Download the Top 100 Audiobooks in Fiction, Historical Popular Titles

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Title: Inferno

Subtitle: Thomas Kydd, Book 17

Author: Julian Stockwin

Narrator: Christian Rodska

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 8 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-06-16

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 3 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

It's 1807. Captain Sir Thomas Kydd's famous sea action aboard Tyger has snatched his reputation from ignominy. He is the hero of the hour. But though Britain's navy remains imperious, a succession of battles has seen Napoleon victorious on mainland Europe.

In an attempt to prevent the French from taking control of Denmark's navy, Kydd's great friend, Nicholas Renzi - now Lord Farndon - is sent on a desperate diplomatic mission to persuade the Danes to give up their fleet to Britain. But the Danes are caught between two implacable forces and will not yield, opting instead for the inferno of battle....

Critic Reviews:

"Unputdownable naval action from the master of the sea story - In Stockwin's hands the sea story will continue to entrance readers across the world." (Guardian)

Members Reviews:

Siege Mentality

After the sheer brilliance of Tyger Julian Stockwin set himself a serious challenge in writing a follow-up book to match it. I think the game was up when he chose the Siege of Copenhagen as the main historical event to set it around. This was no glorious British victory won against the odds, it was a critical expedience in which there was little honour and certainly not much place for our dashing frigate captain hero. I would guess that the author was sorely tempted to twist things around so that Kydd became a more central character to the siege but admirably he didnt yield.

What we are left with then is a slightly curious book centred around the siege and the build up to it with two Kydd mini-adventures tacked on. I really enjoyed it, of course I did! There was so much of what weve come to expect in terms of finely crafted historical action and intrigue. Some new characters emerged and the main parts of the action were told from multiple points of view covering both sides. The action is very well done and each part of the book delivered quality and varied entertainment. The fighting around the city was described in excellent detail and once again Stockwin educates about some of the less well known naval and military items.

The narration? I think if ever they coin a term to cover the expert reading of historical naval fiction it will be along the lines of Steering a Rodska. I think he is that good.

So, another fine, if slightly disjointed addition to the series. A series I would recommend to anyone who enjoys the genre. If you are tempted to invest in this series for the first time then I genuinely envy you the journey ahead.

Rotten Eggs

A book worthy of the trash heap. I wish I had heard it earlier then I could have got a refund. I buy these books to hear the adventures of Tom Kidd, dismal deceit astounds.

Firstly Kidd has little mention in this book I'd say less than 30% I feel cheated

Secondly Rensi needs to be kidds first luf because as a land bound gentry he has become boring

Thirdly, Cecilia is a pointless extra and should stick to decorating tips to Thomases cabin, and now she has a friend to accompany her travels her part in these novels come close to giving me a haemorrhage.

I think Julian needs to refund everyone who bought this travesty

I hope his next novel redeems him. 3 books now disappoint through boring tirades. I hope a fourth is not in the offing.

I think I will go calm myself with some CS Forester hornblower works

written by an accademiic

it came across as 2 unrelated stories that did not come together very well.

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Title: Incense & Peppermints

Author: Carole Bellacera

Narrator: Angie Hickman

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 20 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-02-16

Publisher: Carole Bellacera

Ratings: 5 of 5 out of 1 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

On a snowy February day in 2011, 62-year-old Cindy Sweet receives a Facebook message from a dead man - Warrant Officer Ryan Quinlan, who supposedly died in Vietnam 40 years earlier. He'd been Cindy's fiancé before an RPG took out his Dustoff chopper, killing all aboard. Cindy, a young combat nurse at the 24th Evacuation Hospital at Long Binh, had been devastated by her loss but, with no other choice, had served out her year in Vietnam - and even found love again.

Incense & Peppermints is a novel about patriotism, loyalty, enduring love, unimaginable courage, and devastating loss. It's the story of one woman's year in a war zone during the most unpopular war in US history.

Members Reviews:

Great Book

Loved it !! I couldn't stop listening. Great Love Story about a nurse in Vietnam.

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Title: Life Mask

Author: Emma Donoghue

Narrator: Donada Peters

Format: Unabridged

Length: 23 hrs and 8 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-15-16

Publisher: Random House Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 3 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

In a time of approaching war and terrorism, spectacular wealth and financial disasters, the private world of three famous Londoners becomes a public scandal. Lord Derby - unhappily married and the richest, as well as the ugliest, man in the House of Lords - is the relentless suitor of England's reigning queen of comedy, Eliza Farren. His chief rival is the aristocratic widow Anne Damer, a sculptor who, as the rumor has it, loves women.

