Get the Most Popular Audiobooks in Classics, British Literature Top Rated

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Title: Emma

Author: Jane Austen

Narrator: Richard Baker

Format: Unabridged

Length: 17 hrs and 17 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-22-08

Publisher: RNIB

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 40 votes

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Emma was Austen's fourth published novel, and the last to appear before her death.

A comic novel, first published in December 1815, Emma tells of the perils of misconstrued romance. The main character Emma Woodhouse is a well-to-do young woman in a small English town who is a self-appointed matchmaker. The story explores the nature of these orchestrated matches coming to life through the hilarious characters including arguably Austen's two greatest comic creations - the eccentric Mr. Woodhouse and the quintessential bore, Miss Bates.

English novelist Jane Austen (1775 - 1817) was author of satirical novels set among the English middle and upper classes. The novels are notable for their wit, social observation and insights into the lives of early 19th century women.

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

Members Reviews:

Classic reading!

Emma is my favourite Jane Austen, and Richard Baker is classical BBC. Combined they make a restful and humurous listening experience. From the copyright information at the start I imagine this was read for the Wrens to listen to during WWI; a very connecting experience. I'm glad I chose this version to hear.

Wrong era

Poor Emma, I feel sorry for her being born at a time when her talents could not be harnessed. I have never found this story easy to enjoy, but it is as well read as can be and of, being Austen as well observed and charming as possible.

A good version of this story, but I don't rate this story too highly. Poor Emma.

Disappointing

I found Richard Baker's reading of Emma very disappointing as he gives each person the same inflections in their speech, which doesn't relate to their individual characters. It works well for Mr. Woodhouse, but seems at odds with Emma and several of the others.

Terrible reader

Not my favourite Jane Austen novel but still a very good book. The problem here is this particular reader who is terrible.

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Title: Spine Chillers

Author: M. R. James

Narrator: Derek Jacobi

Format: Unabridged

Length: 1 hr and 6 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-04-08

Publisher: BBC Worldwide Limited

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 17 votes

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

MR James is an important part of the nation's celebration of Christmas. In the oral tradition, many of his 30 or so tales were penned as Christmas Eve entertainments and read aloud to gatherings of friends.

Members Reviews:

Listener's remorse

My mistake: I didn't pay attention to how short this selection is. The stories are butchered, not only in length, but in substance. "Spine Chillers" even falls short of the minimal standards of a children's Hallowe'en party.

If you love James as much as I do, try the excellent collections,"Tales of the Supernatural" from audible. (Gareth David-Lloyd's reading of "Casting the Runes" in Vol. 1 is a treat, to name but one great performance).

NOT actually narrated by Derek Jacobi

These are jangly old radio performances "based on" M.R. James stories. Derek Jacobi just says a few words at the beginning. I bought this audiobook because I thought he was actually reading the stories and that would have been great. These are scripts with various actors taken loosely from the stories and they are not very good, I thought, and hard to follow. I think the description of this offering should be rewritten, as it is credited to Jacobi, but he has very little to do with it.

Scary

definately not one to listen to late at night. tried 3 by this author and this one is the best. only complaint, doesn't give titles of stories. fine if you're familar with his works, but not so good for a newbie

Another brilliant BBC production.

Thoroughly enjoyable listen. Could listen over and over again and it doesn't get old. Great.

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Title: Pride and Prejudice

Author: Jane Austen

Narrator: Flo Gibson

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 29 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-30-08

Publisher: Audio Book Contractors, Inc.

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 43 votes

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

While Mrs. Bennet pursues husbands for her daughters, the course of the courtship of the proud Darcy and Elizabeth never runs smoothly. The writing takes us on a roller-coaster ride of emotions that often accompanies a relationship in bloom.

(P)2008 Audio Book Contractors, Inc.

Members Reviews:

love the story, don't love the reader.

I really love the book. It is one of my favorites, but the reader's voice was a little annoying, and I had trouble paying attention to the story sometimes because I was too annoyed with her voice.

My First Recorded Book Ever

What can be said about this classic? Well, I fell in love with this book. It captivated my attention from the beginning, and held it throughout. I hope, like me, you'll fall in love with Fitzwilliam Darcy and Miss Eliza Bennet. I've listened to this audiobook countless times. I've seen the mini-series with Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy; I've read the novel as well. Not to forget, Flo Gibson's wonderful narration. There's another Pride and Prejudice by another narrator here also. I've not listened to that one, but listen to both previews, and choose the one that makes you happy. Point being, listen to this wonderful novel. I absolutely love it!!

