Download the Top 100 Audiobooks in Fiction, Historical Popular Titles

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Title: The White Rhino Hotel

Subtitle: Anton Rider Trilogy, Book One

Author: Bartle Bull

Narrator: Fred Williams

Format: Unabridged

Length: 18 hrs and 39 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-29-09

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 38 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

It is in colonial Kenya, at Lord Penfold's White Rhino Hotel, that the paths of these new settlers cross. Here they meet the cunning dwarf Olivio Alevado, a man whose lustful desires and vengeful schemes make him a formidable adversary to his enemies and a subtle ally to his friends. Here the destinies of the gypsy adventurer Anton Rider and the courageous, war-hardened Gwenn Llewelyn intersect. Here hope is corrupted by greed, love by revenge, and loyalty by betrayal as the future is trampled into history.

Critic Reviews:

"A wing-ding adventure story....The kind of book that creates one of the elemental delights of fiction - a complete other world where, unlike our own, all the parts add up to something." (Boston Globe)

"A genuine epic centered in Africa, by a writer who knows how to write, who knows his terrain intimately, who knows how to paint his characters convincingly, and who knows how to spin a good yarn." (Forbes Magazine)

"Bartle Bull has a story to tell, and he tells it memorably....Bull's knowledge of Africa is profound." (Washington Post Book World)

Members Reviews:

horrible

What disappointed you about The White Rhino Hotel?

I could not follow the story, because the narration of this book is so horrible.

Would you be willing to try another one of Fred Williamss performances?

No, my eight year old can read more smoothly than this guy.

This.Is.Not.A.Good.Reader

The story is a ripping good yarn, and to be fair, the reader does the dialogue sections fairly well, but the narrative parts are spoken as if Mr. Williams is afraid to not enunciate each word with exactly.thee.same.emphasis. ["Thee" is NOT a typo].

I think I may purchase the other two installments of the trilogy in print editions, rather than buy them in audiobook form, and this is a shame. It's a type of adventure epic that, in the hands of a good dramatic reader, would be fantastic.

The White Rhino Hotel

I'm 2 hours into this book. The story is ok so far, the narrator is dreadful. He just reads it, there is absolutely no dramatic interpretation.

Kind Of Old Fashioned

Overall, a satisfying read. Maybe a bit too

predictable in places, but good writing makes up

for some of that. Pretty good narration. The

story puts you in another time, close to ours, yet very different and in a place (East Africa) that you feel like you come to know, if only a little, better, as you go along. The plotting is not complex or twisted,

but there are a few interesting angles along the

way. The majority of the characters either wear

white hats or black hats...no mistaking most of

them. But there are a couple of characters wearing grey.

It was enjoyable, enough so, to get me interested

in its sequels.

Colonial Africa at its best

What did you love best about The White Rhino Hotel?

The characters are well developed and well expressed by the reader. It lends a sense of the grand adventure that Africa once was.

Who was your favorite character and why?

ANton RIder is the main character. He is charsimatic and immerses in all that is Africa at the turn of the century. He is a character that every person seeking his own destiny can relate to.

Which scene was your favorite?

The great hunt where he could not shoot his prey because it was too perfect.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I enjoyed this book in print form and even more in audible form.

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Title: The Rogue's Return

Author: Jo Beverley

Narrator: Simon Prebble

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 31 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-09-09

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 110 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Simon St. Bride has been in Canada fighting the War of 1812 - but the war is over now, and Simon is ready to come home. Before he leaves, however, Simon must defend a young woman's honor. What does her past hide?

Members Reviews:

great narration, story good but now quite 5 star

As always, Simon Prebble's narration was great. He brings the characters to life and narrates with such emotion, it's always a pleasure. The story was good, but just seemed to be missing 'something'. Some parts were very suspenseful, such as the injury scenes and the unconventional 'cure'. Won't give anything away, but even being a nurse it made me squeamish. Don't let that keep you from the book though, actually very realistic for it's day. Just think some of the conflict resolution was lacking in the last half of the book. Lot's of build up to crises, but then kind of 'so-so' solutions. I did get this as a daily deal, for that price it was excellent. Would not want to use a credit on this. If you can get it on sale it is worth the listen. Historically very interesting if you like that period of English and Canadian history as I do.

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Title: The Rose of Sebastopol

Subtitle: A Novel

Author: Katharine McMahon

Narrator: Josephine Bailey

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 37 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-24-09

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Ratings: 3 of 5 out of 17 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

For Mariella Lingwood, Rosa's cousin, the war is contained within the pages of her scrapbook, in her London sewing circle, and in the letters she receives from her fiancé, Henry - a celebrated surgeon who has also volunteered to work within the shadow of the guns. When Henry falls ill and is sent to recuperate in Italy, Mariella impulsively decides she must go to him.