Set in Parliament, on stage, the racetrack, as well as the intimate salons of the Beau Monde, the best-selling author of Slammerkin evocatively brings to life a world where everyone wears a mask, and where erotic liaisons prove as dangerous as political ones.

Members Reviews:

Complex Mix of 18th Century Sexual and Political Intrigue

"Life Mask" is a long, leisurely novel that charts the personal and romantic maneuverings of three prominent characters against the political backdrop of late 18th century England. It chronicles the intersecting lives of the widowed sculptor Anne Damer, who is hounded by rumors that she is a Sapphist (lesbian); the lovesick Lord Derby who pursues with persistence a woman not his wife; and Eliza Farren, a popular comedic actress determined to improve her social position. While charting these characters' struggles for self-fulfillment, the author highlights interesting issues of the time: the growth of liberalism in the wake of the American and French Revolutions; the vibrant, raucous theatrical world (playwright Richard Sheridan is a major character); the vicious scandalmongering of the emerging press; and the search for love and security in a society that restricts women's choices.

I can see how the book's length and the details of political rivalries in Georgian England might put off some American readers. Despite those challenges, I enjoyed the details and slow development of the story. Emma Donoghue inhabits her characters' hearts and minds the way few other novelists do. I got to like the main players in their long journeys to self-discovery, and I was impressed by the author's command of historical detail and social manners. She captured romantic longing and repulsion, friendship, duty, betrayal, family ties and inheritance, artistic endeavor (sculpting and acting) and social conventions in all their complexity. The depiction of Anne Damer slowly coming to an understanding of her sexual nature against all odds was particularly thoughtful. I recommend "Life Mask" for patient readers who enjoy historical and romantic fiction.

Excellent historical fiction, but not just that.

Having been swept away by Emma Donoghue's riveting "ROOM", I wanted to explore this writer's other works. I was not disappointed.

The story takes place in late 18th century England, and the novel's characters are all real individuals in London society at that time. At the center of the novel is the story of a famed and very beautiful actress in London then, Eliza Farren, and her contemporary, the famed sculptress Anne Damer, as well as Miss Farren's suitor, the Earl of Derby. Other characters that play important roles are politicians of the time, all historically accurate in this novel, as well as royalty. Eliza Farren's gorgeous portrait by Thomas Lawrence, also a vivid character in this novel, hangs in the Metropolitan Museum in New York.

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Title: The Whale

Subtitle: A Love Story

Author: Mark Beauregard

Narrator: Lloyd James

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 17 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-14-16

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 22 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

A rich and captivating novel set amid the witty, high-spirited literary society of 1850s New England, offering a new window on Herman Melville's emotionally charged relationship with Nathaniel Hawthorne and how it transformed his masterpiece, Moby-Dick.

In the summer of 1850, Herman Melville finds himself hounded by creditors and afraid his writing career might be coming to an end - his last three novels have been commercial failures, and the critics have turned against him. In despair Melville takes his family for a vacation to his cousin's farm in the Berkshires, where he meets Nathaniel Hawthorne at a picnic - and his life turns upside down.

The Whale chronicles the fervent love affair that grows out of that serendipitous afternoon. Already in debt, Melville recklessly borrows money to purchase a local farm in order to remain near Hawthorne, his newfound muse. The two develop a deep connection marked by tensions and estrangements and feelings both shared and suppressed.

Melville dedicated Moby-Dick to Hawthorne, and Mark Beauregard's novel fills in the story behind that dedication with historical accuracy and exquisite emotional precision, reflecting his nuanced reading of the real letters and journals of Melville, Hawthorne, Oliver Wendell Holmes, and others. An exuberant tale of longing and passion, The Whale captures not only a transformative relationship - long the subject of speculation - between two of our most enduring authors but also their exhilarating moment in history, when a community of high-spirited and ambitious writers was creating truly American literature for the first time.

Members Reviews:

Impeccably written and researched

What made the experience of listening to The Whale the most enjoyable?

An extraordinary fusion of historical accuracy and impeccably written fiction. This is a masterpiece-spark-of-genius that brings to life iconic American authors and forces the reader to reconsider, reinterpret and redefine our view of the American classic, Moby Dick.

After I read the book, my son stopped by to visit, he looked at books description and said, "the things that interest you I can only puzzle over". After he read the first page, he couldn't put it down. After, son read it, my mother called to say, "hey that new book on your Audible account?! I'm on chapter 5, I can't put it down." No book has burned through my family tree so quickly.

