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Title: Uncle Bernac

Subtitle: A Memory of Empire

Author: Arthur Conan Doyle

Narrator: Gabriel Woolf

Format: Unabridged

Length: 5 hrs and 41 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-13-09

Publisher: RNIB

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 7 votes

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

First published in 1897, this murder mystery relates the story of a young Frenchman, Louis, who, having grown up in England, returns to France at the false invitation of his Uncle Bernac. Louis quickly finds himself in personal danger as well as involved in a conspiracy against Napoleon.

Scottish-born author and physician Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859 - 1930) was a major innovator in the field of crime fiction. His other works include science-fiction stories, historical novels, plays and romances, poetry, and non-fiction.

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

Members Reviews:

Average Book, Average Narration

Arthur Conan Doyle does not display his excellent talents in this book as he does in the Sherlock Holmes series. The book has very little plot; the majority of the content being about the eccentric ways of Napoleon Bonaparte. The story is interesting, but leaves you saying "was that it? Nothing More?" Gabriel Woolf has excellent French pronunciation and his narration is good, but not something that will stand out in a crowd. For excellent Doyle and excellent narration I highly recommend "The Complete Stories Of Sherlock Holmes Vol 1 & 2"

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Title: Treasure Island (Alpha DVD)

Author: Robert Louis Stevenson

Narrator: Dick Hill

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 5 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-02-09

Publisher: Alpha DVD

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 21 votes

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Treasure Island is a tale of pirates, treasure, and shipwreck. When young Jim Hawkins finds a packet in Captain Flint's sea chest, he could not know that the map inside it would lead him to unimaginable treasure. Shipping as cabin boy on the Hispaniola, he sails with Squire Trelawney, Captain Smollett, Dr. Livesey, the sinister Long John Silver and a frightening crew to Treasure Island. There, mutiny, murder and mayhem lead to a thrilling climax.

(P)2009 Alpha DVD LLC

Members Reviews:

Come on....It's Treasure Island and its unabridged

Would you listen to Treasure Island again? Why?

I have already and will listen to Treasure Island again, multiple times it is the type of story that I do not grow tired of.

What other book might you compare Treasure Island to and why?

Pick a classic, any classic, But as far as sea tales go it is on it's own.

What does Dick Hill bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book?

I actually chose this particular version over others because Dick Hill was the performer, I have listened to him in several other books and really enjoy his style.

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

It is a good listen, not an emotional book however

Any additional comments?

Keep up the good work!

terrible narrator

I generally love listening to different accents. Unfortunately, I couldn't understand a single word this guy said. I listened to two chapters and had no idea what had happened at all.

Prefer movie

The dialogue used in this book was just a little bit too old fashioned to make me feel connected in any way. It was hard to get into the book. I liked the overall story but I think it is better as a movie rather than listened to here.

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Title: The Hound of the Baskervilles

Subtitle: Naxos Young Adult Classics

Author: Arthur Conan Doyle

Narrator: David Timson

Format: Abridged

Length: 3 hrs and 36 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-18-09

Publisher: Naxos AudioBooks

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 9 votes

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

The 'Young Adult Classics' series continues with The Hound of the Baskervilles, the most popular Sherlock Holmes story. It is a chilling tale of a slavering dog on the moor that will excite listeners of any age. The popular classics, presented in an abridged form, are brilliantly brought to life by master Holmes reader David Timson and enhanced with atmospheric music.

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Title: The Stories of Charles Dickens

Author: Charles Dickens

Narrator: Frank Pettingell

Format: Abridged

Length: 48 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-16-08

Publisher: Saland Publishing

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Frank Pettingell reads pages from David Copperfield, Oliver Twist, Martin Chuzzlewit, Great Expectations and The Pickwick Papers.

©2008 Saland Publishing; (P)2008 Saland Publishing

Members Reviews:

Innovative detective fiction

This is one story, not a collection; but, for any reader who enjoys detective fiction, "Hunted Down," is an enjoyable read - both by itself and in consideration of its status as one of the first significant works in this genre. This story was published in 1859, so it is natural that the language and style of Charles Dickens seem somewhat encumbered, although it should be noted that the Sherlock Holmes stories that Arthur Conan Doyle began to write less than 30 years later do not have this handicap. But there are several positive elements of Dickens' nineteenth century style. For example, when Mr. Slinkton says, "I never repeat what I hear; it is the only way of paring the nails and shaving the head of Rumour," the reader appreciates this descriptive figure of speech that seems to have disappeared from contemporary English.

This tale is told from the first person perspective of a retired manager of a life assurance (insurance) office. As the story begins, Mr. Dickens seems to spend more time than necessary on the topic of physiognomy; but, after that, the storyteller holds the reader's attention much more effectively, and somewhat deceptively, to a well-developed conclusion.

