Download Best Sellers Audiobooks in Classics, American Literature

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Title: My Kinsman, Major Molinaux

Author: Nathaniel Hawthorne

Narrator: Walter Covell

Format: Unabridged

Length: 46 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-21-08

Publisher: Jimcin Recordings

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 31 votes

Genres: Classics, American Literature

Publisher's Summary:

The setting is before the American Revolution when Robin, a youth arrives in Boston seeking his kinsman, Major Molineux, who is an official in the British Colonial government and has promised him work. Yet no one in town tells him where the major is and he begins to hear some strange stories and finally meets his kinsman under very unusual circumstances.

Editorial Reviews:

The listener may be thankful that he is not Robin, a poor, 18-year-old youth, "evidently country-bred", and the hero of Nathaniel Hawthornes 1851 story of hard times and disillusionment.

Performed by Walter Covell in a serious, probing tone, the story finds Robin arriving after a long journey to a town in pre-Revolutionary New England. Robin walks about searching for his kinsman, a major in the British government who has promised him paying work. Rather than finding his kinsman, however, he finds many puffy townspeople who offer no help at all, including one mysterious man whose face is half-red and half-black. "The effect", rumbles Covell, "was as if two individual devils...had united themselves to form this infernal visage". Hawthorne is again in darkly allegorical territory.

Members Reviews:

Background chatter

What made the experience of listening to My Kinsman, Major Molinaux the most enjoyable?

The voice actor did a wonderful job, he was clear and accented at the appropriate times.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Walter Covell?

Yes

Any additional comments?

It was very distracting, in the background, was a constant low humming of voices. I could almost hear what they were saying at some points, if i focused really hard on it. But, some might think I was mistaking this for background noise on my end, no I tried various methods and I have to conclude it is in fact coming from the book.

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Title: Young Goodman Brown

Author: Nathaniel Hawthorne

Narrator: John L. Chatty

Format: Unabridged

Length: 32 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-20-08

Publisher: Jimcin Recordings

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 3 votes

Genres: Classics, American Literature

Publisher's Summary:

The story takes place in Salem, Massachusetts, part of Puritan New England, which was a common setting for Hawthorne's work. Its theme is one often used by Hawthorne: the conflict between good and evil in human nature and, in particular, the problem of public goodness and private wickedness.

(P)1980 Jimcin Recordings

Editorial Reviews:

Nathaniel Hawthornes bewitching story of a midnight covenant examines Puritan morality and the corruption of faith. "Young Goodman Brown" tells the story of a New England man who leaves behind his devoted wife and the comforts of home to go on an unknown errand, travelling alone through the dark woods at night. Brown meets some familiar faces on his journey, ultimately stumbling on a nightmarish gathering, reminiscent of a witches sabbath. Performer John Chatty demonstrates a knack for roleplaying. As the namesake Brown he is wholesome but naïve, and increasingly anxious as the ghastly scene unfolds. Meanwhile, Browns forest acquaintances are colored in darker tones, at turns sinister, wanton, and deceptive.

Members Reviews:

Hawthorne is brilliant

Young Goodman Brown is an allegory about the recognition of evil as the nature of human society. Hawthorne cleverly gives characters names such as "Goodman" and "Faith" to depict irony in the Puritan society. The story is about Browns loss of faith and the discovery of how people are viewed by society vs who they really are. Hawthorne is a brilliant writer who uses colloquial expressions and diction to enhance the setting. It is a tale that exposes the great contradiction of the Puritan way of life. The other short stories are magnificent as well!

This book will stick with you a long time.

Very good story. Don't try to read through it too fast. You have to follow the story very carefully to catch the gist of it. I grew up in a very small town in a one religion region where everybody knew way too much about everyone else's business. Now, many years later it is interesting to see how much has changed from what we thought about certain people and how they actually turned out.

I highly recommend everyone interested in people read this book.

1835 Story for Halloween

I found this an interesting short story/quick read. The description said it was for children - but I think put in a historical context, it is appropriate for adults as well. This title came up as one of the "must reads" for Halloween. Apparently it was aimed at Puritan's, but I thought the witches and overall social commentary were good as well. It was written in 1835. The Salem Witch Trials were in 1692 just to put this all in context.

A New England Classic.

