Download Best Sellers Audiobooks in Classics, European Literature

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Title: Narcissus and Goldmund

Author: Hermann Hesse

Narrator: Simon Vance

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 41 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-01-09

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 308 votes

Genres: Classics, European Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Narcissus and Goldmund is the story of a passionate yet uneasy friendship between two men of opposite character. Narcissus, an ascetic instructor at a cloister school, has devoted himself solely to scholarly and spiritual pursuits. One of his students is the sensual, restless Goldmund, who is immediately drawn to his teacher's fierce intellect and sense of discipline. When Narcissus persuades the young student that he is not meant for a life of self-denial, Goldmund sets off in pursuit of aesthetic and physical pleasures, a path that leads him to a final, unexpected reunion with Narcissus.

©1957 Herman Hesse; (P)2009 BBC Audio

Members Reviews:

My favorite of Hesse's novels, wonderfully read.

In my college years, Hermann Hesse was one author considered required reading by my peers. I read and reread all of his better known novels and found them all worthwhile. But of all of Hesse's work, it is Narcissus and Goldmund that moved me most deeply and it is the novel (of Hesse's) to which I have returned to most often.

Like all of Hesse's novels, it is about the the pursuit of the meaning of life, but here the writing is less self-conscious, simpler in some ways, but deeper in the exploring the range of human experience. It has drama, insight, poetic vision and covers a wide range of experiences. It is very Existential in some ways, but touches on the mystical in the arts with a more profound effect than the more "metaphysical" manner of the earlier novels.

This novel is about two medieval men with a very deep friendship but with very different temperaments. The meet in a monastery (after the death of Goldmund's mother). They appear to be complete opposites each seeks to bring meaning to their existence; Narcissus seeks peace and salvation (purity of mind) within a religious life in a monastery, while Goldmund is burning with the desire to experience life and throw himself into the world.

The story is about finding one's way and being true to one's inner nature. Narcissus lives a life of constraint but one that has purpose for him. Goldmund is unhappy in the monastery, and Narcissus tells him "be yourself, try to realize yourself" and encourages him to find his own way. The men separate to following their own paths. We follow the lives of both of these men, and in their contrasting experiences.

Goldmund then wanders the world in search of adventure, love and self-discovery . He has fantastic adventures, experiences the best and worst of humanity surrounded by the Black Plague; and in the mist of all these hardships, he finds meaning and beauty. After being profoundly touched by the beauty of wooden statue of the Madonna, the artist within himself awakens giving a new purpose and direction for his life. He seeks out the artist and becomes his apprentice. He develops his own skills, sacrificing the wild experiences and settling down to work (at least for the duration of the work) and he creates a sculpture of great merit.

Hesse writes powerfully and beautifully on the conflict between the Apollonian (understanding; form, order, restraint, conforming, the world of the intellect/mind) and the Dionysian (experience; passion, frivolity, lust, expression, the world of images/symbol/beauty). Hesse is able to bring out the conflict between flesh and spirit, emotion and control, ambition and modesty.

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Title: The Three Musketeers

Author: Alexandre Dumas

Narrator: John Lee

Format: Unabridged

Length: 23 hrs and 38 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-03-09

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 2590 votes

Genres: Classics, European Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Mixing a bit of seventeenth-century French history with a great deal of invention, Alexandre Dumas tells the tale of young D'Artagnan and his musketeer comrades, Porthos, Athos, and Aramis. Together they fight to foil the schemes of the brilliant, dangerous Cardinal Richelieu, who pretends to support the king while plotting to advance his own power. Bursting with swirling swordplay, swooning romance, and unforgettable figures---including the seductively beautiful but deadly femme fatale, Milady, and D'Artagnan's equally beautiful love, Madame Bonacieux---The Three Musketeers continues, after a century and a half of continuous publication, to define the genre of swashbuckling romance and historical adventure.

