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The Iliad of Homer

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The Iliad of Homer

By: Elizabeth Vandiver, The Great Courses
Narrated by: Elizabeth Vandiver
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About this listen

For thousands of years, Homer's ancient epic poem the Iliad has enchanted readers from around the world. When you join Professor Vandiver for this lecture series on the Iliad, you'll come to understand what has enthralled and gripped so many people.

Her compelling 12-lecture look at this literary masterpiece - whether it's the work of many authors or the "vision" of a single blind poet - makes it vividly clear why, after almost 3,000 years, the Iliad remains not only among the greatest adventure stories ever told but also one of the most compelling meditations on the human condition ever written.

As you'll learn, the grandeur and immediacy of Homer's world would seem to defy time and space. Throughout these lectures, you'll explore this legendary era in brilliant, unforgettable hues. You'll meet its towering heroes who thirst for honor and the gods who inspired and instigated them. You'll go deep inside the shattering battles at Troy that act out mankind's awesome passions for glory, love, and vengeance. But more than that, you'll focus on the timeless human issues this masterpiece raises, all of them evoked by the power of a single dramatic question: Why does Achilles rage? The limits of freedom, the common humanity we share, the line between justice and revenge, the nature of destiny, the meaning of life - Professor Vandiver uses the Iliad as a potent lens through which to study them all.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©1999 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)1999 The Great Courses
Ancient, Classical & Medieval Literature Collections
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I love the Great Courses series. Professor Elizabeth Vandiver begins by talking about Homer and Epic Poems. She gives a really good overview of the background before talking about The Iliad, the gods, the symbolism, history... everything.

It helped me to understand parts of the Iliad I missed or didn't understand.

My only complaint is, it is so short! I would love more details because she really knows what she is talking about and does a fantastic job.
*There are more detailed books by her on amazon.com.au but no audible narration :,(

HELPS!

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I really enjoyed Prof Vandiver's course. I was given a glimpse of the depths in this epic. It was not a superficial summary of the episodes, but rather a critical analysis and an in-depth discussion. Yet there was not a moment that was boring. I certainly look forward to hearing more discussion of classics by Prof Vandiver.

Insightful

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Elizabeth Vandiver makes the story of The Iliad and some of the scholarship accessible and interesting

Great Course

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Compelling content well performed. Reviews require 15 words so all of this is not relevant.

Great

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A great way to know what this long ago story is all about. It speaks to the human condition.

For those who have always wondered why the Iliad is still around

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