Argonautika: The Story of Jason and the Argonauts - Apollonius Rhodius, Peter Green Audiobook

Written by Apollonius Rhodius, Peter Green
Read by Juliet Stevenson
Format: MP3
Bitrate: 64 Kbps
Abridged

Peter Green - Translator
Publisher: HighBridge Company
Release date: April 18, 2007
Duration: 05:35:57

The Argonautika, the only surviving epic of the Hellenistic era, is a retelling of the tale of Jason and the Golden Fleece, probably the oldest extant Greek myth. Jason, a young prince, is sent on a perilous expedition but comes through various ordeals with the aid of the king’s daughter, Medeia, winning the Golden Fleece and carrying off Medeia herself. He is a very modern figure, not at all Achillean: almost an anti-hero. Along the way, the story incorporates vivid accounts of early exploration and colonizing ventures. Peter Green’s lively, readable verse translation captures the swift narrative movement of Apollonios’s epic Greek.

The ARGONAUTIKA concerns the quest for the Golden Fleece. Of uneven artistic merit, it nonetheless broke new literary ground in the third century B.C. and influenced subsequent poets. Many listeners will find the material demanding, and enjoyment will be largely dependent upon their familiarity with Greek antiquity. Scholar Peter Green has composed the very speakable verse translation, smoothly abridged in this audio. British actress Juliet Stevenson reads with affectionate intimacy, as to an armchair companion. Unfortunately, she’s only fitfully engaged and often insensitive to mood and atmosphere. Her cadences generally flat, sometimes faking her way through difficult passages, she’s best when delivering impassioned speeches. This production is not for the casual listener. Y.R. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Original material © 1996 Peter Green - Copyright holder