But upon her arrival at his lodgings, she makes a heartbreaking discovery: Rosa has disappeared without a trace. Following the trail of her elusive cousin, Mariella's epic journey takes her from the domestic restraint of Victorian London to the ravaged landscape of the Crimea and the tragic city of Sebastopol, where she encounters Rosa's dashing stepbrother, a reckless cavalry officer whose complex past---and future---is inextricably bound up with her own.

As Mariella's quest leads her deeper into the dark heart of the conflict, her ordered world begins to crumble, and she finds she has much to learn about secrecy, faithfulness, and love.

Members Reviews:

So promising yet so disappointing

This author writes beautifully descriptive novels. She has obviously researched her writing and develops her characters. Her characters grow and change through the book. Yet, in both this novel and the Alchemists daughter, she wraps the book up in 3 minutes after spending hours with the body of the book. It left me feeling that the book was unfinished and I was unsatisfied.

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Title: Casca the Warrior: Casca Series #17

Author: Barry Sadler

Narrator: Gene Engene

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 48 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-29-08

Publisher: Books in Motion

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 24 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Wandering the globe under a curse received from the dying Christ on Calvary, Casca Longinus fights onward, surviving and looking for the day when He promised to return, so the curse may end.

Now, shipwrecked on a South Seas island inhabited by warrior tribes, Casca quickly proves himself fearless in combat. Wielding spear and club with murderous precision, the Eternal Mercenary soon earns a respected place in his adopted tribe's barbarously primitive rituals.

Then, when he unveils the devastating potential of a new and magical weapon, Casca is elevated from warrior to god, and summons his army of believers for the bloodiest of the island's battles.

Members Reviews:

Just a good book.

A good example of classic Sadler. So much better than the current crop of Casca. This one shows the soldier we all came to know. Good writing without the PC silliness.

Heart of a Warrior

Here is where the cover artwork started making Casca looking like Fabio in romance novels. Great artwork, but bad rendition when others were so spot-on.

Anyway, this was a interesting, albeit sometimes dull, novel. Casca is shipwrecked on an island of cannibals. Fighting and surviving like a savage, (I love this kind've stuff!), was the good part of the story. But it just didn't have that ebb and flow that it should've. Like Barry was running out of time and/or gas.

The most memorable part is when Casca has to eat a fried penis of his slain enemy. It is an insult to the cannibal chieftan if not done, believed to instill the slain warrior's strength into one's soul if consumed. The details still stick to me this very day, 14 years later.

Not the best of the Casca books.

Not the best of Sadler's books. OK but slow starting and never really picks up.

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Title: The Other Queen

Author: Philippa Gregory

Narrator: Bianca Amato, Dogmara Dominczyk, Graeme Malcolm

Format: Abridged

Length: 6 hrs and 18 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-17-08

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 8 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Mary is Queen of Scotland, but she has been forced to flee her land and take refuge in an England that is ruled by her cousin Elizabeth. But England, precarious in its Protestant state, set against the mighty powers of Spain, France, and Rome, doesn't need a charismatic Catholic figurehead at large. So Elizabeth's chief advisor, Cecil, devises a plan in which Mary will live under guard with his trusted accomplice: Bess of Hardwick.

Bess is a self-made woman, a shrewd survivor. She is newly married to her fourth and most distinguished husband, the Earl of Shrewsbury. But what marriage can withstand the charms of Mary? Or the threat of rebellion that she always carries? Mary must wait in her privileged imprisonment for the return to Scotland and her infant son; but waiting is not the same as doing nothing....

With her characteristic combination of superb storytelling and authentic historical background, Philippa Gregory brings to life this period of great change, in a riveting tale of betrayal, loyalty, politics, and passion.

Members Reviews:

just ok

It was quite interesting but not as gripping or engaging as other of her books.

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Title: Honor's Pledge

Subtitle: Rocky Mountain Legacy #1

Author: Kristen Heitzmann

Narrator: Suzanne Niles

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 31 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-01-08

Publisher: Books in Motion

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 19 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Montgomery Farrel is a handsome, refined gentleman who sees in Abbie a reflection of the untamed, pristine land he has come to call his own. Monte also holds honor above every virtue...even love. Their hopes suddenly collide when a debt must be paid...and honor is the price.

Members Reviews:

Great Narrator and Excellent Book

I've read this book several times, but this was my first time listening to anything by the narrator. I loved it! I liked almost all her voices for the character, except for two of the men which were a little over dramatized. But all in all, it was very good. One of my favorite books and a must for Christian Fiction readers.

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Title: Land of the Shadow

Subtitle: Appomattox Series Book #4

Author: Gilbert Morris

Narrator: Maynard Villers

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 35 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-30-08

Publisher: Books in Motion

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 12 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

And so the two load up their equipment and head for the dangers of the battlefield. But there is another danger hanging over their heads, a danger Bristol knows nothing about, for Frankie is hiding a secret that could get them both killed if it is discovered.

