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Title: Middlemarch

Author: George Eliot

Narrator: Harriet Walter

Format: Abridged

Length: 6 hrs and 14 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-26-06

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

George Eliot's most ambitious novel is a masterly evocation of diverse lives and changing fortunes in a provincial community. Peopling its landscape are Dorothea Brooke, a young idealist whose search for intellectual fulfillment leads her into a disastrous marriage to the pedantic scholar Casaubon; the charming but tactless Dr. Lydgate, whose marriage to the spendthrift beauty Rosamund and pioneering medical methods threaten to undermine his career; and the religious hypocrite Bulstrode, hiding scandalous crimes from his past. As their stories interweave, George Eliot creates a richly nuanced and moving drama, hailed by Virginia Woolf as 'one of the few English novels written for adult people.'

© & (P)1994 Penguin Books Ltd

Members Reviews:

Middlemarch

I read The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot when I was about 17 years old. I remember the experience because I almost literally could not put the book down. I read for 14 hours straight until I finished the book. I even remember cooking pork chops with one hand while holding the book in the other hand so that I could read while I cooked. I cannot tell you now what the book was about (that was almost 40 years ago), just that I loved it and devoured it, along with the pork chops:-). After reading Middlemarch, I plan to reread The Mill on the Floss and read all her other novels as well.

I loved Middlemarch, but I didnât devour it. I chewed it slowly - the writing too beautiful to swallow whole. It grabbed me right from the start and I knew I was in for a sublime reading experience.

In many of the reviews I have read people have mentioned that Eliotâs narrative voice was not to their liking, finding it too didactic or distracting. I found her narrative to be one of the things I liked best. It was through this technique that most of the wisdom and life lessons were imparted. The narrative became another character for me, seamlessly blended with the rest of the characters.

âWe mortals, men and women, devour many a disappointment between breakfast and dinner-time; keep back the tears and look a little pale about the lips, and in answer to inquiries say, "Oh, nothing!" Pride helps us; and pride is not a bad thing when it only urges us to hide our own hurts--not to hurt others."

Her ability to sum up a character in one beautifully written paragraph is remarkable.

In describing Mr. Casaubon, one of the main characters, Eliot writes. âIt is an uneasy lot at best, to be what we call highly taught and yet not to enjoy: to be present at this great spectacle of life and never to be liberated from a small hungry shivering self-- never to be fully possessed by the glory we behold, never to have our consciousness rapturously transformed into the vividness of a thought, the ardor of a passion, the energy of an action, but always to be scholarly and uninspired, ambitious and timid, scrupulous and dim-sighted.â

In talking about another character, Dr. Lydgate, she says.

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Title: The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Author: Robert Louis Stevenson

Narrator: Ian Holm

Format: Abridged

Length: 2 hrs and 33 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-19-06

Publisher: CSA Word

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 38 votes

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde ranks alongside Frankenstein, The Picture of Dorian Gray and Dracula as one of the top horror stories to emerge from the late 19th Century. Film and stage adaptations have never been able to fully relate the agony and conflict that permeates the mind of Dr Jekyll, but the audio version read by Ian Holm adds an extra spine-chilling dimension to the original text by Robert Louis Stevenson.

(P)1994 CSA Telltapes Ltd.

Members Reviews:

Chilling (and complete)

Although it doesn't say so, this edition of "Jekyll and Hyde" is unabridged; the only thing missing, as far as I can tell, are a couple of chapter titles. (The chapters themselves are intact.) The reading by Ian Holm is superb: dark and dismal, giving full voice to Utterson's frustration and Jekyll's despair. The coarseness and cruelty of Hyde's voice is especially chilling. This is by far the best of the four audio versions of this story I've tried.

Superb

One of my favorite stories, and Ian Holm's buttery voice makes it all the better.

Thrilling story

Ian Holm provided thrilling narration. I loved Stevenson's style of writing. It was so chilling and atmospheric.

good

A inspiring piece of literature, and a excellent performance. it reminded how fun descriptive wrighting can be.

Jekyll and Hyde

If it were seen by a reader in the 1800s they'd find it horrifying and mysterious. Nowadays it is book of superb literature, along with other narratives by great authors.

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Title: Persuasion

Author: Jane Austen

Narrator: Jill Masters

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 33 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-14-06

Publisher: Jimcin Recordings

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 97 votes

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

In Persuasion, the book's heroine, Ann Elliot, was earlier engaged to Frederick Wentworth, a young navel officer, who now has become a captain. Anne is 27, and the early bloom of youth is past, when she and Captain Wentworth are thrown together again.