©1923 Public Domain; (P)2008 Tantor

Editorial Reviews:

Of course you've heard of the three famous swordsmen, but did you know that the novel is really funny, as well as replete with romance and adventure? John Lee does, and his narration plays up all three attributes to great effect. For those who need a reminder, Dumas's classic adventure presents the escapades of three of King Louis's musketeers, Athos, Porthos, and Aramis, plus D'Artagnan (a musketeer in training) as they foil a few of Cardinal Richelieu's many devious plots. Amid much swordplay, they actually utter the famous line: "All for one and one for all." Lee struggles a bit with accents and characterizations early in the production. His hesitations disappear after a few chapters, however, and he gives fine voice to the rest of the madcap tale.

Members Reviews:

What Fun!

Reading The Three Musketeers was great fun! I especially loved the way it ended. I count it among my favorites now, and will no doubt read it again. The impressive combination of Alexandre Dumas and John Lee brought it to life for me in a way I didn't think possible. I love it!

***NOTE 1: Thanks to Audible and John Lee for making this experience possible. It was important to me that the experience be authentic, realistic, and free flowing. Through Audible's and John Lee's efforts, everything that I feared would make reading a noted classic like this cumbersome or difficult???has disappeared. Instead, it was just... amazing!

***NOTE 2: Mr. Lee, PLEASE narrate James Clavell's Shogun and King Rat! I think only you could really do them justice.

This is one book for all. All for one?

Much richer and fuller than any movie or adaptation I've seen before. It is an epic and long but well worth it. Who knew...

Don't miss this book

What did you love best about The Three Musketeers?

It's a classic, what's not to love?

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Three Musketeers?

The whole book was memorable. In today's society, it's easy to get lost in the language but don't let that stop you. The fight between Dartanian and the three Muskateers near the beginning was my favorite part. Especially seeing as they bonded so closely after that.

Which character as performed by John Lee was your favorite?

Dartanian was my favorite. He was a proud man with a good heart and fierce loyalties.

Any additional comments?

Do yourself a favor and stick with this book. Once it grabs you, you'll be hooked.

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Title: Remembrance of Things Past

Subtitle: Swann's Way

Author: Marcel Proust, Scott Moncrieff - translator

Narrator: John Rowe

Format: Unabridged

Length: 19 hrs and 44 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-12-09

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 221 votes

Genres: Classics, European Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Exclusively from Audible

Swann's Way is Marcel Proust's literary masterpiece and the first part of the multivolume audiobook Remembrance of Things Past.

In the opening volume, the narrator travels back in time to recall his childhood and to introduce the listener to Charles Swann, a wealthy friend of the family and celebrity in the Parisian social scene. He again travels back, this time to the youth of Charles Swann in the French town of Combray, to tell the story of the love affair that took place before his own birth. The jealous love that Swann feels for the courtesan Odette, is a foretelling of the narrator's own future relationships.

Proust paints an unforgettable, scathing and at times comic portrait of French society at the close of the 19th century and reveals a profound vision of obsessive love. The remarkable details from his memory are the fundamental triumph of the audiobook; details like his younger self's desperate need for a goodnight kiss from his mother.

In 1922, Virginia Woolf marvelled, 'Oh if I could write like that!'

Many adaptations have been made of Swann's Way including the 1984 English language film, Swann in Love, starring Jeremy Irons, and a graphic novel by French comic artist Stéphane Heuet that was first published in 1998.

Narrator Biography

Whilst training at the Birmingham School of Speech and Drama, John Rowe did his first radio plays for the BBC before spending several years acting in repertory theatre. He then joined the BBC's Radio Drama Company at Broadcasting House and after a three year stint on stage with the Prospect Company at The Old Vic he became a committed radio actor. He is well known for his role as Professor Jim Lloyd in The Archers. He has not only worked extensively in radio but also in television and film, as well as narrating many audiobooks, including Within a Budding Grove by Marcel Proust. His film appearances have included The Heart of Me (2002) and Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India (2001). He has most recently appeared on onscreen in the Netflix series The Crown (2016) and the BBC TV series Broken (2017).

Members Reviews:

EXCELLENT!

