WHY HOMER MATTERS

John Lee's almost declamatory delivery blends well with the subject here. The author goes far beyond merely interpreting Homer to examine the nature of epic poetry, its use of language, and the deepest historical sources of the texts. Nicholson also presents an interesting, and decidedly minority, opinion on the dating of THE ILIAD. Lee presents all that clearly, with nothing more than accent shifts to indicate when the author is quoting experts. But it's in the lengthy quotations from Homer that Lee really shines, giving us a taste of what a bardic recitation might have sounded like. Even those not familiar with Homer should enjoy this, and those who are familiar will find much that is new. D.M.H. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2015]