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Title: We, the Drowned
Author: Carsten Jensen
Narrator: Simon Vance
Format: Unabridged
Length: 25 hrs and 23 mins
Language: English
Release date: 12-23-15
Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 61 votes
Genres: Fiction, Historical
Publisher's Summary:
In 1848, a motley crew of Danish sailors sets sail from the small island town of Marstal to fight the Germans. Not all of them return - and those who do will never be the same. Among them is the daredevil Laurids Madsen, who promptly escapes again into the anonymity of the high seas. This is also the story of the port town of Marstal, Denmark, whose inhabitants sailed the world from the mid-19th century to the end of the Second World War and about the women and children they left behind.
The novel tells of ships wrecked and blown up in wars, of places of terror and violence that continue to lure each generation with their cannibals, shrunken heads, prophetic dreams, forbidden passions, cowards, heroes, tragedies, and miraculous survivals. The result is a brilliant seafaring novel, a gripping saga encompassing industrial growth, the years of expansion and exploration, the crucible of the first half of the 20th century, and, most of all, the sea.
Hailed in Europe as an instant classic, We, the Drowned, spanning four generations, two world wars, and a hundred years, is an epic tale of adventure, ruthlessness, and passion destined to take its place among the greatest seafaring literature.
Members Reviews:
We, the Drowned
If you could sum up We, the Drowned in three words, what would they be?
Sailing, Marstal, Sailing
How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?
Cut out the middle, limited sections on Albert-I didn't like him nearly as much as the author.
What about Simon Vances performance did you like?
It was fine. Nothing stands out.
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
WWII.
Any additional comments?
The beginning is very good, so is the final third to a lesser extent. The middle was tough to get through for me.
Wow! The sea of life and humanity.
Narration by Simon Vance is sublime to the ears and mind. The story translated into English is done with perfect balance of wind and sail and sea.
Encompassing the time-typical Danish megalomania, from a past not too distant yet worlds away from the current state of tiny DK
Sets out high paced with great building of characters, although the storyline often will, instantaniously, skip through years of untold events.
The character of Alfred is never build to the strenghts of the his father Laurids, althoug he is the pivotal charater thoughout the entite mid section.
On a general note, the mid section may be of historical interest to locals, but exiting it is not.
Last 1/4 is great.
A must read if you're Danish and/or interested in seafaring.
More like a history book than a novel
This book was not for me. I can see how it would be a fantastic book for someone who is more interested in the topic of sailing or Danish history. This is a book where things just happen, not necessarily to advance any character's story but rather to advance the timeline of the book. I could tell it was not for me about 10% into it, but soldiered (sailored...) on because the reviews here and on Goodreads were so favorable. I slogged through and finished it, and at over 25 hours that is no simple feat! I did enjoy this narrator's voice and thought he did excellent with the accents.
Boring
What would have made We, the Drowned better?
It was a boring story.
What was most disappointing about Carsten Jensens story?
It dragged on and on and on and on and on.....
What three words best describe Simon Vances voice?
Not too bad.
You didnt love this book...
