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Title: The Odyssey of Homer (Dramatization)

Author: Yuri Rasovsky

Narrator: full cast

Length: 7 hrs and 36 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-13-04

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 34 votes

Genres: Classics, Greek & Roman

Publisher's Summary:

Now, 22 years after its first airing, Blackstone is pleased to rescue this outstanding production from undeserved obscurity. These recordings have been mastered from unaltered air-checks of the original broadcasts. Here is all the drama, poetry, and excitement of Homer brought to life by skilled actors. For the fullest appreciation and understanding, each of the eight episodes is accompanied by a brief documentary illuminating a key aspect of ancient culture or Homeric art.

This is the story of a man (a hero) who inhabits three worlds: first of all, the world of his own reality (his wife, his son, his home); secondly, the world of myth in which gods and demigods sport and battle; and finally, the world of sorcerers and monsters, of magic and ghosts and unspeakable terrors. The exploration and interweaving of these three worlds contribute significantly to the delight that The Odyssey's audience has experienced throughout the ages.

Critic Reviews:

"The adaptation and writing are superb, the sound effects and music are layered in subtly and effectively, and the fine acting humanizes a challenging classic....The episodes have a richness that invites a second hearing. The series is a rare and wonderful blend of storytelling, drama, and learning." (AudioFile)

Members Reviews:

Lack of Editing Makes Listening Tedious

This is a very enjoyable rendition when it is actually telling the story. The cast is great & the audio trick to indicate when a god is speaking through a mortal is neat. The problem is that the original multipart broadcast is presented unedited (as far as I can tell). That means that each episode ends with a preview of next week's episode & the credits. Then the next episode begins with a recap of last week. There are also interuptions to tell you how to get a free study guide (numerous times), and stuff like Ray Bradbury telling you that modern technology is great. There are also places where they pause to explain certain things in the text that might confuse a modern listener & these are welcome.

If this had been edited into one whole presentation, it would be 5 stars easy. But as it is, it is almost too annoying to enjoy.

Needs editing.

While I like it as a "lite" version of the Oddyssey, and the voice acting in the story itself is good - the commercials and interruptions are incredibly annoying - and take up much of the total time of the listen.

This audiobook is a direct translation from the ratio - without the removal of commercials, or, the intro and outro segments of each session. I would guess that at least 10 min of each of the seven segments is wasted time - that is about 70 min of audio that is totally useless to the modern listener.

The gods wreck their vengeance on the listener

Whew! Don't take my word for how bad this is. Just listen to the sample.

The production style is very self-consciously fiftyish, including the "announcer guy" you hear. This sort of reminds me of an academic production, something that would have been performed on a college stage. It's very histrionic. In their attempt at theatricality, the nuanced sensitivity of the Homeric lines are lost. You need absolutely first class actors and a gifted director to pull off something like this. None of those elements are in place here, unfortunately.

Unlistenable

Would you try another book from Yuri Rasovsky and/or Full Cast?

No.

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Title: Moby Dick (Dramatized)

Author: Herman Melville

Narrator: full cast

Format: Abridged

Length: 2 hrs

Language: English

Release date: 02-02-01

Publisher: Monterey SoundWorks

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 25 votes

Genres: Classics, Kids & Young Adults

Publisher's Summary:

This exciting full-cast presentation is like nothing you've ever heard before!

Critic Reviews:

"Superb multi-cast performances. This is more than just another reading of the classic, it's a unique theatre experience. The result is a dramatic, moving rendition which will delight those who have been reluctant to take on the great white in written word." (Reviewer's Bookwatch)

Members Reviews:

I am not saying that the book is bad, far from it

Not what I suspected. I have always heard that this book was a study on obsession and rage but that makes up an incredibly small portion of the book. It is really more of a textbook about whaling in the 19th century. I am not saying that the book is bad, far from it. What I am saying is that I am glad that I read it because it filled a gap in my literary knowledge, but having said that, I will never have to read it again.

A study in symbolism, or just a well-told story...

So far, so good. I'm 12 chapters in and thoroughly enjoying Melville. It's been awhile since I've read this and remember getting pretty bogged down once the detailed discussion of the use of whale by-products begins (although I do remember learning several new words for "oily").

The book was a free download and the audible version was 99 cents. I've decided to start listening to the classics while I take my dog for her daily 4 mile walk. Being a cheapskate I'm starting with the free books and the 99 cent audible companions. With a Dostoyevsky and a D.H. Lawrence under my belt, I thought I'd take a spin with Melville.

Perhaps listening to the description of whale by-products will be more entertaining than reading it. I think Melville's style lends itself well to being read aloud. I don't remember chuckling so much while reading his descriptions of things and I have been having those descriptions read to me.

