Discover the New Releases Audiobooks in Classics, British Literature Best Sellers

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Title: Lord Jim

Author: Joseph Conrad

Narrator: Brian O'Herne

Format: Abridged

Length: 52 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-18-10

Publisher: Saland Publishing

Ratings: 2 of 5 out of 1 votes

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Lord Jim may have been based in part on true events. Although Conrad never confirmed this assertion, similarities to real life events appear too strong to be dismissed as mere coincidence. The novel is in two main parts: firstly Jim's lapse aboard the Patna and his consequent fall, and secondly, an adventure story about Jim's rise and the tale's denouement amongst the people of Patusan - set in the Indonesian archipelago.

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Title: Tom Jones

Subtitle: The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling

Author: Henry Fielding

Narrator: Tom Conway

Format: Abridged

Length: 53 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-12-10

Publisher: Saland Publishing

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, often known simply as Tom Jones, is a comic novel by the English playwright and novelist Henry Fielding. First published on 28 February 1749, Tom Jones is among the earliest English prose works describable as a novel.

Tom Jones is a foundling discovered on the property of a very kind, wealthy landowner, Squire Allworthy, in Somerset in England's West Country. Tom grows into a vigorous and lusty, yet honest and kind-hearted, youth. He develops affection for his neighbour's daughter, Sophia Western. On one hand, their love reflects the romantic comedy genre that was popular in 18th-century Britain. However, Tom's status as a bastard causes Sophia's father and Allworthy to oppose their love; this criticism of class friction in society acted as a biting social commentary. The inclusion of prostitution and sexual promiscuity in the plot was also original for its time, and also acted as the foundation for criticism of the book's "lowness."

Members Reviews:

Excellent and entertaining

314. The History of Tom Jones: a foundling by Henry Fielding (Novel-Audible/E Book-Fiction) 5* I read along with the Audible of the novel which I found a highly delightful and entertaining experience.

The narrator, Bill Homewood, who performed the audio version of the work was excellent doing the various characters as well as the invisible narrator (author) of the story. The Synopsis is as follows:

A foundling of mysterious parentage brought up by Mr. Allworthy on his country estate, Tom Jones is deeply in love with the seemingly unattainable Sophia Western, the beautiful daughter of the neighboring squireâthough he sometimes succumbs to the charms of the local girls. When Tom is banished to make his own fortune and Sophia follows him to London to escape an arranged marriage, the adventure begins. A vivid Hogarthian panorama of eighteenth-century life, spiced with danger and intrigue, bawdy exuberance and good-natured authorial interjections, Tom Jones is one of the greatest and most ambitious comic novels in English literature.

It is rather brilliant, and there is no lack of shenanigans as we follow Jones through his history and the reader never knows when and where the author will abruptly go off on a tangent, told in a most eloquent manner, end with a flourish and no doubt tossed his quill down and took a bow. I am either taken in by some farce or thoroughly enchanted by this author. As Fielding is rather the loquacious writer this read comes in Audible time at almost 38 hours or roughly 1,000 pages but worth every minute spent on it.

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Title: Favourite Scenes From Shakespeare

Author: William Shakespeare

Narrator: Paul Rogers

Format: Abridged

Length: 46 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-12-10

Publisher: Saland Publishing

Ratings: 2 of 5 out of 1 votes

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Featuring the most famous scenes from Macbeth, King Richard II, Romeo and Juliet, and A Midsummer Night's Dream. Performed by Paul Rogers, a film, stage and television actor who is a long-time member of the Royal Shakespeare Company.

©2010 Saland Publishing (P)2010 Saland Publishing

Members Reviews:

There's Shakespeare 'lite"

and then there's liter than lite. too bad.

they sort of did the minimum

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Title: The Invisible Man

Author: H. G. Wells

Narrator: Jim Killavey

Format: Unabridged

Length: 4 hrs and 53 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-07-10

Publisher: Jimcin Recordings

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 10 votes

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

In this classic science fiction novel, a young chemist discovers how to make himself invisible and seeks the aid of a fellow scientist in creating a "reign of terror." He finds, however, that he cannot become visible again and that his invisibility comes at a high price.