Story is set in in puritan past from an early 19th century and certainly Hawthorne's perspective. A story of faith and the tension between the extremes of belief and perceived reality. Great kindle edition. Easy to read.

A good, timeless, point about society.

My sister, who is an English teacher, was talking about this short story. I was interested, so I had to read it for myself. (I prefer to read shorter stories because If I have to use a bookmark that means I will never come back to finish it.) I sat and finished it in less than an hour. It brought a very good point about optimism and nihilism to my attention.

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Title: Rip Van Winkle and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

Author: Washington Irving

Narrator: John MacDonald

Format: Unabridged

Length: 1 hr and 59 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-30-08

Publisher: Audio Book Contractors, Inc.

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 8 votes

Genres: Classics, American Literature

Publisher's Summary:

In the first story, Rip Van Winkle returns to a strange world after a very long sleep. In The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Ichabod Crane encounters haunting difficulties and a headless horseman during his courtship of the lovely Katrina.

(P)2008 Audio Book Contractors, Inc.

Members Reviews:

A Looooong listen

Any additional comments?

I hadn't read these stories since I was a boy and somehow remembered them fondly. They are still in print so someone must think there is something in them. But, my Lord, how verbose Irving is. Thedescriptionsofeverythingjustwentonforeverandeeverseeminglywithoutendwithnoobviouspurposethantomakethestorylonger. Audible is courteous enough to offer me a refund since I rated it so lowly, but I went into this with my eyes wide open, so I'll wait for another major disappointment before I take advantage of that offer.

John MacDonald does a fine job with the narration. How he manages NOT to sound bored means he well earned his money.I have NO desire to listen to these stories again.

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Title: Little Women

Author: Louisa May Alcott

Narrator: Flo Gibson

Format: Unabridged

Length: 18 hrs and 5 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-24-08

Publisher: Audio Book Contractors, Inc.

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 44 votes

Genres: Classics, American Literature

Publisher's Summary:

The dreams, pranks, misfortunes, and courtships of the March girls form a charming family portrait.

(P)2007 Audio Book Contractors, Inc.

Members Reviews:

The March Girls Take Charge

Flo Gibson is not my favorite narrator but she is consistent and once one gets used to her voice, the story takes over and must carry the day. Just play the sample and find out if you can make allowances. It is harder to review standards such as "Little Women". Who hasn't read, seen, heard or watched some version of this story? I have yet to see a movie adaptation better than the usual chopped-up Hollywood muddles. This seems to me to be a story about taking responsibility for oneself. When adversity pummeled the March family, they did not turn to some government agency, blame others or whine about unfairness. They devised solutions, worked hard, made good decisions and accepted responsibility. No job was beneath them. The March girls with their foibles and follies, were serious creatures and members of an admirable family who had the traits of direct descendents of New England transcendentalists including Louisa May Alcott. I had forgotten how much of this story took place in Scotland, England, France, Germany, Italy and a few other European countries including one important proposal. I started taking note of off-beat proposals years ago probably beginning with Mr. Collins' and Mr. Darcy's memorable forays into the marriage market. Laurie's off hand proposal to Amy in the little boat on the lake was excellent. Professor Bhaer's proposal to Jo while both were ankle deep in mud, in the pouring rain, was classic. Oh yes, did Meg need a proposal? I think not. What would this story look like if written today? I do not presume to know but one can speculate and I am pained to report from the evidence on bookstore shelves, the result would not be an elevation of Western Civilization. For other really good families on the home front five-star stories, check out "Rilla of Inglesides" by Lucy Maude Montgomery and "Cheerfulness Breaks In" by Angella Thirkell.

Little women - narrated by Flo Gibson

The narrator's voice was to old for the girls voices. But I do love the story.

Delightful!

This book is moving and delightful to listen to, and the narrator is perfect for the book.

Charming Story

The narrator was consistent in her characterisation. would love to hear another story like this

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Title: The Prince and the Pauper

Author: Mark Twain

Narrator: Andrew Timothy

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 12 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-03-08

Publisher: RNIB

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 75 votes

Genres: Classics, American Literature

Publisher's Summary:

One of the great literary classics of Western literature. Set in 1547, this is the tale of a London beggar boy and the English prince who exchange identities.

Mark Twain, real name Samuel Langhorne Clemens (1835-1910), is one of the Great American Novelists. Friend to presidents, artists, indutrialists and European royalty, Twain is universally renowned for his wit and astute satire.