Proust's writing is perfect and John Rowe's delivery is perfect. settle into Swann's Way (Pt. 1 and Pt 2) as though you were settling into a huge comfy chair with all the time in the world stretched out before you and you will NEVER regret the time spent listening to this version of volume 1 of In Search of Lost Time. to the contrary. you will quickly purchase the other volumes, cancel all appointments, turn off the phone, give up on facebook, and listen with awe and keen interest to John Rowe read Marcel Proust. what more could a book and an audiobook deliver?! the time is most definitely not lost. ohmygoodness.

Perfect for walking

One of the things I love about audiobooks is listening to them as I walk. I think this audiobook is perfectly suited to walking, as Proust is often describing his thoughts as he walks. I have downloaded other versions of Swan's way, but this one is the best. The narrator is a little fast sometimes, however given the length - this is not much of a problem. Overall, this is highly recommended and I have totally enjoyed it!

What a pleasure!

Having lost my energy to read Proust a couple of times in the past I am thrilled to have discovered the audible version.

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Title: Vanity Fair

Author: William Makepeace Thackeray

Narrator: John Castle

Format: Unabridged

Length: 31 hrs and 6 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-09-09

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 494 votes

Genres: Classics, European Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Exclusively from Audible

Set during the time of the Napoleonic Wars, this classic gives a satirical picture of a worldly society. The audiobook revolves around the exploits of the impoverished but beautiful and devious Becky Sharp who craves wealth and a position in society. Calculating and determined to succeed, she charms, deceives and manipulates everyone she meets.

A story of early 19th-century English society, it takes its title from the place designated as the centre of human corruption in John Bunyan's 17th-century allegory Pilgrim's Progress.

Receiving popular and critical success on first publication, the novel is considered Thackeray's masterpiece, and this satire of society is as relevant now as when it first appeared. In 2003, Vanity Fair was listed at Number 122 on the BBC's The Big Read poll of the UK's best-loved books.

Thackeray was born in Calcutta in 1811. After his father's death, he was sent to be educated in England at five years old, while is mother remarried in India. The canings and abuses he received in private boarding schools formed a basis for some of his work as did the culture of Anglo-Indians which also featured prominently.

Narrator Biography

After training at RADA, John's professional career began in 1964 at the Regent's Park Theatre.

Film credits include Michelangelo Antonioni's Blow Up, The Lion in Winter, Man of La Mancha, King David, Antony and Cleopatra, Robocop 2 and The Sparrow. Theatre credits include Bloody Sunday (The Tricycle Theatre), Claudius in Hamlet (National Theatre), Rat in the Skull (Duke of York's Theatre), End Game (Tron Theatre, Glasgow), Shylock in The Merchant of Venice (London Shakespeare Group), Infidelities (The Boulevard Theatre), and Breaking the Code (The Comedy Theatre). Television credits include Tracate Middoth, The Fixer, Spooks, Poirot, Silent Witness, The Holocaust on Trial, Casualty, Princes in the Tower, Gods and Generals, Fight Against Slavery, Ben Hall, I, Claudius, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, and Lillie.

Members Reviews:

A book that was meant to be read aloud!

The narrator for this book was born to give us the beauty of the spoken words of Thackeray. There is no better way to follow the escapades of the characters of Vanity Fair!

Wonderful Narration

The narrator of this story is quite easy to listen to and has a very engaging voice and tone. Highly recommended!

The Best Narration, One of the Greats

I agree with the reviewer who said that John Castle was born to narrate this book. I don't think his performance can be bettered. I had no idea that Vanity Fair was so good, or that Thackeray was such an interesting writer. It's hard to be in Dicken's shadow, I suppose. This was a great buy.

Fun Book, Incredible Narrator

This classic is wonderfully written--insightful and extremely funny and entertaining. If all narrators could be as fabulous as John Castle, how happy I would be. He's a true actor who gives the characters their own voices, and his accents are spot on.

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Title: Madame Bovary

Subtitle: Classic Collection

Author: Gustave Flaubert, Eleanor Marx-Aveling (translator)

Narrator: Simon Vance

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 39 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-16-09

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 150 votes

Genres: Classics, European Literature

Publisher's Summary:

A brilliant psychological portrait, Madame Bovary searingly depicts the human mind in search of transcendence. Acclaimed as a masterpiece upon its publication in 1857, it catapulted Flaubert to the ranks of the world's greatest novelists and ushered in a new age of realism in literature.