Choice Reading

This is truly an excellent audio book, it has kept us all eagerly listening during many long hours of travelling. Fits in very well, even after viewing the movie. Very well done.

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Title: The Wrong Box

Author: Robert Louis Stevenson, Lloyd Osbourne

Narrator: Jim Killavey

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 1 min

Language: English

Release date: 10-23-08

Publisher: Jimcin Recordings

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 14 votes

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Robert Louis Stevenson, know mostly for his tales of adventure and horror, also had a humorous side. This black comedy of errors deals with a coffin that keeps disappearing, and then showing up again in very strange places.

(P)1987 Jimcin Recordings

Editorial Reviews:

Jim Killaveys interpretation of the rip-roaring comic novel The Wrong Box by beloved Scottish novelist Robert Louis Stevenson and his stepson, Lloyd Osbourne, is delightful. Joseph Finsbury, one of two surviving members of a tontine, is facing financial ruin. His two nephews, John and Morris - whom he raised - are banking on his victory. When a train wreck appears to have killed Joseph, the younger two men are reluctant to relinquish their uncles claim to the tontine. Their devious plan? Ship the body home and pretend that Joseph is still alive and well. Comedy ensues.

Members Reviews:

Perfect Halloween comedy, amusing any time

It gets off to a slow start, because the plot is complicated and all the characters must make entrances. They it becomes a romp. Well written and well read.

Enjoyed the story, but pity about US narrator

This was one of my mother's favourite books, and she often told me how funny it was, and I have to agree with her - it is genuinely funny, even after all these years.

However, I found it a distraction having an American accent reading the story, in particular because of the mispronunciation of some place names.

But generally - great fun, and very good value!

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Title: Gulliver's Travels

Author: Jonathan Swift

Narrator: John Richmond

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 28 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-30-08

Publisher: RNIB

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 33 votes

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

One of the great literary classics of Western literature, Gulliver's Travels is a powerful satire on mankind, morals, and social habits, written in the form of a Travel in Wonderland.

The most celebrated novel by Jonathan Swift (1667-1745) is a culmination of his active years in politics with the Whigs and then the Tories.

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

Members Reviews:

An unalloyed pleasure - perfectly narrated

I read this as a youngster and on listening to it here I think much of it was over my head at that time.

It is the work of an astonishing imagination. There are modern authors and film makers that have made a good living out of a fraction that Swift brings before us. It is astonishing to think that this is nearly 300 rears old.

It can be enjoyed at many levels. A robust political satire, a moral inquiry into ways of organising society or just a good yarn.

The early 18th century prose is a delight to a modern ear used to the business speak and mindlessly twaddle that daily assaults us.

The narrator's voice has the right maturity and he does a fine job. It would not be difficult to imgine him wearing 18th C garb.

In all a good listen.

undecided

I loved reading this book as a kid but sad to say, listening to the book didn't translate too well. I'm blaming that on the boring narrator.

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Title: The Picture of Dorian Gray

Author: Oscar Wilde

Narrator: David Brown

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 59 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-24-08

Publisher: RNIB

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 20 votes

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

"If it were I who was to be always young, and the picture that was to grow old...I would give my soul for that!" The wish uttered by Dorian Gray as he gazes on his portrait forms the basis of this story, of a gilded and spoilt hedonist who is willing to sell his soul for his beauty.

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

Members Reviews:

Amazing Narration!

At first I was annoyed with the narration, being rather slow and with alot of white space. But after listening for a while, I discovered the narration was more like a play than simply narration - the reader used distinct voices for each character. One of the best narrations I have heard. Greatly enjoyed the presentation.

Enthralling

What made the experience of listening to The Picture of Dorian Gray the most enjoyable?

Oscar Wilde was a magnificent storyteller. The prose is rich, descriptive and thrilling.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Picture of Dorian Gray?

The very idea of the painting's power is steeped in myth and fairy tales, and is a wonderfully compelling idea for a tale of decadent decay.

What about David Browns performance did you like?

I loved his voice. His Oxonian tones were absolutely perfect for the style of the era and the background of the main characters.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

The luxuriant decadence of erosion.

the picture of dorian gray

i couldn't slog through two chapters of this thing. it was very badly narrated. i guesss you get what you pay for. there were more expensive versions, but this one was the cheapest.