This book is often thought to be the story of Jane Austen's own lost love. In it, she seems mellowed and more philosophical, touched perhaps by the sentiment of a story in which she saw herself as the heroine but in whose happy outcome she has a premonition that she would never play a part.

Editorial Reviews:

Jane Austen's last completed novel, published posthumously in 1818, depicts the trials and tribulations of the young Englishwoman Ann Elliot as she reconnects with naval captain Frederick Wentworth. After spurning his marriage proposal years earlier on the advice of friends, she is practically a spinster by the time Wentworth returns to town. After suffering through the vain, shallow society around her, Ann and Captain Wentworth do eventually find a happy ending. Although this is an earlier recording with some inconsistent sound quality, performer Jill Masters' genteel English accent is enjoyable to listen to and perfectly suited to the tale.

Members Reviews:

Not the best narrator, but certainly not the worst

I enjoyed this book decently enough to finish it, without deciding to forget the whole thing and try a different narrator. I cannot stress enough how important it is to listen to the full samples given before deciding on a work with multiple narrator options. I've learned my lesson. Jill Masters is not my favorite, but she is far from the worst. Victoria McGee is by far my least favorite Austen narrators, and I couldn't even get halfway through her version of Sense and Sensibility. Lindsay Duncan is my absolute favorite, and I wish she would do all of Austen's works. In Jill Masters' defense, her style simply did not jive with my interpretation of the novel, and her inflections and emphasis did not land as I would have liked. However, she read it well and was consistent. Like many reviewers have also pointed out, I'll stress that the sound quality of this recording is not very good. The volume level fluctuates, there are some awkward pauses, and the sound quality in general is lacking. In short: not the best, but not the worst.

Terrible audio quality

I love this novel. And I was delighted to find this one in Kindle Unlimited list. What a terrible audio quality. I hear someone talking background. I first thought it was my background. No! It's actually in the audiobook!

I can't possibly continue listening to this audiobook.

Worst Narration I've Experienced Yet

Unable to finish this Jane Austen classic with 2 hours remaining. I very rarely abandon a book and I would not have abandoned it (I think) if I had selected another version of this book read by another narrator. I plan to avoid Jill Masters in the future as there is nothing more disappointing. I could not tell you the gist of this story as I rarely stayed engaged for the 6 hours I did listen to. I feel compelled to try another narrator but I will wait for now. I never listen to a sample before downloading but that may change. This was the worst narration I've experienced in 10+ years of audiobook listening.

Pure, unalloyed pleasure

Persuasion is my favorite novel of all time and Jill Masters my favorite reader of Jane Austen.

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Title: Emma

Author: Jane Austen

Narrator: Jill Masters

Format: Unabridged

Length: 18 hrs and 8 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-12-06

Publisher: Jimcin Recordings

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 34 votes

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Full of irony, this comedy of manners satirizes the self-deception of vanity. Emma presents a picture of mixed family and social life as did Pride and Prejudice, though mellowed by a riper humor. Emma equals Pride and Prejudice in its rich humor and vivid portraiture of character. It is a never ending delight in human absurdities, which the fascinated listener shares from chapter to chapter.

© & (P)1983 Jimcin Recordings

Editorial Reviews:

This much-loved comedy of manners follows a young woman who seems to have everything but self-awareness. Beautiful, rich, witty, and popular, she thinks just a little too much of herself and her abilities, at least until a series of misadventures prod her toward greater self-discovery. Performer Jill Masters' English-accented voice is soft, refined, and genteel, perfectly suited to the 19th-century setting. In Emma, listeners will enjoy the deft observations, keen insight, and subtle humor for which this deservedly famous author is known.

Members Reviews:

Surprisingly good

I never thought I would like a Jane Austen book but, to keep marital peace, I agreed to get it for our 10 plus hour drive to Virginia. I must say, I was pleasantly surprised. The book was witty and wonderful and the miles just flew by. We both thought the narrator was excellent as well. We listened to the whole thing - there and back and, as much as it amazes me to say this, I'm looking forward to another Jane Austen book on our next long drive. I'm new to Jane Austin so..I just hope they're all this good. Plus, my wife now thinks I have a "sensitive side." :) Just a little bonus!

Slow start, better finish - poor narration

From what I've read about the works of Jane Austen, I believed that this was supposed to be her best work. However that didn't come across at all in the recording. The narrator was dull and uninspired through most of the reading, so it was an incredibly boring.

I have listed to Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility already and enjoyed them far more than this.

