Download the Best Full Audiobooks in Classics, American Literature

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Title: An American Tragedy

Author: Theodore Dreiser

Narrator: Dan John Miller

Format: Unabridged

Length: 34 hrs and 16 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-19-11

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 420 votes

Genres: Classics, American Literature

Publisher's Summary:

An American Tragedy is the story of Clyde Griffiths, who spends his life in the desperate pursuit of success. On a deeper, more profound level, it is the masterful portrayal of the society whose values both shape Clyde's ambitions and seal his fate; it is an unsurpassed depiction of the harsh realities of American life and of the dark side of the American dream. Extraordinary in scope and power, vivid in its sense of wholesale human waste, unceasing in its rich compassion, An American Tragedy stands as Theodore Dreiser's supreme achievement.

First published in 1925 and based on an actual criminal case, An American Tragedy was the inspiration for the 1951 film A Place in the Sun, which won six Academy Awards and starred Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift.

Members Reviews:

a period piece, still resonant

Though most of the factory girls who make our clothes are now overseas, Dreiser's themes of social inequality, evangelical Christianity, the death penalty, and access to birth control and abortion are disquietingly familiar today. Dreiser (who partied with anarchist Emma Goldman) is sensitive and unsparing in his exploration of these issues. Protagonist Clyde Griffiths would probably make the list of "fifty boyfriends worse than yours," but narrator Dan John Miller gives him the necessary charm to make his story credible. The book drags a bit near the end, but is memorable overall.

Funny in Perspective

I found this book funny on almost every page. Not ha-ha funny, but a mild warm sardonic funny. This is not a classic tragedy of fate directing the characters to untimely deaths, instead, through an unbiased narrator, we see nature simply take its course without morality or judgment or even meaning, towards untimely death. The narrator seems not to be God, but some neutral naturalistic viewer of all the characters and situations, and from this perspective everything, including death, may seem funny.

If you dont see the very subtle humor in this novel early on, it will likely seem tediously long and slow, as the novel follows the main characters developing motivations, beliefs, and actions as they slowly and inevitability, unfold. This powerful inevitability reminds me of Russia writers, as such inevitability is rare in American novels. As I saw the silliness of the characters choices (which will certainly lead to unpleasant consequences) I felt compassion, yet I had to chuckle.

The characters are very well developed, even the very minor characters, yet I related more with the narrator than any of the characters, and the story was, of course, predictable. I was moved by this writing and think I will be affected by the undercurrents of this novel for quite some time to come.

The narration was flawless, using subtle tones of voice to reflect the subtle inconsistencies and indecision within the characters.

Brilliant

Great story, perfectly delivered. Add to your top 100 list of all-time great pieces of literature.

I highly recommend this book.

Chris Reich

Worth every minute

This book is exceptionally long. I was daunted by the length, but found it utterly compelling. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. The minutiae of the writing reveals much about the historical period. This is very different from the movie adaptation "A Place in the Sun" which softens the story. The author does not tell you how to feel about the characters and the events, leaving you to make up your own mind.

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Title: Typee

Subtitle: A Peep at Polynesian Life

Author: Herman Melville

Narrator: George Guidall

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 34 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-13-11

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 37 votes

Genres: Classics, American Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Herman Melville is one of the greatest figures in literary history. His classic Moby Dick is generally considered the finest novel ever written by an American. Yet in Melvilles day, Typee was a far more popular book. Largely autobiographical, this classic adventure story is set in the South Seas, where a runaway sailor is captured by the Typees. Described as a fierce and unrelenting tribe of savages," the islanders have no intention of letting their captive go.

Editorial Reviews:

You probably heard of this novel when studying Melville in high school or college. You learned that it's a minor work and haven't thought of it since. But this was Melville's most popular book during his lifetime. It's a great adventure story, told by a master storyteller, and gives the feeling of having been lived firsthand. (For the most part, it was.) George Guidall provides a spirited narration of the plot-driven passages and enlivens expositional chapters (for example, Melville's extensive anthropological observations). Guidall's gift for wry humor and the arch comment serves him (and listeners) well throughout.