Critic Reviews:

"It still astonishes. If one were to ask, 'World, which is the most perfect novel ever written?' the world would immediately answer:

Madame Bovary. " (

Washington Post Book World)"

Madame Bovary is like the railroad stations erected in its epoch: graceful, even floral, but cast of iron." (John Updike)

Members Reviews:

A masterpiece. The narrator does it justice.

Of course a book like this is a must listen especially if you have not read it.

All depends on the performance and here the narrator doesn't disappoint.

I have read this a few times and it was a pleasure to find that listening to it brought a fresh perspective. It is a good translation which does Flaubert justice.

If you don't know the story you have a great pleasure waiting for you.

Great value.

A fantastic first read

This was the first book I downloaded from Audible, because a friend of mine was also reading it. It's been years since I read Madame Bovary and I was captured all over again by its brilliance and incredible language, scene setting, character development... Simon Vance's reading voice is perfect: comforting, articulate, soothing. Just a true pleasure.

Bored French women are trouble

Lessons learned in 300 pages/11 hours: Bored French women are trouble. Men are NOT to be trusted. Doctors don't know jack. If you want your kids to have a good job, raise them to be pharmacists or pawn brokers. Don't buy crap you can't afford. Don't get into debt. If you are going to kill yourself, do it right. Hide your notes. Marry for love.

Simon Vance does it again!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Madam Bovary is a masterpiece of literature. He carefully constructs a scenario which draws the reader into a deeper understanding of the "human condition" with vibrant characters, wonderful prose, and commentary on the yearnings of the human heart.

What other book might you compare Madame Bovary to and why?

Thatcher's "Vanity Fair" discusses the same issues, yet with a satirical wit, that ultimately draws the reader in.

What about Simon Vances performance did you like?

Simon Vance is a wonderful narrator. His voice and elocution is easy on the ears and his performance speaks to his grasp of the writer's intent.

Great Classic for the romantic at heart

Great Classic for the Romanic at heart.

I had not read this in school so finally got to it and realized it was a simple yet pleasing novel on what we would see today as a simple love, yet in the time this was a toil of near Spakespearian tragedic.

What woman would not wish for a man to love her as Emma was loved in her last.

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Title: Dangerous Liaisons

Author: Pierre Choderlos De Laclos

Narrator: Gabriel Woolf

Format: Unabridged

Length: 15 hrs and 39 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-05-09

Publisher: RNIB

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 93 votes

Genres: Classics, European Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Les Liaisons dangereuses (Dangerous Liaisons) is a French epistolary novel by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos.

First published in four volumes by Durand Neveu from March 23, 1782, the book cause scandal on its release.

The story, composed entirely of letters written by the various characters to each other, tells of the Marquise de Merteuil and the Vicomte de Valmont, two rivals who use sex as a weapon to humiliate and degrade others,The story, composed entirely of letters written by the various characters to each other, tells of the Marquise de Merteuil and the Vicomte de Valmont, two rivals who use sex as a weapon to humiliate and degrade othersThe story, composed entirely of letters written by the various characters to each other, tells of the Marquise de Merteuil and the Vicomte de Valmont, two rivals who use sex as a weapon to humiliate and degrade others, uncaring of those who face social ruin or whose hearts are broken. It depicts a decadent and corrupt aristocracy exposing the perversions of the so-called Ancien Regime. The relevance of this grew due to the ensuing the French Revolution.

Pierre Ambroise Francois Choderlos de Laclos (1741 - 1803) was a French novelist, official and army general.

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

Members Reviews:

Amazing story.

This is a great story. I highly enjoyed listening to the audiobook and the reader did a fantastic job. My only complaint is that this audiobook was adapted from cassette and there is a spot where you are told to turn the tape over. This should have been edited out. It seems that during this spot part of the text of the book was missed. For a moment I was confused. Because the audiobook was cheep and the reader so good, it can be over looked. If it wasn't for that I would have given it 5 stars instead of 4. Besides this I highly recommend this audiobook. It is worth the listen.