Bad narration

This version is not a good listen. The narrator is awful. His 'different' voices for characters are largely identical and he differentiates the character be being either downbeat or upbeat - which for me removes any emotion from what the characters are actually meant to be saying. I also found that his voices for some of the bit-parts were so ludicrous that I had to turn the volume down to avoid the distortion in both the car and on headphones! Oh and he far too often sounds like a bad Kenneth Williams impression to really make for a pleasant listen.

As for the book... well it's a slow-burner. Expect all the snobbish quips of Oscar Wilde along the way.

Narrator is not good enough

I have given up listening to this purely because I think the narrator is bad. Sentences are disjointed, there are unnecessarily long pauses - it just does not flow. I don't want to ruin the experience of listening to this classic work through bad narration.

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Title: Sense and Sensibility

Author: Jane Austen

Narrator: Cathy Ritchie

Format: Abridged

Length: 59 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-31-08

Publisher: Listener's Digest Inc.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 4 votes

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Elinor and Marianne Dashwood are two sisters with contrasting personalities. After being left impoverished by the death of their father and the greed of their elder brother, John, the sisters move into a new cottage, where they struggle through trials of love and loss before eventually finding happiness.

©2007 Listener's Digest Inc; (P)2007 Listener's Digest Inc

Members Reviews:

It's One Heavy Book

So I just wanted to let others know that this collection is one giant book of all Austen novels combined. You can't tell from the picture, but I was actually expecting (and hoping for) individual books packed in one box like other book collections I have. So I was definitely a bit disappointed when I received this book. And while I am used to reading large books like David McCullough biographies, this compilation is by far the heaviest I have in my possession. I'm not sure I will be able to read this in bed or even hold it up in my arms for any long period of time. So beware. I would have chosen differently if had this information when I was contemplating purchase.

EMMA

A lot of water under the bridge since first reading this book many years ago. I do not know why I liked it so much them...possibly I was blinded by adolescents and want everyone to have a loving mate and played match maker myself thinking also I was above others..shame on me!! This book the second time around was so frustrating I could have screamed in parts. How dare Emma feel so superior in her small town and looked for others to make over in her image. How dare she play match maker with every eligible bachelor and made in the area thinking she knew best. Was she a true friend visiting all the families and offering her solicitations as if she were the queen and it being a big gift to shower her presence with others (all of whom she felt were inferior) on a regular basis.

Glad to have revisited this book and will revisit others but don't think they will be by Jane Austen. My book was downloaded onto my Kindle from Amazon.

Its starts off Emma becoming good friends with a girl named Harriet

Emma Woodhouse is a young girl growing up in a family of wealth and high class. Throughout the story, Emma becomes what some would call a matchmaker. Its starts off Emma becoming good friends with a girl named Harriet. Harriet doesnât know her parents therefore she doesnât have money or a high social ranking. Emma attempts to set her up with two different men and both come crashing down miserably. Emma attempts to help everyone Emma falls in love with a man by the name of Frank Churchill. She thinks they will wed, but later on you find out heâs already secretly engaged to a woman by the name of Jane. Emma is devastated by this but begins to reflect upon her feelings. She ends up confessing her love for her brother in law Mr.Knightley who has been guiding her throughout the story and Harriet marries Mr. Martin.

Jane Austenâs writing style was very witty, short, and sweet. She used clever wording that packs a punch in short sentences. The sentences could be unfinished and have dashed, which was used for emphasis on the urgentness and feeling of the character talking. The mood of the story is somewhat ironic. The author seems to have a deep connection with the characters, but likes to show their flaws and insecurities by making fun of them. All the characters seemed believable. I could relate them to people in my life.

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Title: A Tale of Two Cities

Author: Charles Dickens

Narrator: Bryan Schmidt

Format: Abridged

Length: 53 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-24-08

Publisher: Listener's Digest Inc.

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

With the backdrop of the French Revolution, this classic book of love, terror, and political cruelty reveals the true conditions of London and Paris during the last-half of the 18th century. Stimulating and emotional, this book strikes at the heart.

©2007 Listener's Digest Inc; (P)2007 Listener's Digest Inc

Members Reviews:

TV and Movies versions were good, but the book is better. . .