The Whale is a relatable, beautifully drawn love story.

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Title: Summary of Glory over Everything by Kathleen Grissom | Includes Analysis

Author: Instaread

Narrator: Kristi Burns

Format: Unabridged

Length: 33 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-10-16

Publisher: Instaread

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Summary of Glory over Everything by Kathleen Grissom | Includes Analysis

Preview:

Glory over Everything: Beyond the Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom is the sequel to the author's debut novel, The Kitchen House (2010). Set in 1830, it is the story of 33-year-old James Burton's journey into the antebellum South to rescue his friend Henry's son, Pan, who has been captured by slave catchers. James Burton, formerly Jamie Pyke, whose mother, Belle, was half black and whose father, Marshall, was white, is passing for a white man in Philadelphia. Twenty years earlier, James fled from his childhood home, the Tall Oaks plantation in Southern Virginia, shortly after learning that Belle was his mother. He was raised as a white child by his white grandmother. At only 13 years old, James shot and killed Marshall, whom up until then he believed was his brother. Marshall was a cruel man who threatened to sell James into slavery. After escaping to Philadelphia, James was robbed, and Henry, a runaway slave, came to his aid.

PLEASE NOTE: This is summary and analysis of the book and NOT the original book.

Inside this Instaread summary of Glory over Everything:

About the author

With Instaread, you can get the key takeaways, summary, and analysis of a book in 15 minutes. We read every chapter, identify the key takeaways, and analyze them for your convenience.

Members Reviews:

Review before you buy

James Burton is half black, half white, and passing for white in Philadelphia in 1830. Despite the risk, he travels to the antebellum south to rescue Pan, the son of his friend, who has been captured by slave catchers and sold to a plantation. During his journey back to a land he has fled in search of freedom, James learns the meaning of honor and loyalty, and finally learns to accept his own mixed heritage.

Glory Over Everything by Kathleen Grissom is a sequel to her novel, The Kitchen House, and in Summary of Glory Over Everything by Kathleen Grissom by Instaread the reader will find a comprehensive analysis of the novel, its main characters and themes, and the authorâs style. If youâd like a resource to help you get a sense of the worth of new books, Instaread summaries canât be beat. These 15-minute summaries are like a test drive, and well worth the investment.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review.

Slavery and its implications

"Glory Over Everything" by Kathleen Grissom is the sequel to the author's debut novel, "The Kitchen House." Set in 1830, it is the story of 33-year-old James Burton's journey into the antebellum South to rescue his friend Henry's son, Pan, who has been captured by slave catchers. This story has intrigue, suspense, and thrills as it explores the lengths a friend will go to for justice.

This Instaread review summarizes Grissom's novel, explores the main characters, analyzes their relationships, and dissects the themes. Instaread takes the novel apart piece by piece, letting you as a reader better understand the message, the symbolism, and the power of "Glory Over Everything." This summary analyzes the motifs of freedom, dehumanization, and love in a concise but powerful way. This review is perfect for book reports, essays, and book clubs.

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Title: Magruder's Curiosity Cabinet

Author: H. P. Wood

Narrator: Nancy Wu

Format: Unabridged

Length: 13 hrs and 1 min

Language: English

Release date: 06-07-16

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 9 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Kitty Hayward and her mother are ready to experience the spectacles of Coney Island's newest attraction, the Dreamland amusement park. But when Kitty's mother vanishes from their hotel, Kittty finds herself penniless, alone, and far from her native England. The last people she expects to help are the cast of characters at Magruder's Curiosity Cabinet, a museum of oddities. From con men to strongmen, from flea wranglers to lion tamers, Kitty's new friends quickly adopt her and vow to help find the missing Mrs. Hayward. But even these unusual inhabitants may not be a match for the insidious sickness that begins to spread through Coney Island or the panic that turns Dreamland into a nightmare.

With shades of Water for Elephants and The Museum of Extraordinary Things, Magruder's Curiosity Cabinet sweeps listeners into a mesmerizing world where nothing is as it seems and where "normal" is the exception to the rule.

Critic Reviews:

"Nancy Wu's narration is filled with empathy.... With clarity and enthusiasm, Wu finds unique vocal mannerisms as the characters display intense emotions, moral fiber, and a strong sense of family. Throughout, Wu maintains the worried but charming persona of Kitty while evoking the black but sweet humor of this fantastical story. " (AudioFile)

Members Reviews:

Awesome performance, great story!