Tightly Plotted Mystery

The title of this free Kindle edition is a bit of a misnomer: Hunted Down is a single story, not stories, and while it's a mystery story, it's not a detective story. That said, Hunted Down's a tightly plotted mystery in which the reader suspects life insurance fraud. Mr. Sampson, an insurance executive, takes an instant aversion to Julius Slinkton, the emissary of a prospective insured, and the tale flows from there. Told from the perspective of the life insurance salesman/underwriter, it contains several plot twists that seem obvious only after they are revealed. Written by one of the greatest English authors, the story is also a love story and a tragedy.

A Dickens Attempt at a Detective Story -- Misfires

This is Charles Dickens halfhearted attempt at a detective story during a period when he was fascinated by the new science of police detection. It is far from Edgar Allen Poe who was writing such about the same time. Had thought the book also had some of Dickens' thoughts on detectives and detection of crime but it did not. Cannot recommend it to anyone except a die hard Dickens fan.

I love Dickens, but he can be hit or miss

I love Dickens, but he can be hit or miss. When he is great, he is amazing. This is one of the minor pieces so don't expect his best. Detective fiction is really not his forte.

What the Dickens?

Charles Dickens works much better on a large canvas than he does in the short story which doesn't give him sufficient room to develop his characters. It was an interesting couple of hours reading and, downloaded, it cost nothing. Nice broadening of education.

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Title: The World's Greatest Literature

Author: Saland Publishing

Format: Abridged

Length: 47 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-02-08

Publisher: Saland Publishing

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

The styles and rhythms of English can vary fully as much as in poetry. This wonderful collection of highlights from the greats of English literature aims to illustrate the ways in which each great writer has bent the language to his will. The recordings were made in the 1950s by members of the University of Cambridge and directed by George Rylands.

©2008 Saland Publishing; (P)2008 Saland Publishing

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Title: How the Whale Got His Throat

Author: Rudyard Kipling

Narrator: Walter Zimmerman

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-26-08

Publisher: Jimcin Recordings

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 7 votes

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Rudyard Kipling wrote many novels and stories but he is best known today for his chilren's stories in The Jungle Books and The Just So Stories, from which his tale is taken.

(P)1980 Jimcin Recordings

Editorial Reviews:

From Rudyard Kiplings beloved Just So Stories comes this origin myth concerning a gluttonous whale whose insatiable appetite condemns his descendants to a meager diet of plankton. Cindy Hardin leads an ensemble cast from Jimcin Recordings, coloring the proceedings with energy and excitement sure to grab the attention of young children. Walter Zimmerman lends playful voice acting to the storys principal characters, including a slow-witted whale whose eyes are bigger than his stomach, and a chipper 'stute fish who, looking to make a move up the food chain, devises a crafty plan to cure the whales appetite once and for all. With animated acting and an easy-to-follow pace, "How the Whale Got His Throat" is sure to captivate and educate young listeners.

Members Reviews:

Two Stars

Not impressed with the format or the illustrations.

A Whale of a Read

The pictures have nice "past-times" feel as they are from animated films made in the 1980's.. pleasant change from the flat bright pictures that flood todays kiddies books. Our Grandkids love it.

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Title: A Christmas Carol (RNIB)

Author: Charles Dickens

Narrator: Maurice Turner

Format: Unabridged

Length: 3 hrs and 10 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-03-08

Publisher: RNIB

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 6 votes

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Charles Dickens is probably the greatest novelist England ever produced. His innate comic genius and shrewd depictions of Victorian life - along with his memorable characters - have made him beloved by readers the world over.

A Christmas Carol was published in 1843 to huge success and has continued to be one of the most popular and enduring Christmas stories of all time.

Ebenezer Scrooge is a heartless old miser who doesn't enjoy Christmas and doesn't think anyone else should, either. But, one Christmas Eve, some ghostly visitors take Scrooge on a journey that changes his mind for ever.

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

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.

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Title: Peter Pan

Author: J M Barrie

Narrator: Vivien Heilbron, David Rintoul

Format: Abridged

Length: 2 hrs and 56 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-02-08

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Magic and mischief is in the air, but if villainous Captain Hook has his way, before long someone will be swimming with the crocodiles.

Members Reviews:

Great children's book

I started binging on all the books I should have read as a child. This one, I feel, would be best if read TO a child rather than have them read it themselves. Its good storytelling and enjoyable.

Five Stars

Beautiful illustrations by Trina Schart Hyman.

Growing up is hard to do

This is a story about a surprisingly new way to enlighten children with reference to

growing up, and Wendy found that out when she was two. Growing up was a way of life. We can't stay young forever. But there was one boy who had defied that logic. Peter Pan was that boy.

