If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, The Hollywood Reporter may earn an affiliate commission.
Few literary works carry the weight of Homer’s work Odyssey. The ancient Greek epic is believed to have been composed nearly 3,000 years ago and is highly regarded 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 — introduces this mythical universe to a larger audience.
The Universal Pictures film is scheduled to hit theaters on July 17, and is Nolan’s latest project Oppenheimer In 2023, it was produced on a budget of $250 million. But for those looking to understand the story — and quickly — before watching the movie, the audiobook offers a shortcut to one of literature’s longest stories.
Over the centuries, written translations of this epic have run to more than 500 pages, detailing Odysseus’ decade-long journey as he attempted to return home after the Trojan War. But on Audible, there are many audio versions of Odyssey – Narrated by famous artists and scholars – they brought new energy to Homer’s ancient poem in just a few hours.
Here’s a look at the best audiobook releases Odyssey Which you can listen to online now. Bonus: Amazon is currently offering a limited-time Audible deal that gets you access for just $0.99 per month for the first three months of the service. The deal also includes a $20 site credit. Use the Audible deal to stream thousands of audiobooks, podcasts, and playlists online. You also get one digital download per month that you can keep, even if you cancel your membership. See full details here.
Read by Claire Danes
The Odyssey: Audio Edition
Translated by Emily Wilson Odyssey It arrived in 2017 as the first English translation of Homer’s Odyssey by a woman. Narrated by Claire Danes, this complete version was released by Audible Studios the following year, with a running time of 13 hours and 32 minutes.
The audiobook has a 4.6 rating from over 4,000 Audible listeners, making it a widely acclaimed introduction to Homer’s masterpiece. One reviewer described the translations as “accessible” to contemporary listeners.
Read by Dan Stevens
The Odyssey: Translated by Fitzgerald
Famous translation by Robert Fitzgerald OdysseyFirst published in 1961, it has become one of the most influential English versions of Homer’s poem.
Narrated by Downton Abbey alum Dan Stevens, the full Macmillan Audio version was released in 2014 and runs 10 hours and 15 minutes.
Stevens’ theatrical voice complements Fitzgerald’s singing style, creating an immersive listening experience. The audiobook received a 4.7 Audible rating from more than a thousand listeners.
Read by Ian McKellen
Odyssey
Robert Fagles’ 1996 translation of Odyssey It is among the most popular modern interpretations of Homer’s Odyssey. Narrated by Ian McKellen, the full Penguin Audio version was released in 1999, with a running time of 13 hours and three minutes.
McKellen’s dramatic Shakespearean voice is well-suited to this ancient story, in which Odysseus faces gods, creatures, and impossible obstacles. The audiobook has received a 4.5 Audible rating from over 3,500 listeners, and remains a favorite among fans of classic literature.
Read Benedict Cumberbatch
The Absolute Iliad and Odyssey: Full-Cast Plays
Bring on BBC Radio 4 Odyssey came to life with a star-studded cast in 2005, with Benedict Cumberbatch playing Telemachus, the son of the titular protagonist.
Available on Audible, the audiobook also includes its precursors, Iliadas part of a 15-book series. One of the shortened versions of the trip, broadcast by the BBC Odyssey It was re-released in 2026 and is currently number one on Amazon’s ancient history audiobook chart. This stream clocks in at three hours and 49 minutes.
Listen to this version of Odyssey for $0.99 or stream it for free online with a free trial of Audible Standard here.
Read Stephen Fry
Odyssey: Reimagining Greek Mythology
stephen fry, Odyssey: Reimagining Greek MythologyIt provides a retelling rather than a direct translation of Homer’s original poem.
Released in 2025, this full-length audiobook from Chronicle Books is 10 hours and 37 minutes long, and is narrated by Fry himself. As the fourth installment in his “Mythos” series, it has received an impressive 4.9 audible rating from 1,400 listeners, making it attractive to both newcomers to mythology and long-time readers of the classics. It is also the current best-selling book on Amazon’s Greek History audiobook list.
New Odyssey The film stars Damon in the titular role, with Holland playing Odysseus’ son, Telemachus, Hathaway playing Odysseus’ wife, Penelope, and Theron as the nymph, Calypso (Theron). Pattinson plays Antonius, Penelope’s fiancé, who plans to marry the queen and become ruler of Ithaca.