Members Reviews:

Peeping Typee is Tapu; Reading Typee is Noa!

Herman Melville's first book Typee is a blend of creative memoir, cultural commentary, and good story telling. Melville recounts and elaborates on his experiences among the Typee cannibals on the French Polynesian island of Nuku Hiva (Marquesas Islands) in 1842. Typee ended up being Meville's best-selling book during his lifetime, no doubt due to both his skill as a writer mated with his romantic story of life among Polynesian savages.

The book flows nicely and balances between the chasms of cultural superiority & nobel savage worship that can easily dominate these types of books. Reading this made me think of similar types of long-form journalism that catch fire in our day (Junger to Theroux to Conover to Vollmann). While approachable, it isn't Melville's best work, but shows early signs of motifs that would show up later in Moby-Dick, Billy Budd, etc.

Great treatment

The narrator does a wonderful job with this minor classic. Part novel, mostly travelogue, and full of charming descriptions and turns of phrase.

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Title: The Jungle

Author: Upton Sinclair

Narrator: George Guidall

Format: Unabridged

Length: 15 hrs and 58 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-13-11

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 435 votes

Genres: Classics, American Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Few books have so affected radical social changes as The Jungle, first published serially in 1906. Exposing unsanitary conditions in the meat-packing industry in Chicago, Sinclair's novel gripped Americans by the stomach, contributing to the passage of the first Food and Drug Act. If you've never read this classic novel, don't be put off by its gruesome reputation. Upton Sinclair was a Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist who could turn even an exposé into a tender and moving novel.

Jurgis Rudkus, a Lithuanian immigrant, comes to America in search of a fortune for his family. He accepts the harsh realities of a working man's lot, laboring with naive vigor - until, his health and family sacrificed, he understands how the heavy wheels of the industrial machine can crush the strongest spirit.

Editorial Reviews:

Before there was Eric Schlosser, Michael Pollan, or Morgan Spurlock, there was Upton Sinclair. Sinclair's classic novel - an exposé of the Chicago meatpacking industry at the at the turn of the twentieth century - achieves new life as an audiobook. Narrator George Guidall's passionate rendering of the text makes it possible to visualize the vicious and grotesque conditions inside the slaughterhouses, and the impoverished immigrants who worked there, in a way that reading the text alone might not convey.

Members Reviews:

THIS is an American Tragedy

I know it's not actually titled "An American Tragedy" (that's another classic), but this book really details a tragic life in tragic circumstances. In fact, I found it so painfully dismal, I had to stop half way through to listen to another book before coming back to it because it was so intense. Don't let that stop you, though, because it's a book well worth listening too.

It's best known as a muckraking book about the appalling conditions of the Chicago meatpacking plants at the turn of the 20th century, and almost all of the descriptions in the book were found to be true - and two important pieces of food safety legislation were enacted because of it. In fact, Upton Sinclair spent almost 2 months "undercover" working in the meatpacking plants before writing this book - which was originally published in installments.

What struck me more, though, was the horrific situation of the workers, not just in the meatpacking plants themselves, but also their housing and social situations. How new immigrants had been targeted in Europe and encouraged to come to work in the Chicago plants, lured with promises of a land of plenty -- only to find a different reality when they arrived unskilled, unable to speak English, and unprepared for the scam artists of an unregulated marketplace. Wickedly dangerous workplace conditions (resulting in gangrenous wounds, chemical burns, and respiratory failure), ridiculously crowded living conditions (sharing a mattress to sleep in shifts at the boarding house), and high district unemployment that resulted in men begging for work each morning and low wages.

Upton Sinclair, with his clearly socialist leanings in this book, says he aimed for the heart of his reader (with these depictions of unfairly harsh circumstances), but hit the readers' stomachs instead (with depiction of the meatpacking situations).