Wendy was the oldest of three children in the Darling family. John came next, then

Michael. There was also a nurse. A Newfoundland dog named Nana, who knew sign

language.

One night as Peter Pan followed Tinker Bell, a tiny fairy, to the Darling home, looking for his shadow, he found it hidden in a drawer, and was trying to put it back on with soap. Who or what hid his shadow? Was it Nana or Mrs. Darling and why? About that time Wendy woke up and was startled by him being there and offered to help him. After coming up with a surprising trick the shadow stuck.

Once Peter heard what a wonderful story teller Wendy was he wanted her and the boys to come to Neverland and tell her stories to the other children. He told her it was a magical place filled with adventure and where a child would never grow up. So the three children followed Peter to Neverland. But while they were there, bad things began to happen, like adventures with pirates and indian attacks. Wendy and the boys began to miss home and wanted to go back.But after a little while they began to forget about home and their parents.

Will the three children ever make it back home again, or will they have to stay forever in Neverland? These and many more questions will be answered once you read "Peter Pan," a wonderful book written for children of all ages. It will feed your imagination, because there was one unique thing that Peter Pan could do that no other young person could do. He could fly.

The format was well done. Liked the book also.

I had never read Peter Pan and was surprised by how dark it is. I enjoyed it more than I have the presentations by Disney and others. The companion works by the same author about Peter Pan are included and I liked them as well. I don't know the history of the stories but the "White Bird" and Kensington Gardens books seem to be earlier versions of the Peter Pan concept. Well worth the very low money it cost for the Kindle version.

A review of Calla Editions' Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens

I have been collecting Calla Editions for several years now and have been generally pleased with the earlier editions. My complaint about the newer editions is in terms of quality. This title, published in 2013, is printed in China. Unlike the older Calla editions (I believe it is 2011 and prior), the paper is not the creamy, vellum like paper that makes browsing through the books an aesthetically-pleasing experience.

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Title: Around the World in Eighty Days

Author: Jules Verne

Narrator: Scott Diskin

Format: Abridged

Length: 56 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-24-08

Publisher: Listener's Digest Inc.

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Phileas Fogg made a bet. Together with his servant, hot-blooded Passepartout, they travel by train, steamship, sled, and even an elephant in an attempt to win that bet. Exploration, adventure, and suspense make this crazy novel an all-time classic.

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

Members Reviews:

Around the World in 80 Days

Everyone knows the basic story, but reading the book was quite painful and not enjoyable for a middle schooler who chose it from the summer reading list. It's written in a stuffy, 19th century style, which is great if one enjoys such writing. As an adult, I love the stuff, but it really was hard to wade through the formal prose and starchy descriptions. I don't recommend modernizing it, although that would introduce it to a generation that will otherwise not make an effort.

Accompanies the Video Trip

Having seen this television series of Michael Palin's trip, this is a nice way to refresh the memory. I understand that the book follows the video series very closely. I intend to read it at some time. I got it for my late husband and he did enjoy reading it. Mr. Palin's observations of the world were very interesting.

David Niven was a perfect choice.

Wonderful book. It evoked my memories of the original movie I watched in younger days. It is also quite a lesson in changing perceptions AND realities. It was, after all, written 143 years ago, and the world has changed a bit. Now you can circumnavigate the globe without even an engine (solar airplane), but between Homeland Security, customs officials everywhere, infrastructure maintenance failures and other modern inconveniences, Mr. Fogg's record might beat yours if you attempted the same route. I wonder if TripAdvisor could set me up . . .

Good translation and nice themes

One of the more simple works of Verne in my opinion. Good translation and nice themes. The characters themselves didn't attract me a great deal. Fine quality book and a fairly easy read.

I Always Love This One

I give it five stars. It's always a favorite. I read it with my eleven year old in our homeschool. She said, "It's not my favorite book, but it's okay." I, on the other hand, love the beauty behind the message of Mr. Fogg's journey. It would seem as though there really are some things in life that mean more than glory and riches. ;)

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Title: Alice's Adventures of Wonderland

Author: Lewis Carroll

Narrator: Susan Jameson, James Saxon

Format: Abridged

Length: 2 hrs and 38 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-06-08

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Alice lives an ordinary life, until the day she follows the White Rabbit down, down, down a rabbit-hole. She suddenly finds herself in an enchanted world, surrounded by zany creatures like the Mad Hatter, the Duchess, and the Cheshire Cat. Alice finds that nothing in Wonderland is the least bit ordinary.

©1996 Penguin Books Ltd; (P)1996 Penguin Books Ltd

Members Reviews:

Absolutely adore!

I can never get enough of this particular audiobook version. I think it has undoubtedly become one of my favourite audiobooks of all time. It has given me a new found love for Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.