Gilgamesh: A New English Version Audiobook Review
Gilgamesh: A New English Version – An Audio Book Review
- Author: Stephen Mitchell
- Narrated by: George Guidall
- Length: 4 hours and 5 minutes
- Unabridged
- Genre: Classics
Download or CD available to BUY at Amazon.
Gilgamesh: A New English Version Audio Book Summary:
The classic tale of Gilgamesh, a tale of heroes and legends that predates even the Iliad, is translated for the new millennium. Stephen Mitchell re-energizes this epic tale of Gilgamesh and his journey from a being ruthless king to a true hero of his people. This new edition is compared to Seamus Heaney’s popular Beowulf translation and is set to introduce a new generation of people to the epic tale of Gilgamesh.
The story of Gilgamesh begins in the city of Uruk, wherein Gilgamesh is the king and he intimidates the citizen with his brute strength and prowess. As the Gods look down upon his doings, they send an untamed man called Enkidu to defeat and humble Gilgamesh. However, after a fierce fight both Enkidu and Gilgamesh developed great respect for each other and soon became great friends. As they travel the land to defeat vicious creatures, Gilgamesh becomes more responsible and kind-hearted. Unfortunately, Enkidu dies of a disease that left Gilgamesh broken with grief. After a while, Gilgamesh moves on with a new goal that he must tackle alone in a journey that will push his strength and will to the brink.
Stephen Mitchell’s translation of Gilgamesh is the best today, bar none. This is the first heroic figure in literature and is one of the best-developed.
One reason to listen:
A classic in literature, Gilgamesh is given new life with the help of Stephen Mitchell in this amazing translation of the epic tale for the new generation.
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Reactions:
“Nothing destroys my interest in finishing a book more than constantly having to flip to a rear glossary or bouncing down to incessant footnotes. Mitchell’s translation avoids all of that clutter by telling the story in a vernacular that facilitates finishing the work within a single sitting.” – Todd Havens
http://www.amazon.com/review/R2XFV4F565OE9B/
“If you are looking for an enjoyable and easy to follow version of the Epic, this is a nice introduction. I would not suggest that you read only this edition though, but rather use it as a starting place to get a feel for the story and then move on to the other translations, which while more difficult to follow are ultimately more rewarding.” – Dave 42
http://www.amazon.com/review/R10QRVM2HCY8IL/
“This adaption is a version, and not a translation. Stephen Mitchell, the author of this version, admits that he can’t read Akkadian (the original language of Gilgamesh) but instead relied on several amplified and literal translations of the text for inspiration. As it is, I found it very, very easy to read, even compared to other modern versions of literature. ” – General Breadbasket
http://www.amazon.com/review/R19K23WCXQ8EG/
“If you’re looking for an extremely enjoyable version of Gilgamesh, look no further. I’m glad I put in a few hours of research before deciding which version to read because the other versions may have been accurate to the original tablets, but based on skimming five other versions of the text, the other writing styles were not nearly as comprehensible as Mitchell’s.” – S. Schisgall
http://www.amazon.com/review/R3J01OVCXDSINO/
“This is an excellent translation. It’s important to know that about 65% of the book is notes. But the notes in this version are actually great! Just do yourself a favor and read the notes after you read the actual story.” – Laja We
http://www.amazon.com/gp/review/R1YJPIEE4MZECL/
Score on Audible: 4.2 out of 5
Score on Amazon: 4.1 out of 5
Download or CD available to BUY at Amazon.
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