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Title: Mark Twain's Niagara (BBC Radio 4: Afternoon Reading)

Author: Mark Twain

Narrator: Stuart Milligan

Format: Original Recording

Length: 13 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-06-11

Publisher: BBC Worldwide Limited

Genres: Classics, American Literature

Publisher's Summary:

A classic short story by Mark Twain, originally broadcast in the Afternoon Reading slot on BBC Radio 4 on 9 November 2010, to accompany the 'Autobiography of Mark Twain' (aired on Book of the Week'). Read by Stuart Millligan.

This is the last of three of Twains classic short story broadcasts featuring the McWilliamses, with his familiar trademarks of high farce and droll insight. In Niagara, the McWilliamses plan a day trip to those intrepid Falls to tramp exciting trails and meet some friendly Red Indians. But the best laid plans...Read by Stuart Milligan and produced by Duncan Minshull.

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Title: Mark Twain's The McWilliamses and the Burglar Alarm (BBC Radio 4: Afternoon Reading)

Author: Mark Twain

Narrator: Stuart Milligan

Format: Original Recording

Length: 13 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-05-11

Publisher: BBC Worldwide Limited

Genres: Classics, American Literature

Publisher's Summary:

A classic short story by Mark Twain, originally broadcast in the Afternoon Reading slot on BBC Radio 4 on 9 November 2010, to accompany the 'Autobiography of Mark Twain' (aired on Book of the Week'). Read by Stuart Millligan. This is the first of three of Twains classic short story broadcasts featuring the McWilliamses, with his familiar trademarks of high farce and droll insight. In The McWilliamses and The Burglar Alarm it becomes apparent that their home would be better off with a state of the art security device - if it works, that is...Read by Stuart Milligan and produced by Duncan Minshull.

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Title: Sweet Thursday

Author: John Steinbeck

Narrator: Jerry Farden

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 56 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-15-11

Publisher: Penguin Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 271 votes

Genres: Classics, American Literature

Publisher's Summary:

In Monterey, on the California coast, Sweet Thursday is what they call the day after Lousy Wednesday, which is one of those days that is just naturally bad. Returning to the scene of Cannery Row, the weedy lots and junk heaps and flophouses of Monterey, John Steinbeck once more brings to life the denizens of a netherworld of laughter and tearsfrom Fauna, new headmistress of the local brothel, to Hazel, a bum whose mother must have wanted a daughter.

Critic Reviews:

An emphatic and clear-cut statement of Steinbecks greatest theme: the common bonds of humanity and love which make goodness and happiness possible. (The New Republic)

"A postwar continuation of Cannery Row, [Sweet Thursday is] every bit as juicy and relaxed as the original.... This is comedybawdy, sentimental, and good fun. (The Atlantic)

Members Reviews:

The total is Greater than the Sum of its Parts

Take one of the finest and most warmly whimsical books ever written and couple it with a virtuoso reading and you have "Sweet Thursday", read by Jerry Farden. As with "Cannery Row", Jerry brings each character to life in a way that allows the listener to see them surely as Steinbeck saw them. They spring to life with a flavor and sensory dimension that transcends both the written and spoken genres alone. The listener can see, hear and smell the life at that time during those events at Cannery Row. Surely one of the finest couplings of written works and audio performances to be found here at Audible or indeed anywhere. I cannot recommend this book enough. I have listened to this performance on cassette hundreds of times and worn out the cassettes. Each listen is as fresh as the first. I am delighted to find a digital copy of this timeless performance. You may ask; how can you listen to a BOOK that many times? Well, like an outstanding symphonic performance; each listen allows the ear to catch nuances unheard before and to revisit old favorites yet again. The same can be said here. Give it a listen a few dozen times and see if it is not true with this performance as well. Enjoy!!!!

I JUST LOVED IT AND WISH FOR MORE !!