Good but long!

I knew what I was getting into. I like long stories but this one seemed unusally long. A french narrator, who's very good, reads the 200+ letters that compromise correspondence between two manipulators and other lesser characters in 18th century Paris. Fascinating as character studies but maybe too long. Also, a lot of deciphering, reading between the lines and if you let your attention drift, you lose what's going on as it is never told as a narrative but just letter after letter. Overall, good narrator, good characters, interesting.

could be good

the preface was nearly impossible to understand sounding as if the narrator had swallowed the microphone, i am finding the the sound quality is not very good at all and i am glad i paid only about $2 for it

i feel that if the audio was cleaned up a bit the narrator would not be able to ruin the story so much

Remastered from cassette tapes!!

This audio book was remastered from cassette tapes and sounds really terrible. Shame on you Audible for publishing something like this. The narrator even says "please turn cassette tape" in the middle of one of the chapters. Pathetic!

A must read- enjoy the language

Read this book twice, and watched the movie - love it! This book is full of observations and reflections on human behavior and thought that is applicable across generations. The language is the paramount of sophistication and literary wit.

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Title: Don Quixote

Author: Miguel de Cervantes

Narrator: Julian Reinoso

Format: Unabridged

Length: 34 hrs and 42 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-20-08

Publisher: Alpha DVD

Ratings: 2.5 of 5 out of 44 votes

Genres: Classics, European Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Published in two volumes a decade apart, Don Quixote is the most influential work of literature to emerge from the Spanish Golden Age and perhaps the entire Spanish literary canon. As a founding work of modern Western literature, it regularly appears at the top of lists of the greatest works of fiction ever published.

(P)2008 Alpha DVD LLC

Members Reviews:

Narration difficult to understand

I understand that this book was originally written in Spanish. The reason for translating it into English is so we English speakers can understand and enjoy this great story.

The narrator's thick Spanish accent and poor pronunciation of English words makes it very difficult to understand what he is saying all of the time.

I find myself having to rewind a great deal to catch words and phrases. (And this is a long book.)

When I listen to narrations of Tolstoy and Dostoevsky I listen to a pleasant, understandable English accent. The audio publishers felt no need to hire a narrator with a thick Russian accent and poor English pronunciation skills.

I just listened to "The White Tiger". An excellent book. Takes place in India. The Narrator, Mr Lee, narrates with an excellent Indian accent to give us a sense that we are listening to an Indian story. He does so with totally understandable English pronunciation.

There is no crime to speak with an accent, if you have excellent English pronunciation skills. This narrator does not.

A non-native speaker struggling to read English??

I purchased this hastily, which makes me partly responsible, but I find it hard to believe that this reader was approved. There are non-native speakers who speak wonderfully and whose accents add charm to the reading, but unfortunately this is not one of them. Julian Reinoso is fairly comprehensible, but there are too many moments when his pronunciation proves to be a barrier between the listener and the story itself. His intonations are robotic and he places accents at strange points in many words. The result is that you often have to stuggle or rewind just to make sense of what he is saying. There is no natural flow of the language whatsoever.

It goes without saying that clarity of pronunciation and natural flow should be top priorities for an audiobook. I am still puzzled as to how this reading of 30 + hours was approved when the reader is so difficult to understand. I do not recommend this audiobook.

I am going to try the Robert Whitfield reading, which from the sample sounds much clearer and enjoyable than this unfortunate version.

Wish I Read the Review Before Ordering

The previous review nailed it. A classic when read, a nightmare to listen to, if Audible had a money back guarantee this would be one that would be going back. Save your credits.

Poor reader

A beautiful novel in both Spanish and English is made hard to understand by a heavily accented reader with very poor pronunciation. I wish for a better reader

I agree.

This version was pretty bad. I intend on reviewing the ratings of other listeners in the future. I could have saved myself some time and annoyance.