If other unabridged samples exist, listen to them first before buying this uninspiring reading

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Title: Rebecca

Author: Daphne du Maurier

Narrator: Emma Fielding

Format: Abridged

Length: 5 hrs and 16 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-06-05

Publisher: Naxos AudioBooks

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 32 votes

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

"Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again."

These famous words open the most popular novel by Daphne du Maurier, the story of an intense romance set in a mysterious house in Cornwall. Its unforgettable atmosphere and tension has transformed it from a popular romance on the page and on film to become a modern classic. Here, it is presented in a new and absorbing recording by Emma Fielding.

Members Reviews:

I loved it!

Narrator Emma Fielding did such a good job with this one. I listened to the unabridged version and wished Emma did that too. Anna Massey is pretty good but Emma is better. Oh, the background music is perfect, not overdone.

Wonderfully written story and narration

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

One of the best!

What other book might you compare Rebecca to, and why?

The Shining, same dark dreamlike atmosphere centered around a main location, in this case, Manderley (which is almost a character in itself).

What does Emma Fielding bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you had only read the book?

Subtle and atmospheric, she gets the tone PERFECT.

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

It brought me in to the main characters world, as if in a fog, beautiful.

Any additional comments?

Wonderful narrator and a wonderful story.

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Title: Northanger Abbey

Author: Jane Austen

Narrator: Juliet Stevenson

Format: Abridged

Length: 2 hrs and 32 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-05-05

Publisher: Naxos AudioBooks

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 14 votes

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

When Catherine Morland, a country clergyman's daughter, is invited to spend a season in Bath with the fashionable high society, little does she imagine the delights and perils that await her. Captivated and disconcerted by what she finds, and introduced to the joys of "Gothic novels" by her new friend Isabella, Catherine longs for mystery and romance.

When she is invited to stay with the beguiling Henry Tilney and his family at Northanger Abbey, she expects mystery and intrigue at every turn. However, the truth turns out to be even stranger than fiction.

Editorial Reviews:

Austen's parody of a gothic novel gets an elegant narration to match its elegant prose. Sheltered Catherine Morland goes to fashionable Bath with a wealthy neighbor and discovers society and love. Juliet Stevenson gives each character a unique voice - the duplicitous Isabelle; Catherine's suitor, Henry Tinley; and Catherine's vacuous hostess - and invests each conversation with energy and importance. At the same time, as Austen, Stevenson steps back and comments on gothic heroines and Catherine's failures at becoming one. The delivery of Henry's fanciful description of the Abbey as a dark and mysterious place is a mini-classic in itself. Those who love Austen's fiction will appreciate this classy production.

Members Reviews:

Charming

This is a minor novel by Jane Austen. It's short in length but has the same wit as her other books. I found it delightful to listen to. The narrator, Juliet Stevenson, was perfect in her rendition of the character's voices, including the male voices.

Good

There is no such thing as a bad Jane Austen novel, and Northanger Abbey is good. However, in my opinion, the herorine is not in the same class as Elizabeth (Pride and Prejudice), Emma (Emma) , Ann (Persuasion) or either of the sisters in Sense and Sensability. Maybe I don't like her as well because this was abridged and I did not get her full character, but I am afraid that she is just not as bright, clever, likeable or sensible as other Austen female characters. That is why I gave four stars rather than five. One day, when I don't have anything else to read, I may try reading the unabridged book of Northanger Abbey because Jane Austen is my favorite author of all time and surely she didn't let me down with Northanger Abbey!

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Title: Letters from Father Christmas

Author: J.R.R. Tolkien

Narrator: Derek Jacobi, John Moffatt, Christian Rodska

Format: Unabridged

Length: 2 hrs and 7 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-04-05

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 344 votes

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Can you imagine writing to Father Christmas and actually getting a reply?

Every year, the children of J.R.R. Tolkien would write to Father Christmas, and the letters they received told wonderful stories of his adventures at the North Pole.

These humorous tales are brought to life by Derek Jacobi as Father Christmas, John Moffatt as Polar Bear, and Christian Rodska as Ilbereth the Elf, complete with specially composed music.

Members Reviews:

A fun little read.

What made the experience of listening to Letters from Father Christmas the most enjoyable?

The humour and wonderful narration made this a great listen.

What does Derek Jacobi bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book?

Derek Jacobi read with tongue in cheek and in great humour and the listening experience was very enjoyable.

Any additional comments?