I just cant tell you how much I enjoyed this book. It conveys a time , place and feel that seems to come right out my dreams. This is the follow-up book to cannery row, and I would say that if you liked cannery row, you'll like sweet Thursday even more. God how I wish I lived in that beautifully simple time and place. I'm sure I did in a previous life cause I've dreamed about it my whole life. Early thirty`s america- poor, simple and happy Is what and where I was and Ive been trying to find it or the likes of it my whole life. cept the poor part, I couldn't handle poverty at my stage of age

This book jumps to the early post ww2 years but nothing has changed in terms of progression to cannery row. New characters appear and the opera continues. I dont think these 2 books are for everyone, there will be some who wont appreciate them but If your like me you'll eat them up and morn there ending. Damn why didnt he keep writing this series oh- well notin but spilt milk.... It seems like. I'm going through a steinbeck frenzy. Ive read grapes of wrath, East of Eden, travels in america, cannery row ,sweet thursday and am now on winter of our discontent.

East of eden is my favorite in the one extreme- its remarkably complex,deep and rewarding. while sweet Thursday is the yang- its fun,funny and warm.

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Title: The Red Pony

Author: John Steinbeck

Narrator: Frank Muller

Format: Unabridged

Length: 2 hrs and 55 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-15-11

Publisher: Penguin Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 141 votes

Genres: Classics, American Literature

Publisher's Summary:

The beautiful, spirited red pony is everything Jody ever dreamed of....

Raised on a ranch in northern California, Jody is well-schooled in the hard work and demands of a rancher's life. He is used to the way of horses, too; but nothing has prepared him for the special connection he will forge with Gabilan, the hot-tempered pony his father gives him. With Billy Buck, the hired hand, Jody tends and trains his horse, restlessly anticipating the moment he will sit high upon Gabilan's saddle. But when Gabilan falls ill, Jody discovers there are still lessons he must learn about the ways of nature and, particularly, the ways of man.

Members Reviews:

Steinbeck maybe about his youth?

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

Yes. A beautiful story about longing. Growing up. Responsibility life!

What other book might you compare The Red Pony to and why?

A separate peace

Which character as performed by Frank Muller was your favorite?

Billy

If you could take any character from The Red Pony out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Billy. Would like to understand how he came to this ranch and why he wanted to stay!

Any additional comments?

One can really feel the place and the people here

About the narration

I just had to write briefly to say that, while the reader has a wonderful speaking voice, his narrating style involves an inflection that lilts and trails off every time he comes across a period. With the exception of dialogue, it seems that every sentence he speaks ends with the same tone, dropping off exactly the same way each time; almost as if the sentence isn't completed and ends with an ellipses. Although the words are always clear and easy to understand, the constant and repeated rhythm quickly became annoying to me. If you are able to space out enough to just absorb the story without paying too much attention to the sound of it, it becomes less obvious, but I found myself irritated within the first four minutes.

nice book

Easy to follow along. Good plot. It was interesting that the red pony was not the main interest.

Narrator habit got on my nerves

The narrator speaks normally for the first 3/4 of the sentence, trails off, and then gets this sensitive, gravely half whisper for the last few words. For every single sentence. Every single one. It's grating to listen to.

Very compelling

More compelling than any of "the best books of 2015" that I have read this year. Very moving!

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Title: Travels with Charley in Search of America

Author: John Steinbeck

Narrator: Gary Sinise

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 58 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-15-11

Publisher: Penguin Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 1833 votes

Genres: Classics, American Literature

Publisher's Summary:

A stunning evocation of America on the eve of a tumultuous decadeand a moving elegy for more innocent times.

In September 1960, John Steinbeck and his poodle, Charley, embarked on a journey across America, from small towns to growing cities to glorious wilderness oases. Travels with Charley is animated by Steinbecks attention to the specific details of the natural world and his sense of how the lives of people are intimately connected to the rhythms of natureto weather, geography, the cycles of the seasons. His keen ear for the transactions among people is evident, too, as he records the interests and obsessions that preoccupy the Americans he encounters along the way.