The book can be enjoyed on many levels, but I don't think you need to be a literature geek to appreciate the story being told by the main character. If you want to get beyond that and delve into all the symbolism contained here, you may do so; but you may also enjoy just seeing the world through Ishmael's eyes -- he's quite a character (pun intended).

Moby Dick for non English majors.

I am a non English major, so no comments on the opinion. I had never read this book in school. I give this four stars only because of the general information about the whaling industry. I find the style of prose hard to read, although I would have to say in many places it is effective. The book, through the author's or character's observations, describes in a fair amount of detail of life, conditions and use for the whaling industry. There is some condemnation of the uses of parts of the whale by the rich while detailing the lives of the whalers. Without being overly dramatic, the book details hunting of whales, butchering of the whales and the life and dangers of the crew. I won't say why, but I thought the ending was a pretty big letdown. As for all the English majors who want to discuss the meaning and parables about Ahab and chasing the white whale, huh? While much was said of Ahab and his obsession with Moby Dick, the book in its whole seems more of a way to tell readers about all aspects of whaling.

Takes time but well spent it is!

This novel is a ragbag of styles and content.

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Title: The Tale of Troy

Author: Benedict Flynn

Narrator: Benjamin Soames

Format: Unabridged

Length: 2 hrs and 37 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-26-00

Publisher: Naxos AudioBooks

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 14 votes

Genres: Classics, Kids & Young Adults

Publisher's Summary:

There was once a time, nearly four thousand years ago, when the tall towers of a city called Troy reached gleaming into the sky; when its proud king fought against an invading army in a desperate siege. The Tale of Troy was so important to the ancient Greeks that its author, Homer, became a kind of hero. Long after his death artists, thinkers, and ordinary people still look to his tale for inspiration. This exciting version of the famous story is retold especially for eight 13-year-olds.

Editorial Reviews:

In mythology, the Trojan War was the last great adventure of the heroic age, resonating in complex strands throughout the entire Greek-speaking world. Youngish Benjamin Soames delivers an exciting interpretation of the text. Its really several cycles of terrific yarns - sexy, violent, funny, tragic and full of memorable characters. Perhaps because of this, plus the elements of fantasy and magic, Troy has become a favorite subject to divert children. This adaptation is intended for 8 to 13-year-olds. The musical punctuation adds considerably to the thrills.

Members Reviews:

Great Fun

I really enjoyed this tale. The narratation was terrific and made the characters come alive. It is a great way to learn about Greek mythology for young adults as well as more mature ones like myself. Read this before the The Adventures of Odysseus.

Fine

It is just an abridged version of the Iliad better for children, but I would recommend the real thing.

Great stuff

This is a great yarn very well told and with a lot to offer. It serves as a nice little over view of the Ilyad by Homer or a good introduction to great classics in general. But it's also a good story, full of great characters and compromised heroes, those Trojan boys just do not date!

Naxos are very good at covering the sexual and violent elements of classic stories in ways that will be appropriate for most young families but with out skipping over the events altogether. This approach is employed to good effect here.

The production also weaves in atmosphereic and pulse surging classical music to great effect.

Once you've enjoyed this one be sure to download the Naxos Odyessus volume, it's just as good.

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Title: The Odyssey

Author: Homer

Narrator: Norman Dietz

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 21 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-19-00

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 71 votes

Genres: Classics, Greek & Roman

Publisher's Summary:

Surviving the Trojan War was just the beginning of the adventure for Odysseus. What lay ahead was a journey home that would last for years as he encountered gods and monsters before finally returning home - only to face the greatest threat to his happiness of all. This translation of Homer's classic tale captures all the timeless excitement and gripping drama that have made it a favorite for centuries.To supplement the full text version, check out the SparkNotes Guide for The Odyssey.

(P)1989 by Recorded Books, Inc.

Editorial Reviews:

Few stories last a generation, and even fewer can survive the rise and fall of civilizations. Homer's Odyssey has, like few other texts, entertained and educated people since around the end of the 8th century BC. The sequel to the Iliad, this tale is the great journey of Odysseus after the fall of Troy. Norman Dietz, an award-winning narrator, gives a serious performance and brings an authority to the text, ensuring listeners will enjoy hearing Homer's epic poem in the same oral tradition loved by the ancient Greeks.

Members Reviews:

A good reading of a classic

This is a fine reading for listening. If you are a scholar, or have a hard time with some audio books, it might not be for you. It is not written in a completely contemporary style so you need to have a long attention span to understand what is happenning.

Not Enough Information in the Listing

Telling us that the author of Odyssey is "Homer" a person who may or may not have ever existed, misses by a wide, wide margin the essential bit of information we need to made a decision about this recording. Namely, WHO IS THE TRANSLATOR? Who took the Greek and translated it into 'contemporary' English. And what does contemporary mean in this case, 1750, 1850, 1950 2004?

HIghly enjoyable

I liked this one quite a bit, it's narrated fairly well and is very entertaining.

