audiobooks, podcasts, and on-line playlists. You additionally obtain one digital obtain monthly that you simply hold, even for those who cancel your subscription. See all the main points right here.
READ BY CLAIRE DANES
The Odyssey: audio version
Emily Wilson’s translation of The Odyssey arrived in 2017 as the primary English translation of Homer’s epic by a girl. Narrated by Claire Danes, this unabridged Audible Studios version was launched the next 12 months, clocking in at 13 hours and 32 minutes.
The audiobook has a 4.6 ranking from over 4,000 Audible listeners, making it a broadly liked introduction to Homer’s masterpiece. One critic described the translations as “so accessible” to fashionable listeners.
READ BY DAN STEVENS
The Odyssey: the Fitzgerald translation
Robert Fitzgerald’s well-known translation of The Odysseyfirst printed in 1961, has turn into one of the influential English variations of Homer’s poem.
Narrated by Downton Abbey former Dan Stevens, the entire Macmillan Audio version was launched in 2014 and is 10 hours and quarter-hour lengthy.
Stevens’ theatrical vocals complement Fitzgerald’s lyrical fashion, creating an immersive listening expertise. The audiobook earned an Audible ranking of 4.7 from over a thousand listeners.
Learn by Ian McKellen
The Odyssey
Translation by Robert Fagles in 1996 The Odyssey is among the many most well-known fashionable interpretations of Homer’s epic. Narrated by Ian McKellen, the unabridged Penguin Audio version was launched in 1999, lasting 13 hours and three minutes.
McKellen’s dramatic Shakespearean voice is completely suited to this historical story, through which Odysseus encounters gods, creatures and unattainable obstacles. The audiobook has an Audible ranking of 4.5 from over 3,500 listeners and stays a favourite amongst followers of traditional literature.
Learn by Benedict Cumberbatch
The Final Iliad and Odyssey: Full Dramatizations
BBC Radio 4 introduced The Odyssey got here to life with an all-star forged in 2005, with Benedict Cumberbatch enjoying Telemachus, the son of the titular protagonist.
Accessible on Audible, the audiobook additionally consists of its precursor, The Iliadas a part of a 15-book collection. One of many shorter variations of the journey, the BBC stream The Odyssey was re-released in 2026 and is at the moment primary on Amazon’s historical historical past audiobook rankings. This stream lasts three hours and 49 minutes.
Take heed to this model of The Odyssey for $0.99 or stream it without spending a dime on-line with a free trial of Audible Normal right here.
READ AND STEPHEN FRY
Odyssey: Greek myths reinvented
that of Stephen Fry, Odyssey: Greek myths reinventedprovides a story moderately than a direct translation of Homer’s authentic poem.
Launched in 2025, this unabridged audiobook from Chronicle Books is 10 hours and 37 minutes lengthy and narrated by Fry himself. Because the fourth installment in his “Mythos” collection, it earned a formidable Audible ranking of 4.9 from 1,400 listeners, interesting to each mythology newcomers and longtime readers of classics. It’s also the present primary bestseller on Amazon’s Greek historical past audiobook chart.
The brand new Odyssey The movie stars Damon within the title function, Holland enjoying Odysseus’s son, Telemachus, Hathaway enjoying Odysseus’s spouse, Penelope, and Theron because the nymph, Calypso (Theron). Pattinson performs Penelope’s suitor, Antinous, who plans to marry the queen and turn into ruler of Ithaca.