A few letters written to Tolkien's daughter Priscilla were left out of the audiobook edition from about 1937 to 1943 I think. These are included in the Ebook edition with wonderful illustrations from J.R.R. Tolkien.

amazing idea for Christmas

A much better idea than the elf on the shelf. As I listened to the story I was thinking of the possibility of doing this with my future little ones

Fun Listen!

Wish there were more letters to this British family. The stories could go on. I love having a new slant (for me) on Santa and the North Pole and their problems. Love the letter sign offs too! "Love from your Father Christmas".

Heart warming letters from a creative father.

This book is less a book and more of a collection of letters from "Father Christmas" and his silly companions to the children of the famous author J.R.R. Tolkien. The level of creativity is heart warming as the letters relate the yearly adventures of Father Christmas and his helpers as they prepare to make their great gift deliveries, most notably the clumsy and lovable North Polar Bear.

The narration was also absolutely terrific, it's hard to imagine anyone could have done better. Hats off to Derek Jacobi, John Moffatt, and Christian Rodska for bringing these fun little characters to life and putting a smile on the faces of listeners everywhere.

This audiobook is recommended to listeners who enjoy a bit of imagination blended into their Christmas holiday and want something shorter than two hours in length. This audio experience is just as much silly fun for the older as it is for the younger. Who knows? It might even inspire some parents to add a little spice to Christmas mornings, themselves.

Felt the Christmas Magic

The performance was spectacular.

I truly felt as if Santa and the other characters were alive. Smiled through the whole thing it's worth the listen.

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Title: Farmer Giles of Ham

Author: J.R.R. Tolkien

Narrator: Derek Jacobi

Format: Unabridged

Length: 1 hr and 47 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-04-05

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 176 votes

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Farmer Giles of Ham is one of Tolkien's most popular stories, full of wit and humour, set in the days when giants and dragons walked the earth. He did not look like a hero. He was fat and red-bearded and enjoyed a slow, comfortable life. Then one day a rather deaf and short-sighted giant blundered on to his land. More by luck than skill, Farmer Giles managed to scare him away. The people of the village cheered: Farmer Giles was a hero. His reputation spread far and wide across the kingdom. So it was natural that when the dragon Chrysophylax visited the area it was Farmer Giles who was expected to do battle with it!

©1949 The J.R.R. Tolkien Copyright Trust; (P)1999 HarperCollins UK

Members Reviews:

An exquisite story wonderfully narrated

When Tolkien writes stories, he writes them good! Let an excellent narrator, like Derek Jacobi, read it, and you have an exquisite tale. I'm sure you'll want to listen to this story again and again!

Farmer Ham of Giles, the hero of the story, knows how to fight giants and dragons... a definite must, before you're stamped by a giant and warmed by a dragon.

Farmer to King

Would you consider the audio edition of Farmer Giles of Ham to be better than the print version?

It is an enjoyable listen that goes well with the print version.

Have you listened to any of Derek Jacobis other performances before? How does this one compare?

Derek Jacobi is excellent once again. Children will be able to follow along easily and perhaps even take more of the story in as a result of his narration.

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

I did listen to it in one sitting as the book is full of Tolkien 's humour and is well narrated and easy to listen to.

Any additional comments?

Children and adults alike, should enjoy this Tolkien adventure with a deadly dragon, a dog who keeps crying help and a farmer who becomes a king.

Quite the Blunderbuss...

I don't typically associate Tolkien with comedy, but this little known short story got me smiling. Derrick Jacobi's performance is a bit over the top at times, but overall it adds to the silly tone of the story. I had a ton of fun with this, so I have no qualms about recommending it to other Tolkien fans. Go for it!

Humorous tale

This is a funny little tale from the famous author that's well narrated by Jacobi for a trifle less than two hours.

A Delightful Fairy Tale

While there's not a hobbit to be found, lovers of JRR Tolkien will enjoy this story of a simple farmer and his adventures with giants and dragons. It is a pleasant diversion that will delight children of all ages.

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Title: Prince Caspian: The Chronicles of Narnia, Book 2

Author: C.S. Lewis

Narrator: Lynn Redgrave

Format: Unabridged

Length: 4 hrs and 40 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-29-05

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 33 votes

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy are sitting on a station platform when they sense the magic beginning again. Suddenly they are pulled back to the land of Narnia.

Evil King Miraz and his army can only mean trouble for Narnia, and Prince Caspian, his nephew and the rightful heir to the throne, fears for his safety and the future of his country. He blows the Great Horn in desperation, summoning Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy to help with his difficult task, that of saving Narnia before its freedom is lost forever.

This was the second book written in The Chronicles of Narnia. It now stands as the fourth book in the series.