This story is jam-packed with fun and crazy. For me, it is better listened to aloud than read quietly because all of the voices bring the story to life. Very dynamic, imaginative, and engaging!

this is a fantastic, and unexpected read

What made the experience of listening to Magruder's Curiosity Cabinet the most enjoyable?

The wacky characters! They are so diverse, and easy to fall in love with.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Magruder's Curiosity Cabinet?

When Zeff pretends he has lost his legs in the plain crash.

Have you listened to any of Nancy Wus other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes, the Lucky Hat Mine by Julie Van Laanen, and some of the Undead books by MaryJanice Davidson. This one stands up really nicely to them! Nancy Wu always delivers a thought out, engaging performance. And this one is particularly impressive because of the sheer number, and variety of characters.

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

There was definitely a lot of laughing at some of the characters shenanigans. And a lot of indignation and anger at the treatment of the "unusual's".

Any additional comments?

This book was totally unexpected. It manages to blend a historical setting and a fictional (though based in events that did happen in other locations) plot together with a crowd of diverse characters that make you fall in love with them. It exploits important social issues, and takes you for a wild ride that both entertains and stimulates your mind.

struggled to finish, just couldn't get into it

struggled to finish, just couldn't get into. it just wasn't my taste at all. the cover sounded good though

Enthralling

This book captured my imagination and never let go ! I will look for more books by this author

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Title: The Parihaka Woman

Author: Witi Ihimaera

Narrator: Jim Moriarty, Shavaughn Ruakere

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 56 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-26-16

Publisher: Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 2 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

A wonderfully surprising, inventive and deeply moving riff on fact and fiction, history and imagination from one of New Zealand's finest and most memorable storytellers. There has never been a New Zealand novel quite like The Parihaka Woman.

Richly imaginative and original, weaving together fact and fiction, it sets the remarkable story of Erenora against the historical background of the turbulent and compelling events that occurred in Parihaka during the 1870s and 1880s. Parihaka is the place Erenora calls home, a peaceful Taranaki settlement overcome by war and land confiscation.

As her world is threatened, Erenora must find within herself the strength, courage and ingenuity to protect those whom she loves. And, like a Shakespearean heroine, she must change herself before she can take up her greatest challenge and save her exiled husband, Horitana.

Members Reviews:

History as it never has been told before

I so enjoyed this book that I did not want it to come to an end. I am always drawn to books that offer an education as well as tell a story and I was not disappointed by 'The Parihaka Women'. Ihimaera writes with a very human touch that brings his characters to life and instils their story in the reader's mind. This is a proud yet very sad account of New Zealand history that I encourage all to read.

Four Stars

A interesting piece of our history

A great mix of history played out by fictional

A great mix of history played out by fictional, but very plausible characters. I enjoyed the position of the narrator, including speaking directly to the reader. Books like this make challenging episodes of NZ history very approachable.

by a great film-maker.

I adore this book, this story, this author.. This is one of the most important books ever written, especially for my country, my people, my culture... I'm certain that a film will be made of this story, by a great film-maker.. thank you Witi Ihimaera!!! from the bottom of my heart.

This is a fascinating novel offering an unusual perspective into ...

This is a fascinating novel offering an unusual perspective into the oppression of the Maori people under white rule. The voice is riveting.

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Title: Six Tudor Queens: Katherine of Aragon, the True Queen

Author: Alison Weir

Narrator: Maggie Mash

Format: Unabridged

Length: 27 hrs and 44 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-05-16

Publisher: Headline Review

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 3 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

The lives of Henry VIII's queens make for dramatic stories, and Alison Weir writes a series of novels that offer insights into the real lives of the six wives based on extensive research and new theories.

In all the romancing, has anyone regarded the evidence that Anne Boleyn did not love Henry VIII? Or that Prince Arthur, Katherine of Aragon's first husband, who is said to have loved her, in fact cared so little for her that he willed his personal effects to his sister? Or that Henry VIII, an overprotected child and teenager, was prudish when it came to sex? That Jane Seymour, usually portrayed as Henry's one true love, had the makings of a matriarch? There is much to reveal....

Alison writes about the wives in the contexts of their own ages and of the court intrigues that surrounded these women and - without exception - wrecked their lives. She will transport listeners into a lost and vivid world of splendour and brutality: a world in which love, or the game of it, dominates all.