Members Reviews:

enjoyable

easy listening, interesting characters

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Title: Where Honor Dwells

Subtitle: Appomattox Saga #3

Author: Gilbert Morris

Narrator: Maynard Villers

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 41 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-16-08

Publisher: Books in Motion

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 9 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

After the battle at Manassas, both North and South realize the nation's civil war will not be quickly resolved. Amidst the nation's struggle the Rocklin clan continues its own conflict: Vince Franklin, the renegade stepson of Amy Rocklin Franklin, has returned home. His intentions? To fulfill the requirements of his grandfather's will and claim his family inheritance, with no regard for the lives he may ruin in the process.

But before Vince can claim his money, a jealous husband sends him running for his life. Unable to return home, he meets Jake Hardin, a riverboat gambler. Together they devise a daring and dangerous plot.

Members Reviews:

Great book, problem with narration.

Would you consider the audio edition of Where Honor Dwells to be better than the print version?

I haven't read the print version. The audio was flawed in this. The first word in most sentences in this recording was almost cut off. When a proper noun was the first word of a sentence, one must rewind repeatedly to figure out the one partial syllable to guess the identity of the character in the scene. Rachel became "chl" or just "l" and Jake became a hard "k" sound. With some of the more minor characters, there are times that I never identified the character in the scene. It was a frustrating listen. I have downloaded over 350 books from Audible and have never had this experience before.

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Title: Sea of Poppies

Author: Amitav Ghosh

Narrator: Lyndam Gregory

Format: Abridged

Length: 4 hrs and 43 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-28-08

Publisher: John Murray

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 7 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Against the backdrop of the Opium Wars, an unlikely dynasty is born, which will span continents, races, and generations.

Amitav Ghosh was born in Calcutta in 1956. He studied at the universities of Delhi and Oxford and has written six novels. He currently divides his time between Calcutta, Goa and Brooklyn, and is writing the next volume of what will become the Ibis Trilogy.

Members Reviews:

A wonderful and well researched narrative that cannot be put down,

Wonderfully narrated magical depiction of characters so real they can almost be spoken to. Eye opener to a key region spanning two continents and the interrelationship of three great cultures . A window to local and foreign psyche in the throes of that terrible period when Victorian parochialism, local interests and cultures enabled raping India on the one hand while the belief in free trade justified the attempt to open China to the opium trade on the other. The resulting misery, fortunes and intertwined life stories create a tapestry of that sad chapter in history that lays sway even today.

A beautifully written historical novel about the 19th century opium trade ...

A beautifully written historical novel about the 19th century opium trade depicts how British imperialism controlled and manipulated the lives of a wide range of characters in India. Itâs the next best depiction of sailing culture Iâve read since Moby Dick. It winds up as an impressive societal potboiler that includes masquerade, magical transgender spiritual transformation, redemption as a result of colonial injustice, and sexual abuse of power. All of which is to say that this book speaks to our and every other age.

Four Stars

Great book! It comments on the opium history through well developed characters Ghosh creates.

Captivating

The book is an excellent read. It's quite the journey for those who are unfamiliar with nautical terms and the South Asian context, or Eastern context in general; but it's so breathtakingly vivid in description and so thoughtfully and creatively verisimilar that it captures the soul and the imagination for its entire duration.

Bet you can't stop with just this first one

What a pleasure to dive into a trilogy of books that grab you and don't let go. I read the first book over about three long sittings where I ignored the usual demands of daily life, engrossed in the characters and the history. At this point I'm already well into the third book and am trying to take it in smaller gulps so as to savor it.

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Title: Life Class

Author: Pat Barker

Narrator: Russell Boulter

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 38 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-29-08

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 59 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Pat Barker is unrivaled in her ability to convey simple, moving human truths. Her skill in relaying the harrowing experience of modern warfare is matched by the depth of insight she brings to the experience of love and the morality of art in a time of war. Life Class is one of her genuine masterpieces.

Critic Reviews:

"Calls to mind such early moderns as Hemingway and Fitzgerald....some of the most powerful anti-war literature in modern English fiction." (The Boston Globe)

"Pat Barker understands the dynamics of psychic trauma and shutdown as well as any living writer." (Esquire)

Members Reviews:

In Love and War

Like Barker's Regeneration Trilogy, Life Class is set during World War I. The first half involves the blithe lives of a group of young art students, including Paul and Elinor, whose friendship develops into something more. As the war wages on, Paul attempts to sign up; when he is rejected, he volunteers as an ambulance driver. The novel encomppases some of the horrors of war familliar to Barker readers/listeners, but the intent here seems to be to show how the experience of war changes people and their relationships. A fine listen.

I rarely put down a book. I put this one down.

What disappointed you about Life Class?

The characters were one-dimensional and unlikable. I did not enjoy my time in their company.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Annoyance.

Any additional comments?

The writing was actually good - it was the characters I couldn't stand. I'm sure some people love this book; I am just not one of them.

disappointing

This really was a letdown after The Regeneration Trilogy. The story is not particularly compelling and, try as I could, I simply found it hard to care much about the characters.

World War I

Barker writes interesting character studies of the British during World War I. This one is good, but her Regeneration Trilogy is even better.