Editorial Reviews:

H. G. Wells tale of a corrupt scientists "reign of terror" explores one of the human psyches darker motives - the desire to act as one pleases without restraint or threat of punishment. In stark, foreboding tones, performer Jim Killavey captures the wanton arrogance of Wells invisible anti-hero, Griffin, and the oppressive paranoid fear that haunts the English village of Iping, cowering under threat of an undetectable menace. Wells formative classic lays thematic foundations that still resonate throughout science fiction: dystopian future shock, the destruction of community and tradition at the hands of technology, and the hubristic pursuit of knowledge are all scrutinized. Nevertheless, Griffins tragedy is of his own making, as he neglects the humanistic aspirations belying his research and falls prey to powers corrupting influence.

Members Reviews:

Accessible and entertaining classic

The Invisible Man is one of those classics that has been on my TBR for ages, always getting posponed to read other titles instead. But after a mention that this classic was actually quite entertaining, I decided to finally pick it up. And they were right, because I actually found myself having a lot of fun while readingÂThe Invisible Man. Not only is the prose quite easy to read, but the plot itself is both intriguing and entertaining as things start escalating. The character development has been really well done and shows the effects being invisible can have on a man... If you are looking for an accessible and entertaining classic to read,ÂThe Invisible Man is the choice for you.

Insightful

Read this book for an English class and I thought it was very insightful. It gave very convincing theories on human nature and what possibly could lay ahead of us in the future. to me this book gave the illusion of mystery by not giving some people names. This mystery exemplified the imagery the time travler gave about the future. the ending heightened the mystery seven fold. I was left wanting more, wanting to know more, and wanting to go back to the future with the time traveler. Made me really think about how the time travelers theories are thought out and could potentially actually happen. Definitely a thought invoking read

A Great Old War!!

This is a good old fashioned yarn. I read the book through in one or two sittings. HG created a sense of menace and despair through the book, which I loved. His descriptions were evocative of the times, and I could almost visualize the destruction taking place, as the book weaved along.

The writing is, for our times, old fashioned, yet timeless. The almost forgotten craft of writing is something that was displayed through the book. I lost the part where the Martians were 'destroyed'. It would have been really nice to have had a nice description of this, but you can't have everything in life!

If you want a good book to read by the fireside, then this is one I can recommend.

Classic Still Has the Attraction and Impact of A Fresh Story!

The Time Machine, like all of H.G. Well's works, are classics.

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Title: Our Mutual Friend

Author: Charles Dickens

Narrator: Paul Scofield

Format: Abridged

Length: 2 hrs and 51 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-24-09

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Ratings: 5 of 5 out of 1 votes

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

One night Hexam, who makes his living pulling bodies from the Thames, pulls out a body bearing the identification of John Harmon, heir to the fortune of a 'dust-collector'.

In fact, Harmon has swapped clothes and identities with a sailor, John Rokesmith. 'Rokesmith' gets a job as secretary to Noddy Boffin and falls in love with Bella Wilfer. However Bella is intent on marrying money until events cause her to change her mind

Members Reviews:

TV and Movies versions were good, but the book is better. . .

One of my co-workers encouraged me to read this since I have only seen the TV/Movie versions. It was a quick read and very enjoyable. Fortunately, the TV/Movie versions weren't too far off the mark. Regardless, there were facets of the story that you would only get through the book, which is why reading the book will always be my favorite option.

BAH! HUMBUG!! "God bless Us, Every One"

A Christmas Carol is a beloved Christmas favorite. Nothing says Christmas like favorite Christmas stories. This timeless tale has been told in many versions. Iâve seen the movie and play but Iâve never read the book. I thought it was about time to finally read this tale.

The illustrations throughout the book were fun to look at. Not common to find illustrations in books today unless they are children stories.

Lots of great quotes come from this story but the most famous is BAH! HUMBUG! followed by:

"God bless Us, Every One!"

Standalone

As great to read vs as to watch as a production.

We've enjoyed many kinds of productions of this classic Scrooge story. The original makes us 'rise to the occasion' - or at least gets us to mentally take the time to step back in that era. Life was so different, so the real factor is (I think) a little richer, than already assembled viewables. Emotional, and the older language adds some incentive to digging into the story.

A must read!

Dickens has always intimidated me. Somehow, I made my way through high school and college without having to read one of his novels. Finally, a few weeks before Christmas, I decided to give this a try when I learned it is relatively short. I figured if it took some work, at least it wouldn't take all that long. I'm sorry I waited so long. It was impossible for me to separate this from the many versions of A Christmas Carol I've seen over the years. I loved it. I enjoyed the glimpse into the time and place of the story. The story and theme are, of course, legendary.

Don't be intimidated. This is a book everyone should read at least once.