Members Reviews:

Live the story

It's so easy to gloss over the amazing events of Henry VIII's life with a sentence or two. Katherine of Aragon is often dismissed with a few words as Henry's first wife yet she shared more than twenty years with him, had six pregnancies of which only one produced a surviving child, Princess Mary, and she died as a virtual prisoner when he decided to get rid of her to marry Ann Boleyn. In this remarkable book, Alison Weir brings her story to life, through careful research of contemporary sources, so you feel as though you live through the whole saga at Katherine's side. A great addition to her body of historical work and a really engaging audiobook.

Fabulous

Ive always been fascinated by the Tudors. At first, when I realised there were 35 chapters I wondered if I would last until the end but Alison Weirs superb storytelling kept me enthralled and gave me a much greater insight to why the main characters behaved as they did. Dear Katherine of Aragon what a woman! I cannot wait for the next instalment to be released in audio format.

Katherine of Aragon

Loved this thorough narration of Katherine's life. Alison is an excellent historian but hearing this book read really does draw you into each dramatic chapter. Can't wait for the next book in this series!

Review

Where does Six Tudor Queens: Katherine of Aragon, the True Queen rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far?

This audio book is a really in depth account of Katherine of Aragon. It portrays her life as the tragic victim of circumstance she was, but also illustrates her intellect and desire to be a good queen.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Henry, as always his character is multidimensional and this book gives an insight into his early life and the tragedies that helped shape him.

What about Maggie Mashs performance did you like?

I disagree with some of the unkind comments made about Maggie's narration. Whilst it is true she does read some dialogue more slowly, this is to add dimension to some of the foreign characters. Her style does not detract from my enjoyment of the book and I have liked other books she has read previously. I look forward to the next five volumes of this series and hope i don't have to wait too long!

Any additional comments?

The download wasn't the best quality; the dialogue jumps I places and fades in and out occasionally.

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Title: Chasing the North Star

Author: Robert Morgan

Narrator: Kevin R. Free, Carra Patterson

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 21 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-05-16

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 5 of 5 out of 13 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

On a moonless night in the spring of 1851, a young slave makes a bid for freedom with only the North Star to guide him.

Best-selling novelist and historian Robert Morgan returns with a stunning new work of historical fiction. In Chasing the North Star, Morgan brings to full and vivid life the story of a runaway slave named Jonah Williams who, on his 18th birthday, flees the South Carolina plantation on which he was born with only a few stolen coins, a knife, and the clothes on his back. No shoes, no map, no clear idea of where to head except north, hiding during the day and running through the night. Although Jonah eludes the men sent to capture him, the one person who never loses his trail is Angel, a slave girl he meets in North Carolina, a young woman with a remarkably free spirit who sees Jonah as her way to freedom and sets out to follow him.

Morgan's clear, plain prose brings an urgency and authenticity to this spellbinding story of two teenage runaways and their terrifying world. Filled with adventure and romance, Chasing the North Star is storytelling of the highest caliber.

Members Reviews:

A cross between Huck Finn and the underground rail

I enjoyed this book especially as the characters kept getting into jams and getting out in interesting ways. There was never a dull moment, until the end and even that was fun. Jonah/Joshua is hard driven to get away from slavery and Angel is hard driven to keep up with Jonah. Interesting love story as well.

Avid fan of Robert Morgan

This, as we're all of the books I have read so far from this author, was delightful! I love the mention of local areas that are near and dear to my heart. Me. Morgan has the uncanny ability to become whomever he writes about. This suggests to me that he is an old and dear soul.

Impressive!

kept my interest

didn't care for narration of Jonah other characters ok ,thought he was

unrealistically lucky.glad for the happy ending.

Delightful audiobook

What a charming novel, and an excellent performance. A great story with a fair amount of magic realism thrown in. Highly recommended.

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Title: 3 Folktales from Eastern Europe and Central Asia

Subtitle: Stories from the Ukraine, Latvia, and Turkmen

Author: Gini Graham Scott

Narrator: Randy Whitlow

Format: Unabridged

Length: 37 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-23-16

Publisher: Changemakers Publishing

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 3 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

The three tales in this audiobook are adapted from stories told by the peasants in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. They are drawn from some books I found in shops when I visited the former USSR in 1988 as part of a citizen diplomacy group. I was intrigued by these folktales, since my paternal grandmother lived for some time in Odessa in the Ukraine. Also, I found these stories share a common theme - the poor peasant is able to succeed despite obstacles against an unfair ruler. He does so by being wise and generous and having a strong desire to help and protect his family. Generally, the rich merchant or powerful ruler is foiled by his own greed and stupidity. These stories come from the Ukraine, Latvia, and Turkmen. They are three of my favorite stories.