The Odyssey (Dramatized)

By: Homer, Simon Armitage - dramatisation

Narrated by: Tim McInnerny, Amanda Redman, full cast

"My fame is written in the heavens, and my fate too..." So speaks Odysseus as he starts to recount his struggles to sail home to Ithaca, in one of the greatest pieces of storytelling in Western literature. The Odyssey is his incredible traveller's tale, and also the story of his faithful wife Penelope who waits for him, besieged by suitors, and their son Telemachus who has a quest of his own.

In a 20-year journey, fabulous fantasy mixes with extraordinary reality as Odysseus encounters enchantresses, nymphs, monsters, prophets, and ghosts. From the temptations of the lotus flowers and the Sirens' song to the horrors of the Cyclops' cave and the Land of the Dead, the story of his encounters is riveting. We hear of Circe, who turned his men into swine; Calypso, who held Odysseus prisoner for seven years; and the dreadful six-headed monster Scylla who devoured some of his crew. And we hear of the Gods, who have a vital role to play...

Dramatised by major contemporary poet Simon Armitage to celebrate the return of the Olympics to Athens, this full-cast production brings Odysseus's adventures to vivid life, conveying all the excitement, suspense, and poetry of the original. A stunning aural rollercoaster ride, The Odyssey will have your heart in your mouth and stir your soul.

©2004 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2004 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

The Odyssey never disappoints - A story for the ages

This is a wonderful dramatization of the most moving story of all time. The performances, all of them were superb. McInnerny brought the wily hero to life and the others from Penelope to Zeus reached dramatic mastery. The story, is of course, a cornerstone of Western literature and culture. It is essentially the handbook of how and what it is to love, to be faithful and to be a man.

Fantastic!

This audio book was Fantastic! This was my first audio book and it got me hooked on "Dramatized" books. A must have.

This was great

This was my first audio book download and I was truly impressed. This was a great dramatization and I recommend it to everyone. The voices were professional and easy to listen to. And the whole production was also professional and enjoyable

LOVE IT

I have listened to this more times than I remember! What a wonderful performance, I saw every scene. Thank you to everyone!!!!

Sing in me, Muse, and through me review

What made the experience of listening to The Odyssey (Dramatized) the most enjoyable?

The vast range of voices used for the characters and the many different sound effects.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Odysseus, because he is who the story is focused around. With out him there is no Odyssey.

Have you listened to any of the narrators’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No but I am more than willing to try anything BBC puts out now.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me appreciate Homer even more. His stories are timeless and forever will be timeless.

Any additional comments?

If you like Greek mythology or Homer you need to listen to this, just don't use it as your main source of the Odyssey as there are missing or very briefly touched upon points in the story. Also a lot of the dialog is different, its slightly more modern.

Haven’t enjoyed Greek Mythology this much since God of War 3

A master class of storytelling and acting all in one package. I’ve never really experienced this epic story before, but was a wonderful way to get me introduced to Homer’s epics. Plus Cumberbatch is in this! If you love audio dramas, great acting, and/or great stories, this is a must listen!

Great Adaptation

Makes the characters real. Ancient story that feels contemporary. Production values,music, acting first rate. One of the best full cast audio productions I've ever heard.

An epic tale given a fitting treatment.

Homer's grand tale of Odysseus returning from the battle of Troy is meant to be heard, not read. This is a tale recounted around hearths and fireplaces for centuries, and it's lost nothing over all those years. Tim McInnerny is perfectly cast as Odysseus, weary and homesick warrior whose only desire is to see his beloved homeland of Ithica once more. McInnerny (known for his role as Percy and Darling on Blackadder) gives the role of Odysseus its full complexity - the bravado, grandeur, honour, wisdom, hubris, humility, fragility and desperation that the role requires. They couldn't have chosen better. This is a grand telling of an epic tale. Listen and be enchanted.

Outstanding

outstanding stellar performance. beautifully executed . great sound and music and acting is really superb.

Home Run

I wanted to get exposure to the story, but had always feared it would be dry and tough going. The dramatized version definitely added to the entertainment value and made the story much easier to pay attention to. I would highly recommend this dramatized version.