Classic I Know

I have tried this one before and was distracted within the first five chapters but with the advise of a colleague I am going to attempt this one again. I am late 30's and sometimes have a tough time focusing for long spans of time unless the story is captivating from the get go, you have to appreciate writing for the sake of verb-age and description to get into this. So, because it is a classic and I think the classics should be read - I'll give it another go but not looking forward to it despite the wonderful reviews. Hated Pride and Prejudice too - just depends on personal taste I suppose. Loved The Divine Comedy....

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Title: Far from the Madding Crowd

Author: Thomas Hardy

Narrator: Julie Christie

Format: Abridged

Length: 3 hrs and 13 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-14-09

Publisher: Audio Holdings, LLC

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 4 votes

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Thomas Hardy's novel about a British farm girl and her effect on the men who fall in love with her is read by Julie Christie. This rebellious young woman finds her affections a cause for competition between a soldier, a wealthy landowner, and a modest sheep farmer.

©2009 Public Domain; (P)2009 Audio Holdings, LLC

Editorial Reviews:

Actor Julie Christie performs Thomas Hardys Far from the Madding Crowd, which tells the story of a young shepherd named Gabriel and the trials and tribulations he encounters over the course of a long attempt to woo a woman named Bathsheba, whose legion of admirers seems continuously to grow.

Christie has a strong sense of comedic and dramatic timing and she pays careful attention to pacing, constantly recalibrating her performance to match the exact emotional intensity of any given scene. Her voice, too, is a pleasure to hear, clear and authoritative, effectively softening Hardys old-fashioned literary style for a modern audience.

Members Reviews:

If for No Other Reason

Listen to Julie Christie's brilliant reading, her nuanced dialects, and her romantic low notes that represent the importance of place in all Hardy's novels. I think this abridged version is the perfect introduction to this important English writer.

Julie Christie's voice will sweep you away.

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Title: Hard Times

Author: Charles Dickens

Narrator: Paul Scofield

Format: Abridged

Length: 3 hrs and 17 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-11-09

Publisher: Phoenix Books

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 1 votes

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Gradgrind believes that he has succeeded as a father when his son Thomas goes to work in Bounderby's bank. When Tom steals from his employer and Louisa flees the horrors of her marriage, Gradgrind must acknowledge the error of his lifelong devotion to facts and utility in this classic Dickens work.

Members Reviews:

Dickens - Always a Master

As some reviewers have pointed out, this is not the best work Dickens has produced. For me that merely means that it is a very good piece of literature rather than a superb one. It could have profited from expanded examination of various social, cultural, political and economical themes of the day that were touched upon only lightly, but he did a fine job of treating those issues he chose to examine. That is enough for me to recommend the book heartly to all as a short and enjoyable read with enough involvement with issues that still resonate today to keep you happily interested.

This Kindle edition is excellent.

Lovely tale

Someone's characterization is remarkable as always.The characters are people like we meet every day and the story speaks to your heart.

Class Conflict

Perhaps not the "typical" Dickens, if there is such a thing, but a fascinating look at the conflict between classes in Victorian England.

Five Stars

so easy to purchase required reading books for my kids on Amazon!

Four Stars

Great story!

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Title: Silas Marner

Author: George Eliot

Narrator: Flo Gibson

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 57 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-03-09

Publisher: Audio Book Contractors, Inc.

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 3 votes

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Silas Marner is a member of a small Christian congregation in Lantern Yard who is accused of stealing the congregation's funds while sitting with a very ill elder of the group. Embittered by the false accusation, Silas retreats to his loom and to count his hoard of gold. The loss of his treasure and the arrival of a foundling child eventually teaches him what being truly rich means.

©2009 Audio Book Contractors, Inc.; (P)2009 Audio Book Contractors, Inc.

Members Reviews:

"Hope for the Hopeless . . ."

This was a fine story and novel, almost a novella as it is not lengthy. This is a story about a weaver and the weaving trade in days gone by.

It is a story about a steady personality (the protagonist) who overcomes devastating adversity and personal cruelty under small favourable circumstances which are both unpredictable for the reader and could be true to life. This novel, could be based on a true story for its detail and convincing authenticity of trade and character development. The storyline lent itself well to being dramatized with Sir Ben Kingsley playing "Silas"

in the 1980's BBC production which adheres well to the intention expressed in the novel by George Eliot

The paperback by George Elliot makes a fine gift for a young person starting life.

not just for high school students

Most of my friends read Silas Marner in high school English and still shudder, but my high school marched to a different drummer (or none) and I had never read it. No one would pretend that it is one of George Eilot's masterpieces -- it's no Middlemarch, not by a long shot. But even in its much smaller way, it has all the germs of her intelligence, literary style, and human compassion, even when tainted by a certain predictability and triteness of plot. It also has Eliot's greatest weakness, which is that she seems to lose interest in the central situation she creates once it has been fully developed, and as in many of her (greater) books, rushes to the end once it is in sight.