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Title: Heidi

Author: Johanna Spyri

Narrator: Marnie MacAdam

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 33 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-11-08

Publisher: Brilliance Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 154 votes

Genres: Classics, European Literature

Publisher's Summary:

From the goatherder Peter and his family to the sickly girl Clara and her desperate father, Heidi's special charm enriches everyone she meets. Unselfish to the core, Heidi's goodness overcomes all obstacles - even those seemingly insurmountable.

Remembered and loved as a child's story, Heidi remains a testimony of redemption and salvation for all ages. Uplifting and enjoyable, Heidi makes superior family listening.

Members Reviews:

Auditory quality not acceptable

Any additional comments?

This is a book I thought I knew, having been as a child exposed to the story more than once. Rereading it as an adult, expecting only to indulge my nostalgia, I was surprised by the richness of the description, the complexity of the characters, and interest of a good story well told. The book is well narrated -- good pace, good voice characterization for each of the characters. Unfortunately, the quality of the recording is very poor. For this reason alone I would never recommend it. I hope Audible reexamines and finds a way to salvage this otherwise excellent recording of a fine classic.

Overly dramatic reading

What disappointed you about Heidi?

I love this story.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

The reader has ruined this classic tale by over dramatizing all the characters. It's to the point of distraction. My 9 year old, who loves books on tape, doesnt want to listen to Heidi because of the reading treatment.

Minnesota accent for Swedish story.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

I really wanted to not mind the narration because this is my favourite translation of the book (vastly better than the other), but wow, she really is unusual. The narrator not only has a strong Minnesotan accent, but she made all the characters really excited all the time, and--most offensively--does the voices like characters out of Scooby-Doo. Seriously, I kept picturing the ordinarily respectable characters sounding like caricatures.

Any additional comments?

It's an lovely book. Sweet, calm and happy.

Great story, needs better recording!

I enjoyed the story however the recording seemed poor, whereas the reader being difficult to understand.

I Waited Too Long to Read This

This is one of the few times where I liked the movie better than the book. Not that the book was bad. I just didn't catch the vision of it. Perhaps I should have read it as a young person. I would probably have appreciated it more than I do now. I did get to see the movie with the irrepressible Shirley Temple multiple times as a child (we didn't have the capability of seeing a movie any time we wanted back then - had to wait until it came on TV, perhaps once every other year). I had a hard time believing in the deep relationship between Heidi and the Grandfather in the book, whereas the movie made it easy to see through him and into his heart. Just my observations. But I definitely think it is worth reading, especially if you are a youngster.

As this book has been recorded by multiple narrators, i was careful to choose the one I thought was best. I thoroughly enjoyed Marnie MacAdam's narration. It was natural and engaging. Some of the others I listened to had annoying pronunciations that I could never have listened to over a long period of time. I'm glad I chose her.

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Title: Demian

Subtitle: The Story of Emil Sinclair's Youth

Author: Hermann Hesse

Narrator: Jeff Woodman

Format: Unabridged

Length: 5 hrs and 46 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-13-08

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 205 votes

Genres: Classics, European Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Here is the dramatic story of young, docile Emil Sinclair's descent - led by precocious schoolmate Max Demian - into a secret and dangerous world of petty crime and revolt against convention and eventual awakening to selfhood. A brilliant psychological portrait of a troubled young man's quest for self-awareness, this coming-of-age novel achieved instant critical and popular acclaim upon its 1919 publication. A landmark in the history of 20th-century literature, it reflects the author's preoccupation with the duality of human nature and the pursuit of spiritual fulfillment.

©1925 Fischer Verlag; ©1965 Harper and Row, Publishers, Incorprated; ©1948 Holt, Rinehart & Winston, Inc. (Introduction); (P)2008 BBC Audiobooks America

Members Reviews:

Demian

We listened to Demian on a long car journey. It is a very dense, complex piece of writing...but we greatly enjoyed it! We still have a few chapters left, and we tried to listen to it on the hifi at home but it's the type of story that works best in the car - just you in the pod with the narrator! It would make a good companion on a long flight, for example. The introduction, giving biographical information about Hesse, was also useful. I'd remembered him from school (Siddhartha) but didn't know much about his life. The story of Demian is interesting, because the path it's going to follow isn't obvious. The imagery and characterisations are well-drawn, I think - certainly I have pictures in my head as the narrator relates the story (I hasten to add that I am the passenger in the car!). In short, it's worth investing the time in Demian.