Not like the book

To hard to listen too.. Not like the book itself.. Speedy comer instead of messenger is one example..

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Title: Argonautika

Author: Apollonius Rhodius

Narrator: Juliet Stevenson

Format: Abridged

Length: 5 hrs and 45 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-16-00

Publisher: HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 23 votes

Genres: Classics, Greek & Roman

Publisher's Summary:

Argonautika is the story of Jason and the Argonauts and their quest for the Golden Fleece. This epic story of gods and goddesses, mythical beasts, thrilling adventures, and narrow escapes may be the oldest surviving Greek myth, which Homer referred to as something "familiar to all." Listen to this masterpiece of classical literature in an all-new translation that captures the timeless magic and quiet humor of this ancient legend. Discover that Jason is an all-too-human everyman, and his one true talent is making women fall in love with him.

© and (P) HighBridge Company; Translation copyright ©1996 by Peter Green; Cover Painting by Lorenzo Costa, Used by Permission of Scala/Art Resource, NY

Contact me for any questions: [email protected]

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Title: The Republic: Book VII

Author: Plato, Benjamin Jowett (translator)

Narrator: Adrian Cronauer

Format: Unabridged

Length: 4 hrs and 32 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-16-99

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 15 votes

Genres: Classics, Greek & Roman

Publisher's Summary:

"Behold! Human beings living in an underground den. Like ourselves, they see only their own shadows, or the shadows of one another, which the fire throws on the opposite wall of the cave."

With that statement, Plato - one of the greatest thinkers in the history of mankind - introduces one of his of most important philosophical constructs: the relationship between truth and the image of truth.

Editorial Reviews:

Adrian Cronauer's voice is full of emotion. His inflections capture the dynamic quality of Plato's The Republic. In Book VII, Plato examines the relationship between truth and the image of truth. Plato's Socratic dialogue has proven to be one of the most important and defining philosophical documents in the history of mankind. Cronauer's performance is stimulating, engaging the listener and making him or her partake in this ageless discussion. The listener will be prompted to examine his or her own thoughts on justice, philosophy, and nation-building.

Members Reviews:

Good Transation, you can start to hear Plato.

Just Finished the entire book seven of Plato's The Republic. And it sounds like Plato and Socrates believed two things....one with out Math you can not think in a useful fashion...and two Philosiphers are the only people who will not take advantage of others...interesting though through the entire work just how much this book written 2500 years ago echo's through most of our current "enlightened" discussions.

As I reached the end of book seven I could not help thinking..."does it take a village to raise a child?" or just someone who understands math.

This was a much better translation than the edition simply covering "The Cave" section, as there was much less commentary. This lack of commentary allowed more of the original author and speaker to come through.

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Title: The Suppliants

Subtitle: Translated by F L Light

Author: Aeschylus, F L Light (translator)

Narrator: Beth Bostic

Format: Unabridged

Length: 1 hr and 21 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-10-14

Publisher: Rapid Traffic Press

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 6 votes

Genres: Classics, Greek & Roman

Publisher's Summary:

The fifty daughters of Danaos have with their father fled by ship from Egypt, escaping compulsatory marriage with their fifty cousins, the sons of Aegyptos. They arrive in Argos, where, by supplication to the king and people, they seek refuge from their cousins, who sailed in pursuit. Their devout abhorrence of the marriage is the weightiest theme of the play.

Members Reviews:

Sisters fleeing cousins.

This is the first play of a trilogy by Aeschylus (c. 525-456 B. C.), the other two being lost (Aeschylus wrote over seventy plays of which only seven are extant). It begins the story of the daughters of Danaus. The brothers Aegyptus and Danaus were descendents of Io. Aegyptus had fifty sons and Danaus had fifty daughters and the sons are determined to marry their cousins. The daughters flee to Argos, seeking sanctuary from Pelasgus, King of Argos. The play, which contains very little action, is really serving as a prologue to the other two missing members of the trilogy.

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Title: The Odyssey

Author: Homer

Narrator: Simon Prebble

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 51 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-08-09

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 18 votes

Genres: Classics, Greek & Roman

Publisher's Summary:

Along the way Ulysses encounters the seductive Circe, who changes men into swine; the gorgeous water-nymph Calypso, who keeps him a "prisoner of love" for seven years; the terrible, one-eyed, man-eating giant Cyclops; and a host of other ogres, wizards, sirens, and gods. But when he finally reaches Ithaca after 10 years of travel, his trials have only begun. There he must battle the scheming noblemen who, thinking him dead, have demanded that Penelope choose one of them to be her new husband---and Ithaca's new king.

Often called the "second work of Western literature" (The Iliad, also by Homer, being the first), The Odyssey is not only a rousing adventure drama but also a profound meditation on courage, loyalty, family, fate, and undying love. More than 3,000 years old, it was the first story to delineate carefully and exhaustively a single character arc - a narrative structure that serves as the foundation and heart of the modern novel.