One of my co-workers encouraged me to read this since I have only seen the TV/Movie versions. It was a quick read and very enjoyable. Fortunately, the TV/Movie versions weren't too far off the mark. Regardless, there were facets of the story that you would only get through the book, which is why reading the book will always be my favorite option.

BAH! HUMBUG!! "God bless Us, Every One"

A Christmas Carol is a beloved Christmas favorite. Nothing says Christmas like favorite Christmas stories. This timeless tale has been told in many versions. Iâve seen the movie and play but Iâve never read the book. I thought it was about time to finally read this tale.

The illustrations throughout the book were fun to look at. Not common to find illustrations in books today unless they are children stories.

Lots of great quotes come from this story but the most famous is BAH! HUMBUG! followed by:

"God bless Us, Every One!"

Standalone

As great to read vs as to watch as a production.

We've enjoyed many kinds of productions of this classic Scrooge story. The original makes us 'rise to the occasion' - or at least gets us to mentally take the time to step back in that era. Life was so different, so the real factor is (I think) a little richer, than already assembled viewables. Emotional, and the older language adds some incentive to digging into the story.

A must read!

Dickens has always intimidated me. Somehow, I made my way through high school and college without having to read one of his novels. Finally, a few weeks before Christmas, I decided to give this a try when I learned it is relatively short. I figured if it took some work, at least it wouldn't take all that long. I'm sorry I waited so long. It was impossible for me to separate this from the many versions of A Christmas Carol I've seen over the years. I loved it. I enjoyed the glimpse into the time and place of the story. The story and theme are, of course, legendary.

Don't be intimidated. This is a book everyone should read at least once.

Classic I Know

I have tried this one before and was distracted within the first five chapters but with the advise of a colleague I am going to attempt this one again. I am late 30's and sometimes have a tough time focusing for long spans of time unless the story is captivating from the get go, you have to appreciate writing for the sake of verb-age and description to get into this. So, because it is a classic and I think the classics should be read - I'll give it another go but not looking forward to it despite the wonderful reviews. Hated Pride and Prejudice too - just depends on personal taste I suppose. Loved The Divine Comedy....

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Title: The Poetry of Wordsworth

Subtitle: (Selection)

Author: William Wordsworth

Narrator: Cedric Hardwicke

Format: Unabridged

Length: 39 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-24-08

Publisher: The Copyright Group

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 11 votes

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

William Wordsworth was amongst the greatest of English Poets. Included here are selections that put into perspective his great talent. The works are brought beautifully to life by Sir Cedric Hardwicke.

(P)2006 Portable Poetry

Members Reviews:

A real gem

I had this as a cassette for many years and always loved listening to it. Cecil Hardwicke really brings the poetry to life. Unlike some modern actors reading poetry, he doesn't intrude his personality into the reading , but nevertheless bring out the emotion and the thinking in the verse. His reading of Tintern Abbey is alone worth the price of the audiobook. If you like Wordsworth's poetry, then I urge you give this a try - it's not too expensive either.

I've docked one star for the quality of the sound - a tad variable, but you soon get used to it.

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Title: The Suicide Club

Author: Robert Louis Stevenson

Narrator: Laurence Olivier

Format: Unabridged

Length: 24 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-29-08

Publisher: Saland Publishing

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 10 votes

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

First printed in 1878, the strange tale of The Suicide Club tells of the inscrutable gentlemen who liked playing cards and the young man with the strong death wish and a plate of cream cakes. This macabre world, where everyone is rich and reckless, provides a fascinating, chillingly interesting, and frightening story. This audiobook features one of the greatest actors of the 20th century, Sir Laurence Olivier, who unfolds the story as precisely and pendantically as it was written.

© and (P)2008 Saland Publishing

Members Reviews:

Boring

I really like some of Robert Lewis Stevenson's books. However, this one was a total flop in my opinion.

Interesting tales

Here are three stories about the adventures of Prince Florizel of Bohemia and his Master of the Horse, Colonel Geraldine, as they concern the Suicide Club.

Story come to wonderful close

This book tells an intriguing murder chase. We enjoyed how the smaller stories all connect in the end. Rich vocabulary.

Colorful Characters and Suspense

This was a fun, interesting read. It kept you wanting to read more to find out what happens next. It does not condone or glorify suicide.

Good Short Stories

Although it might have worked better as a full length book instead of a mere trilogy of short stories it still is fascinationg to see a club based around a society of people wishing to end their lives. However, it still is a very good read.