Books that make you a better person.

This book is a guide and a journey in which you will re-discover yourself, beliefs, religion, and maturity..

No doubt this book must be read more than once through your life...

amazing

hard to understand but really such an amazing story that really is personal. thanks kim namjoon #btsarmy

A new favorite

Having already read many of Hesse's works, steppenwolf, n & g, Glass Bead Game among others it is refreshing to read his earlier Demian. In it are many familiar at themes he went on to explore throughout his career society v the individual, morality v sensuality, the master and apprentice, transformation, and transcendence. Here they are clear and simply expressed without the adornment of his later works.

Spiritual journey

A spiritual novel narrated by a voice seems coming directly from your soul,can anything be more magnificenly fair?

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Title: Ulysses

Author: James Joyce

Narrator: Jim Norton

Format: Unabridged

Length: 27 hrs and 16 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-31-08

Publisher: Naxos AudioBooks

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 1363 votes

Genres: Classics, European Literature

Publisher's Summary:

While Bloom's passionate wife, Molly, conducts yet another illicit liasion (with her concert manager), Bloom finds himself getting into arguments with drunken nationalists and wild carousing with excitable medical students, before rescuing Stephen Dedalus from a brawl and returning with him to his own basement kitchen.

In the hands of Jim Norton and Marcella Riordan, experienced and stimulating Joycean readers, and carefully directed by Roger Marsh, Ulysses becomes accessible as never before. It is entertaining, immediate, funny, and rich in classical, philosophical, and musical allusion.

Critic Reviews:

"As ambitious and rewarding an audio production as any that exists, an audio experience that truly deserves to be cherished....Readers of Ulysses have long been encouraged to read out loud the more difficult sections for added comprehension and enjoyment of the language. Now, thanks to Naxos, the entire book is available in a performance to savor. It is safe to say that anyone wanting to experience the preeminent work of modern fiction has in this package the perfect audio companion." (AudioFile)

Members Reviews:

Ulysses (Unabridged)

This book was well worth the money and time invested - a master work which was read accurately and in keeping with the spirit and culture of the writer. The Irish accents of each character were deftly done and easy to identify for without the changes in irish dialect for different characters it would have been very difficult to follow - this book is like Shakespeare - easier followed when performed than when read. Some of the passages were in turn hilarious and disturbing - I was constantly impressed by the narrators skills. The book is NOT AN EASY LISTEN - it requires and deserves a lot of concentration which many folks wont be interested in giving it - it took me a long time to get through, but it was entirely worth it and I doubt if I would have had the stamina to read through the book. The narrators accents and infusion of life and character into the text were wonderful. I intend to listen to this one at least twice to get full richness of the work - Highly recommended.

let it flow!

The narration is flawless. NOT too fast... NOT mumbled...excellent modulation and everything...

The audio quality is excellent.

The writing is fascinating. It is not a novel which you try to "follow". If you do , you end up writing a negative review of it. The style is stream of consciousness, so you just let it flow in, through and around you.

I could never have read through the whole thing, so I'm grateful for this wonderful recording.

Extraordinary!!!!!!

I have never heard a better reading of a novel than this amazing version of Ulysses. What a great reading! The spoken word brings this work so vividly to life, with all its accents, inflections, stage directions, and the music of the language. It is actually easier to follow and understand than reading the book itself. An unforgettable, wonderful experience! Highly recommended.

More often discussed than read. I can see why...

Any additional comments?

First things first, hats off to Jim Norton for an inspired interpretation of what is not an easy read by any stretch of the imagination. Norton at least makes it possible for the listener to, by and large, keep up with what's happening. Most of the time.

Look, I can see why people rave about the genius of the book.