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Few literary works carry the weight of Homer’s The Odyssey. Believed to have been composed nearly 3,000 years ago, the ancient Greek epic has been mostly appreciated by students of classical literature and lovers of ancient history. But Christopher Nolan’s ambitious cinematic adaptation — starring Matt Damon, Elliot Page, Zendaya, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Travis Scott, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, Lupita Nyong’o and others — is introducing this mythical universe to a larger audience.
Due out in theaters July 17, the Universal Pictures film is Nolan’s latest project following Oppenheimer in 2023, and was produced with a reported $250 million budget. But for those looking to understand the story — and fast — before watching the movie, an audiobook offers a shortcut through one of literature’s longest stories.
Over centuries, translations of this written epic have ended up being over 500 pages, detailing the decade-long journey of Odysseus as he attempts to return home after the Trojan War. But on Audible, several audio versions of The Odyssey — narrated by acclaimed performers and scholars — have brought new energy to Homer’s ancient poem in just a few hours.