Critic Reviews:

Pure delight, a pungent potpourri of places and people interspersed with bittersweet essays on everything from the emotional difficulties of growing old to the reasons why giant sequoias arouse such awe. (

The New York Times Book Review)

Members Reviews:

Enjoyed the Journey

Would you consider the audio edition of Travels with Charley in Search of America to be better than the print version?

For me, yes. I started the print version a year ago and got about half way through. When I saw there was an audio, I bought it and listened to it each day on my short commute. I took my time with it and felt like I was along for the ride.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Travels with Charley in Search of America?

There were many memorable moments. Difficult to select only one. When he met the man who lived in a mobile home and how it gave me a different perspective on folks that choose mobile homes over permanent homes.

What about Gary Sinises performance did you like?

I appreciated how Gary Sinise brought the story and characters to life. It felt very real to me.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

What I did feel with this book is a sense of reflection. I am a writer, an observer, a traveler of the mind, so it prompted me to reflect on my own experiences and the people I run into in my local travels. It was a very human book, relevant now, just as much as when it was written.

Any additional comments?

Charley added something special to the story. I felt myself smiling a lot, letting out a few laughs, and reflecting a bit.

On the Road Adventure

A middle aged man and his dog go on an adventure. They leave their comfortable life to meet people and see parts of America unknown. This memoir is sweet and touching, Mr. Steinbeck clearly loves people and his special dog Charley. I had to give an extra star to this book for the authors spot-on (no pun intended ) description of Charley, his standard poodle. I dare say they are all alike, and yet we who own and care for Standards think each of ours is so very unique.

A nice read, a kind man and his pup meet people and reflect. I liked this book quite a lot.

Needed a Vacation took one with Charlie

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

Absolutely. Want to give this audible as my Summer Read to all my friends. Gotta figure out how to do that.

What about Gary Sinises performance did you like?

really great.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

An old favorite that needed revisited since I was in need of a vacation and can't get out of work.

Any additional comments?

Travels with Charlie is a dreamstate that brings me home and takes me away all at the same time.

Thanks Mr.

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Title: The Pearl

Author: John Steinbeck

Narrator: Hector Elizondo

Format: Unabridged

Length: 2 hrs and 35 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-15-11

Publisher: Penguin Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 695 votes

Genres: Classics, American Literature

Publisher's Summary:

In this short book illuminated by a deep understanding and love of humanity, John Steinbeck retells an old Mexican folk tale: the story of the great pearl, how it was found, and how it was lost. For the diver Kino, finding a magnificent pearl means the promise of a better life for his impoverished family. His dream blinds him to the greed and suspicions the pearl arouses in him and his neighbors, and even his loving wife cannot temper his obsession or stem the events leading to the tragedy.

For Steinbeck, Kino and his wife illustrate the fall from innocence of people who believe that wealth erases all problems. Originally published in 1947, The Pearl shows why Steinbecks style has made him one of the most beloved American writers: it is a simple story of simple people, recounted with the warmth and sincerity and unrivaled craftsmanship Steinbeck brings to his writing. It is tragedy in the great tradition, beautifully conveying not despair but hope for mankind.

Editorial Reviews:

Of John Steinbeck's many classic novels, only one is beloved by ninth graders everywhere. Finally in a definitive audiobook edition, The Pearl as read by Hector Elizondo is a long overdue treat for listeners of all ages. Whether you skipped this required reading in high school or simply don't remember much about it, now is the time to revisit Steinbeck's excellent little vision of an ancient Mexican folk tale about the perils of obsessive greed. A story of great symbolism and unflinching morality, the lessons here are no less true in our contemporary circumstances than they were hundreds of years ago.