Still, no person who wishes to be thought literate in English literature should not have read Silas Marner. For whatever shortcomings it may have, it's a page turner by a literary master.

It's a classic!

I very much enjoyed this classic book. I was never required to read it in school, so had no preconceived opinion about it. It was a sad tale with a happy ending of the "and they lived happily ever after type." The only reasoning I rated it 4 stars instead of 5 is because of all the detail. Like a lot of classics, there was so much detail that I neither wanted nor understood. For the most part, I just skimmed over it. Nevertheless, I found it a good story, well worth the time to read.

Sorry I didn't read it earlier

I was supposed to read this book in 9th grade but didn't. Fudged my way through. Now, fifty-four years later, I regret not doing my assignments. Eliot accurately captures the lifestyle and culture of 19th century rural England. She also clearly demonstrates the unconscious loss a hoarder and a loner sustains. Is there a moral here? Perhaps more of a reminder to us of where gold really lies.

An outstanding story.

This is a fabulous story. I have read it many times in a regular edition. This edition is very large with small print. It is like a large sheet of paper. I bought it for my granddaughter and she still has not read the book due to the size I imagine.

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Title: The Secret Garden

Author: G. K. Chesterton

Narrator: James Arthur

Format: Unabridged

Length: 52 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-10-09

Publisher: Audio Holdings, LLC

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 3 votes

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Listeners will delight in these masterful chronicles of the adventures and mishaps of Father Brown. Small, round-faced and engagingly innocent, Brown is a Roman Catholic priest from East Anglia. He also happens to be a top-notch detective, possessing that rarest of all gifts - an intuition that never fails.

Public Domain (P)2009 Audio Holdings, LLC

Members Reviews:

Oops

It was not the children's book, which is my mistake. I may get to listening to it one day.

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Title: Stage-Land

Author: Jerome K Jerome

Narrator: Philip Bird

Format: Unabridged

Length: 1 hr and 48 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-17-09

Publisher: Matrix Digital Publishing

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 5 votes

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Here is a comic look at the curious habits and customs of the inhabitants of 'Stage Land', dedicated to 'that highly respectable but unnecessarily retiring individual, of whom we hear so much but see so little, "the earnest student of drama".

Jerome K Jerome (2 May 1859 - 14 June 1927) was an English writer and humorist, best known for the humorous travelogue Three Men in a Boat.

Members Reviews:

Jerome hangs characters from melodramas out to dry

I like theatrical history and wanted a new book on the subject. I plugged "Theatrical History" into Amazon's Advanced Search and I came across this work. I have wanted to read Jerome K. Jerome's Three Men in a Boat as I understand it is a comedy classic, so I looked forward to seeing what he had to say about English theater. I had a fine time reading this, sometimes having to halt until my laughing subsided. We worry about television and the movies presenting unreal views of life but Jerome shows that even the stage is like this. Characters find themselves alone on usually busy London streets. A heroine wandering is always pursued by snowstorms. The hero, no matter how severe the environment, is always wearing shiny patent leather shoes. Jerome writes of trying to use theater repartee and behavior in the real world and the result is finding himself in deep and meaningful conversations with judges and lawyers. His characterizations of the stock characters of Victorian and Edwardian melodrama characters absolutely hit the mark. If you are into theater and/or love hilarious satire, this is one of those books you just have to read.

fun satirical essays on theater

This isn't a play or novel itself, but rather a series of short satirical essays on the conventions and cliches of theater. There are essays, for example, on the stage hero, the stage heroine, the stage villain, the stage "adventuress" (read "tramp"), the stage lawyer, etc. I enjoyed this a lot, particularly some bits about what passes for stage "law" -- e.g., that whoever finds the will, gets to inherit --- and his observations about how the stage hero always manages to knock out three or more villains with a single punch, all for the glory of the most insipid stage heroine, whose charms are never as evident as they seem to be to the stage hero. If you enjoy theater, particularly from that period, and don't mind seeing it ridiculed, you should enjoy this. If you never read or see plays, then this may not be of interest.