Please note: This is a vintage recording. The audio quality may not be up to modern day standards.

Members Reviews:

don't waste your money on this production

What disappointed you about The Prince and the Pauper?

The story itself was fine, it was the narrator that made this listening experience bad. I love listening to audiobooks, and this was the worst I've heard. The narrator mispronounces/falters through words, sometimes he corrects the mispronounced words, sometimes he doesn't. There are also times where he has very long pauses between words/sentences. If this had been my first experience with an audible book I don't think I would have tried again. Luckily it wasn't.

Great Buy for the Money

There's no need to say that the book itself is excellent. It is Mark Twain and is rightly included in this "Great Literary Classics" collection. I really enjoyed Andrew Timothy's reading of this novel. It is not the sound quality of other, more expensive, audiobooks. He does stuble through a few words, but I may not have even noticed it if other reviewers hadn't pointed it out. It wasn't annoying or distracting. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will definitely be looking for other books narrated by Timothy.

Not credible but a good listen anyway

I have to admit that I always thought this was a children?s tale. Although the story is about children, it was clearly not written for them. There are scenes of great cruelty and hideous execution and one gripping episode when the young prince is kidnapped and tied up, expecting at any moment to be murdered by a homicidal priest. It?s a good story, even if very far fetched. Very different from other Mark Twain works,which has lead me to revisit some of his other books.

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Title: The Open Boat

Author: Stephen Crane

Narrator: Ken Eaken

Format: Unabridged

Length: 47 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-08-08

Publisher: Listener's Digest Inc.

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 21 votes

Genres: Classics, American Literature

Publisher's Summary:

After a shipwreck, four men drift in a dingy upon the ocean, combating the power of waves, tides, and storms in order to survive. Stephen Crane, the author of The Red Badge of Courage, vividly describes this true, two-day nightmare of struggle, bravery, and mental anguish.

©2007 Listener's Digest Inc; (P)2007 Listener's Digest Inc

Members Reviews:

A great Realist American Writer deserving of wider readership

Four men in a dinghy adrift on a sea for 30 hours. The tempest of waves and a great shark occasionally circling around the perimeter of the boat. And the men rowing endlessly as if it was their only tangible way of protesting against their fates. It all happened in reality because the author Stephen Crane himself experienced the ordeal as one of the four men from the sunk SS Commodore off the coast of Florida en route to Cuba, where Crane had been sent as a war correspondent. The story of the Open Boat is as realistic as it can be based upon a factual event the author himself was fatefully partaken in.

The four survivors of the vessel were aggregates in a dinghy bound by a remote hope of finding a rescue crew in the middle of the ocean that moved them with terrible grace of waves. The men were a captain, a cook, an oiler, and a correspondent, who was the author himself. There was a subtle brotherhood of men built in the boat who took care of each other. Crane surmised that the captain's heartfelt devotion to the safety of the motley crew resulted in comradeship, which the author himself had always regarded as a hypocritical concept of men until then.

There were indeed moments of despair as their drifting became protracted, and the author saw this as nature not regarding human as important. He would jeer at any signs of nature in any deity form because thinking of the captain and the two other seamen who had worked so hard on the sea in such distress was the abominable injustice.

Stephen Crane was a great American realist writer who later influenced Ernest Hemingway. Born in 1871 as a ninth child of Protestant Methodist parents in Newark, NJ, his literary talent began when he wrote his first poem at the age of eight. Although brilliant, Crane was not academically inclined, so he left University of Syracuse and became a kind of itinerant writer. It is said that Crane was a naturalist writer who emphasized observation in the portrayal of reality based on scientific principles of objectivity and detachment applied to the story of human characteristics. However, in my opinion, he was more of a realist writer who focused on objective, truthful presentations of details of the ordinary lives influenced by Gustave Flaubert and George Eliot. In this story, Crane's use of vocabulary was pity and straightforward with elegant expressions of emotions and feelings that so appropriately described the situations in which the characters were trapped.

After Crane's untimely death at the age of twenty-eight in a Black Forest sanitorium in Germany, Crane's works began to gain their long overdue acclaim, one of which was this story of the sunk vessel and his own experience thereof.