Hector Elizondo is a perfect fit for this narration. Winner of an Emmy and an Obie, veteran of both screen and stage, Elizondo is no stranger to the gravitas of parables. Although he has contributed voice work to a dozen audiobook dramas with ensemble casts, this is the first time he has narrated a book completely on his own. What a treat to hear his familiar grizzled voice painting the scene of a tiny, impoverished town in need of a miracle. When a scorpion bites a young family man's infant son, the man becomes desperate for money to pay the doctor that can save the child's life.

Upon finding an enormous pearl deep in the water and just in the nick of time, the family begins to dream of their son's bright future. Elizondo puts his grit and gravel to good use conveying the tenacity with which the family clings to the idea of sending their son to school, thus escaping their meager life of poverty. But the enchanting music of the pearl speaks to the whole town, and soon all are clamoring for a piece of the family's good fortune. Hector Elizondo impeccably renders John Steinbeck's haunting admonition against avarice, and this short novel is a must-have for any audio library.

Members Reviews:

Extremely poignant; incredible listen.

Where does The Pearl rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far?

In my top 5.

What other book might you compare The Pearl to and why?

Comparable to "Of Mice and Men" in length... but faster, more intense, more gripping.

What about Hector Elizondos performance did you like?

Perfect voice & narration for this story -- low and under-produced, yet mysterious, quick, and forceful... great complement to The Pearl.

Any additional comments?

I generally like to get a lot of audio hours for my credit...

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Title: The Moon Is Down

Author: John Steinbeck

Narrator: George Guidall

Format: Unabridged

Length: 3 hrs and 42 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-15-11

Publisher: Penguin Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 157 votes

Genres: Classics, American Literature

Publisher's Summary:

"Free men cannot start a war, but once it is started, they can fight on in defeat." This compelling, dignified and moving novel was inspired by and based upon the Nazi invasion of neutral Norway. Set in an imaginary European mining town, it shows what happens when a ruthless totalitarian power is up against an occupied democracy with an overwhelming desire to be free.

Members Reviews:

my new all-time favorite

riveting from the opening paragraph to the closing line with no let downs between. perfect book, both in story and in writing style, read perfectly by Guidall. I can't believe this is the same author who wrote Grapes of Wrath, which I put down after a few chapters out of boredom... this book is nothing like Grapes.

A Village Resists the Nazis

Classic tale of WW2 partisan resistance to a Nazi invader. Well written and performed flawlessly

A beautiful piece of propaganda!

This year I determined to read the classics -- and that gave me the gift of reading John Steinbeck! Now I am on a mission to read everything he has written. I will tell you right up front -- I love Steinbeck. This is my 8th book of his that I have read in less than two months. I like the attention he gives to every detail when describing his characters and settings. I love the simplicity with which he writes. I love that he can describe the worst of life but make it a beautiful exploration of social norms and values. And I think I also really like him -- not the author, the person. I like how much he desired to know people. I like his views on how we treat one another. I like him. So, my review may be biased. :)

This book was written for a purpose: to encourage people to stand up to evil and oppression. And it actually served that purpose. During WWII it was a best seller in many places, including France. And it was banned by the Germans. And now, 70 years later it stands up to the test of time. It should still remind us all not to allow a tyrant in; that when the tyrant takes control we should not stay silent; that we should always use our voices and our talents to object to the things we see that are evil or wrong.

In the early 1980s, during the cold war, I served in the USAF. I was taught a lot about the evils of propaganda. I was taught about the hatred it spews. I was taught about its inherent vices. But I never saw an example of a positive and beautiful piece of propaganda. Until now.

Having shared all my raves you may wonder why I didn't give the book 5 stars. I think there are two reasons. First, I am comparing it to The Grapes of Wrath, Of Mice and Men and Travels with Charley and it isn't quite as good. Second, I hated the ending. It felt like I was missing at least one chapter. It felt like a non-ending. Some may like this aspect, but I hated it and it resulted in the loss of one star.

John Steinbeck book review

fantastic book will read it many time love all John Steinbeck's work thank you very much I review of this book

A great one but not the best

liked it and enjoyed it but lower than my expectations. The finish could be better