Homer - The Iliad (1614/16) by George Chapman

George Champan's translation of Homer was published in stages, with the first selection, Seven Books of the Iliads of Homer Prince of Poets appearing in 1598. Shakespeare did not wait for the rest of the books before taking the material he needed for Troilus and Cressida. Faced with Homer's 'wide expanse', John Keats wrote, 'never did I breathe its Pure serene | Till I heard Chapman speak out loud and bold.' And speak out loud he will.

A scholar will provide an introduction and will link extracts from "the seven books" read by Globe actors.

Globe Education began its series of staged readings of plays in 1994. Since then audiences have been able to see and hear over 150 plays written between 1567 and 1642 by Shakespeare's contemporaries. These 'performances with scripts' and dramatic readings are staged by professional actors and directors.