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Title: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

Author: Mark Twain

Narrator: William Dufris

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 33 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-25-08

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 61 votes

Genres: Classics, American Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Below Tom Sawyer's sunny surface lurk hints of a darker reality, of youthful innocence and naïveté confronting the cruelty, hypocrisy, and foolishness of the adult world - a theme that would become more pronounced in Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Despite such suggestions, Tom Sawyer remains Twain's joyful ode to the endless possibilities of childhood.

Editorial Reviews:

Tom's adventures continue to be engaging, funny, innocent, and insightful all at the same time, and are full of great characters living their nineteenth-century lives with all of America's confidence and wide-open possibilities. Dufris adopts a homey, meandering voice that doesn't match Twain's energy. He livens up a bit during dialogue scenes, but the character voices he uses for Tom and Huck don't have much depth.

Members Reviews:

Tom Sawyer brought to life!

What did you love best about The Adventures of Tom Sawyer?

This story of Mark Twain will remain a classic no matter my opinion. But the performance in this audiobook by William Dufris is extremely entertaining. He brings the characters of Tom, Huck, Aunt Polly and others to life through simply reading the words on the page - and it's done with the greatest of ease. Well worth listening to!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Tom - of course.

Which character as performed by William Dufris was your favorite?

The narration of Mark Twain himself.

Deserving of its reputation

Would you consider the audio edition of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer to be better than the print version?

Well, yeah, because I have a lot of trouble seeing to read!

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer?

When Becky turned her back on Tom Sawyer and everything to do with him

Any additional comments?

A fun romp. I had never read it before, although I heard all sorts of rumors about the book and the movie from early childhood. I always thought I should read the book, and when I did, I discovered that memories from rumors were incomplete and incorrect! Mark Twain was a wonderful spinner of tales that painted children as they actually were, as opposed to how people wanted to remember them! The two main children, Tom and Becky, as well as Huckleberry Finn, were well-rounded characters, as well as well-rounded PEOPLE.

tom Sawyer

I love it full of adventure and fun and awesome for boys and girls alike

Narration

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Not. The narration sounds pretentious. The southern accent sounds fake.

Would you recommend The Adventures of Tom Sawyer to your friends? Why or why not?

Not. The narration sounds pretentious. The southern accent sounds fake.

How could the performance have been better?

Not. The narration sounds pretentious. The southern accent sounds fake.

Was The Adventures of Tom Sawyer worth the listening time?

Not. The narration sounds pretentious. The southern accent sounds fake.

Any additional comments?

.Not. The narration sounds pretentious. The southern accent sounds fake.

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Title: Dodsworth

Author: Sinclair Lewis

Narrator: Grover Gardner

Format: Unabridged

Length: 13 hrs and 25 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-24-08

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 37 votes

Genres: Classics, American Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Both a devastating, surprisingly contemporary portrait of a marriage falling apart and a grand tour of the Europe of a bygone era, Dodsworth is stamped with Sinclair Lewis' signature satire, which is wickedly observant of America's foibles - and great fun.

Members Reviews:

Excellent

The narrator's voice was a little distracting at first when he read the females dialog. ...but I soon grew accustomed to it.

Once again, the book was far better than the film.

The trip and the book sort of went on too long

Dodsworth started out well. Sam Dodsworth picks Fran for his lifelong sweetheart, marries her, and they live more or less happily together for thirty-something years. Before they married, he promised to one day take her to Europe. After he has built up an automobile manufacturing business and become a millionaire (but not a multi-millionaire), his company is bought out by a larger company, and he opts to retire instead of joining the new company in a subsidiary role. Finally, he can take Fran to Europe. So they set out.

Sam has mixed feelings about his travels. There are scenes and people he enjoys, but Fran spoils much of the trip with her attitude about the people they meet, the service, etc. She seems to mostly want to go where she can be admired and party, and doesnt at all like the same people as Sam. Eventually they break up, and Sam meets someone more congenial after wandering around alone for a long time. Then Frans great romance breaks up, and suddenly she wants to go home with Sam again.

The book, like the tour of Europe, seemed to go on too long, making scenes that ought to have been beautiful dull and tawdry after all the unsatisfactory company.

Boring and melodramatic

A wealthy and less interesting version of Babbitt. Characters speak in ridiculous long speeches. Not Lewis' best work.