Members Reviews:

Only one quibble really

Any additional comments?

I enjoyed this reading (I don't think the book itself needs any review), but not sure why Mr Prebble used the Roman names for the gods rather than the Greek, since this is a Greek text. As someone more familiar with Greek mythology than Roman, this threw me off as I had to keep thinking who the equivalent Greek god was when the Roman name was used. I would have preferred if this reading had used the Greek names that Homer used in his text.

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Titolo: Apologia di Socrate

Autore: Platone

Narratore: Ugo De Vita

Formato: Unabridged

Durata: 23 mins

Lingua: Italiano

Data di pubblicazione: 02-22-13

Editore: GoodMood

Valutazioni: 5 su 5 su 1 voti

Categoria: Classics, Greek & Roman

Riepilogo Editore:

L'opera, presentata per la prima volta al teatro Flaiano in Roma, nel dicembre 2005 con una nota e la direzione del poeta Mario Luzi, assunta forma di "drammaturgia per voce sola", e' arricchita dall' espressione lirica dell'endecasillabo. La vis polemica delle ragioni del soccombente, oltre la captatio benevolentiae, esprime contenuto - ineludibile nel testo greco- della rivendicazione dei giusti. La voce di Socrate prossimo alla fine, esalta nella mitezza i valori dello spirito, le idee che "vincono sulle cose", la verità sul sopruso, nella rivelazione del senso intimo dell'esistenza umana per cui "una vita senza ricerca non e' degna di essere vissuta".

Recensioni dei membri:

Capolavoro

Straordinaria interpretazione e avvincente storia. Socrate ci regala perle di saggezza inarrivabili mentre si appresta ad abbandonare la vita terrena per un bene magnifico.

Ora è tempo di andare, io per morire, voi per vivere. Chi di noi vada verso sorte migliore è oscuro a tutti, tranne che al Dio.

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Title: Stephen Fry Presents a Selection of Oscar Wilde's Short Stories

Author: Oscar Wilde

Narrator: Stephen Fry

Format: Unabridged

Length: 2 hrs and 15 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-01-08

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 205 votes

Genres: Classics, Kids & Young Adults

Publisher's Summary:

"Oscar Wilde's Fairy Tales continue to exert the same pull over the imagination and emotions as they did when he first read them to his children in the 1880s. Written with inspired poetic intensity and sudden flowerings of the matchless wit for which he is so well remembered, the stories combine the wisdom of parables with the impact of drama. I have loved them since I was a child: indeed they continue to make a child of me. I do not mind admitting that at the recording some passages were hard to read out loud without choking. I hope you will be as entranced by them as I have always been." written by Stephen Fry.

©2008 SamFry Limited (P)2008 HarperCollins Publishers

Members Reviews:

Unexpected

Would you listen to Stephen Fry Presents a Selection of Oscar Wilde's Short Stories again? Why?

I'm not sure if I would listen again. I love listening to Stephen Fry, regardless of what he's reading, really. But the tone of this collection of short stories left me in a peculiar mood. I was not very familiar with much of Wilde's work, I have read one or two plays, but never his stories like these. They were fable-like, contained lots of moral lessons...but not in your usual bedtime story or fairytale manner. They were portrayed in a very cynical, pessimistic, sometimes almost defeated sounding way. If the author wrote them intending a commentary on the degradation of society and drowning out of innocent good in the world, lost to pompery and selfishness, he succeeded in sharing his disillusionment.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

They were interesting to me because they made me experience a new emotional reaction, and a memorable one because it defied my expectations. Every one of the stories had incredible imagery, and painted scenes more real and often more heart-wrenching than your average short-story. Though they contained vivid characters, both noble and ridiculous, and good stories, they left me feeling a little unfulfilled in their conclusions because though the plots formed and progressed and ended, for the most part they don't follow a satisfying pattern of problems being solved, protagonists succeeding, antagonists becoming enlightened and changing their ways, and good triumphing over evil.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Really, every story moved me, but the two that have struck me the most and pulled at my heart-strings still, days and days after listening, were the moments of the self-sacrifice of the birds in both "The Happy Prince" and "The Nightingale and The Rose", both for the good of a man/mankind, and both unappreciated by the world.

curl up for an evening in

If you could sum up Stephen Fry Presents a Selection of Oscar Wilde's Short Stories in three words, what would they be?

warm, heartfelt, thoughtprovoking

Have you listened to any of Stephen Frys other performances before? How does this one compare?

Just as excellent as every else he has done. (yes I am a Fry fan!)

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

no, this is a treat to dip into

Any additional comments?

This was a lovely listen, perfect for a cool winter's night to cuddle up and listen to the mesmerising voice of Stephen Fry. The imagery is beautiful and there is always a sting to make you think.