The Odyssey, Books 21 & 22

Two of the Odyssey’s most electrifying chapters come alive in this gripping performance. Penelope unveils Odysseus’s fabled bow and sets an impossible trial; suitor after suitor fails, a thunderclap seals the omen, and a single arrow sings through twelve axeheads. In the next breath, the beggar reveals himself, Telemachus stands at his father’s side, and the long-defiled hall of Ithaca is purged in a blaze of justice. Rendered into vigorous English prose by Samuel Butler, these climactic Books 21 and 22 deliver the Odyssey’s payoff in full: loyalty tested, home reclaimed, order restored. Narrator William Johnston brings clarity, momentum, and emotional bite to every exchange—crisp names and places, distinct voices, and pacing that carries you from taut contest to cathartic reckoning. Ideal for first-time listeners and longtime lovers of the classics, this focused recording offers the heart of Homer’s epic in one unforgettable sitting—perfect for commutes, classrooms, and anyone who craves the thrill of mythic adventure told with timeless power.