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Title: Sister Carrie

Author: Theodore Dreiser

Narrator: Jim Killavey

Format: Unabridged

Length: 16 hrs and 47 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-22-08

Publisher: Jimcin Recordings

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 26 votes

Genres: Classics, American Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Theodore Dreiser's first and perhaps greatest novel appeared in 1900. The story is about a young country girl who moves to the big city, where she starts realizing her own American Dream by embarking on a life of sin rather than by hard work and perseverance. On publication, it met with outraged disapproval and was immediately withdrawn as "too shocking and sordid for polite readers". But it is precisely in Dreiser's compassionate exploration of ordinary men and women, their frailty and humanity, that this stormy, controversial novel remains supreme.

© and (P)1989 Jimcin Recordings

Editorial Reviews:

Theodore Dreiser's novel about a young country girl who grasps the American Dream - not through hard work and perseverance, but rather, through a life of sin - was met with shock and disapproval when it was first published in 1900. But the sordid elements of the story are no more than Dreiser's exploration of the sacrifices and hardships of ordinary men and women. Narrator Jim Killavey's subtle performance is clear and precise, and he takes listeners into Carrie Meeber's rise from low-paid worker to highly-paid actress without any unnecessary frills, evoking the changes in her circumstances with sympathy.

Members Reviews:

I Loved this! Could not wait each time I listened

Any additional comments?

I felt like I was there through the whole listen. At time is was quite sad, but it just gave me a feeling for the difficluty of the times. As I have enjoyed Dreiser, this contines my passion.

slightly annoying voice

great story but the voice was annoying. kept me interested the whole book. highly recommend

Great book, not so great narration

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Absolutely I would recommend "Sister Carrie" to anybody who loves good stories.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Carrie, of course, for her guts and single-mindedness. She's not a lovable character, but in a time when women could be nothing but wives and mothers, she made her own way.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Jim Killavey?

No idea.

Do you think Sister Carrie needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

Not an option, since Theodore Dreiser is long dead, and I wouldn't be interested in anybody else writing about his great character.

Any additional comments?

The narrator mispronounced several things, the most galling being Halsted Street in Chicago. Everybody knows it rhymes with "all red," but the narrator pronounced it like "Hal Steed." Wrong on both syllables. These things are not hard to research, especially such a well-known street.

Sister Carrie

The narrator's voice is so unsuited to this classic literature that there is no point in listening. In a word, terrible.

Simply not a good narration of Sister Carrie

Listened to Sister Carrier once, when I first purchased it, and didn't care much for the narrator. At that time, I hadn't had much experience with Audible books, so I didn't have much to compare it to.

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Title: The Red Badge of Courage

Author: Stephen Crane

Narrator: Jim Roberts

Format: Unabridged

Length: 4 hrs and 54 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-17-08

Publisher: Jimcin Recordings

Ratings: 3 of 5 out of 16 votes

Genres: Classics, American Literature

Publisher's Summary:

This classic war novel is Stephen Crane's most famous work. It is considered by many critics to be the greatest war novel ever written. The setting is the civil war, and the hero (or anti-hero as it seems at first) is Henry Flemming, a young Northern boy who, swept up in the patriotic tide, joins the Union Army. He is plunged into the conflict, and his courage fails him - he runs from his first battle. He finds out later that his side was victorious, and he feels that he will never be able to face himself or his comrades again. Then, after being wounded and through a series of memorable events, he finds that he is not alone and slowly recovers his courage in time for a crucial confrontation. This is one of the most realistic war stories ever written and gives a striking depiction of how soldiers behave under fire.

(P)1980 Jimcin Recordings

Critic Reviews:

"This production features fine diction and timing from a narrator who is thoroughly comfortable with the text and delivers a dramatic and stirring reading." (Booklist)

Members Reviews:

Great for classroom use

I used portions of this in my classroom while covering this book.

The kids loved it and it led to some lively discussions.

Very well done version of this book.

read rebel yell instead

if you are looking for a good Civil War Book don't read this one read Rebel Yell it is way better. the narrator did an amazing job considering.

Classic text, boooooring narration.

I've read this novel before so I was familiar with the story; it's a little dated by today's standards but still a very enjoyable classic. I was very disappointed, however, in the narration in this particular audio version -- to call it dead-pan and lifeless is being kind. It's a story about battle and life-and-death conflict, both mental and physical! This narrator sounds like he's reading the New York Stock Exchange ticker tape.