Members Reviews:

The children return

What was one of the most memorable moments of Prince Caspian: The Chronicles of Narnia, Book 2?

The most memorable moment for me was when Lucy heals Reepicheep and Aslan returns his tail, after teasing the mouse and his companions.

What about Lynn Redgraves performance did you like?

Lynn Redgraves performed the story well with good voice characterisation and clarity.

Why book four

I enjoyed this book it has a very nice story but when I started listening to it the voice said book four. I thought I was listening to the wrong book, but checked the order online and this is the second book.

So why book four?

But I did like this book very much.

The Return to Narnia

Would you listen to Prince Caspian: The Chronicles of Narnia, Book 2 again? Why?

Yes, because you're left wondering at the end of the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe if there's more to come and you're looking forward, when you start this book, to the next journey to Narnia.

What did you like best about this story?

It's an excellent plot with many years having elapsed sinced the children were last in Narnia but they were still remembered by the majority of the Narnians. Also, there was plenty of underground work going on, such as the Nurse and Doctor Cornelius briefing Caspian about the old days.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

The scene where the children realised they'd gone the wrong way and had no choice but to go Aslan's way.

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

There are always emotional parts in the Narnia books.

Any additional comments?

If you want plenty of adventure with lessons to be learnt along the way, the Chronicles of Narnia is probably the best series for that sort of thing. At the end of each book, you just want more.

Spoiled by the silly voices for the children

I love all the Narnia books, and would happily give 5 stars for the stories themselves, but this particular narration is very irritating because Lynn Redgrave uses such silly voices for the children. What a shame, especially as there is no other audio verson of this great book as an alternative.

Great story

Great story of course but let down by the narration which wasn't as good as I thought it would be.

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Title: Wuthering Heights

Author: Emily Bronte

Narrator: Martin Shaw

Format: Abridged

Length: 3 hrs and 3 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-01-05

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

First published in 1847, Emily Bronte's classic tale of passion, obsession, cruelty, and revenge has lost none of its power. At its heart lies the tempestuous relationship of Catherine Earnshaw of Wuthering Heights and Heathcliff, the "gypsy brat" plucked from the streets of Liverpool by her father. Their tragedy, with its terrible consequences for those who become caught up in it, unfolds in a wild moorland landscape as dark and harsh as the events themselves.

Members Reviews:

The free Kindle version is fine...

The free Kindle version is fine if you aren't reading the book for study purposes and if you know a tiny hint of French. In fact, I'm of the opinion that reading 160+ year old books on Kindle has the distinct advantage of access to the built-in English dictionary. You can look up archaic words immediately without losing your page, thanks to the 'back' button. I didn't mind the fact that there were no page breaks between chapters as one previous reviewer did. In fact the novel was so gripping and compelling that the very fact that there were even chapters to break it up left me feeling somewhat impatient!

The reason I am giving it 4 stars instead of 5 probably has more to do with Kindle books in general rather than this book in particular. It reads as easily as any other book I've read on Kindle. But it's the kind of novel where you want to flip back to a certain section and re-read a portion just because of what is currently being said by the characters, and there is no way to do that. As for the French passages I had mentioned earlier, they are really very few in number and even if you don't know any French, don't let it stop you from reading this novel. They're all things said by one character or another, often repeated in English. (Thank you, Charlotte Bront)! None of it is important to the plot or to the characters themselves.

Charlotte Bront shows herself to be an incredibly masterful writer in "Jane Eyre." There were times when I just stopped to admire the style with which she conveyed something and the techniques she used. She is also incredibly insightful into human nature. The main character is an introverted person and all of her thoughts, beautifully laid out, make her into one of the most compelling characters in literature. Although it may be difficult to see this, I do think that the author was showing her feminist colors, such as they were in those days, when she conjured up Jane Eyre.

Thanks for making these classic books available for free on Kindle!

While not fatal, the flaws are serious enough to prevent Jane Eyre from being a true masterpiece

** spoiler alert ** After my extreme disappointment with Shirley, I returned to Jane Eyre, which I first read as a 'tween and from time to time afterwards would dip back into the romantic bits no St. John!) to finally read it again cover-to-cover. In this novel, Bronte writes like a pro, opening the story with a conflict that immediately engages her readers' interest in Jane and quickly follows up with another that firmly cements that affection. When the evil Rev. Brocklehurst asks Jane what she must do to avoid the eternal torture of hell, she replies, "I must keep in good health, and not die," and her immortality as a literary character is secured. One strength of this novel is the first-person narration with everything seen through Jane's eyes.