Listen Legally to Best Full Audiobooks in Classics, American Literature

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Title: The Very Best of Edgar Allan Poe

Author: Edgar Allan Poe

Narrator: Nelson Olmsted, Raymond Massey

Format: Unabridged

Length: 2 hrs and 9 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-22-10

Publisher: Saland Publishing

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 2 votes

Genres: Classics, American Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Nelson Olmsted and Raymond Massey read a selection of Edgar Allan Poe's finest work, including 'The Raven', 'The Cask of Amontillado', 'Lionizing', and 'The Purloined Letter'.

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Title: Hop-Frog

Author: Edgar Allan Poe

Narrator: Patrick Lawlor

Format: Unabridged

Length: 25 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-04-09

Publisher: Listen & Live Audio, Inc.

Genres: Classics, American Literature

Publisher's Summary:

"Hop-Frog" is a short story by American writer Edgar Allan Poe, first published in 1849. The title character is a dwarf taken from his homeland who becomes the jester of a king particularly fond of practical jokes. Taking revenge on the king and his cabinet for striking his friend and fellow dwarf Trippetta, he dresses them as orangutans for a masquerade. In front of the king's guests, Hop-Frog murders them all by setting their costumes on fire before escaping with Trippetta. It has been suggested that Poe wrote the story as a form of literary revenge against a women named Elizabeth F. Ellet and several others. Edgar Allan Poe (January 19, 1809 - October 7, 1849), born in Boston, Mass., was an American writer, poet, editor and literary critic, considered part of the American Romantic Movement. Best known for his tales of mystery and the macabre, Poe was one of the earliest American practitioners of the short story and is considered the inventor of the detective-fiction genre. He is further credited with contributing to the merging genre of science fiction. He was the first well-known American writer to try to earn a living through writing alone, resulting in a financially difficult life and career. Patrick Lawlor, a classically trained stage actor, has performed on-stage throughout the US and Europe. He has appeared in several feature films, as well as on the television series, "LA Heat." His extensive work as an audiobook narrator has garnered numerous awards, including an Audie award nomination.

©2009 Listen & Live Audio, Inc.; (P)2009 Listen & Live Audio, Inc.

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Title: The Candy Country

Author: Louisa May Alcott

Narrator: Kathy Garver

Format: Unabridged

Length: 34 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-29-09

Publisher: Listen & Live Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 3 of 5 out of 1 votes

Genres: Classics, American Literature

Publisher's Summary:

American novelist Alcott (1832 - 1888) is best known for the novels Little Women, published in 1868, and Little Men.

Members Reviews:

This is a great and entertaining book..

This book is an enriching and knowledge piece of work. Louisa May Alcott is one of my all-time favourite authors and this cute and sweet book is different from all her other works, but a great story too!

I loved the way Lily eats candies and then bread. It is good to think that she reflects good values of young girls such as becoming a great house keeper.

The moral in this book is also clear- We should never be greedy as too much of anything is bad.

There is only one minus point that Lily eats the candy people she sees. It is bad to think that she is LITERALLY eating them. That is like murdering them! Why does she eat the sugar babies?

It is sure a wonderful piece of fantasy. It is a bit too beyond normal fantasy, but that's what makes it unique. To say that it is least like the normal Cinderella fairytale which ends in a straight and pretty 'HAPPILY EVER AFTER'. It ends in a unique line....

She also grew from a sickly, fretful child into a fine, strong woman, because she ate very little cake and candy, except at Christmas time, when the oldest and the wisest love to make a short visit to Candy-land.

Thus, I liked this book a lot and rate it to you for a light and enthralling read on a day when you are tired and need something relaxing to calm you. Really, what could be better for this scenario but a story about kids and their actions when it comes to ENDLESS candy?

The other story was very good too, but the main purpose of my review was for the first story. I can only say a little about the second story, that it was too well and good, which all of Louisa May Alcott's stories are, but it wasn't as fun and relatable to children's lives as the other story was.

This is a good book, overall, and it would not be a waste if time to take it, like some books are. I just recommend you take it. Hence, the big four yellow stars above my review.

LOVED this Book!!!!!

This book by Louisa May Alcott is an excellent book! After being blown away to the Candy country, Lily has a great adventure ahead of her, filled with sugar people, ginger snaps, and the bread folk. Be assured, this is a book you don't want to miss out on. "The Candy Country"'s candy element brings new exiting feel into this classic. Also, this book isn't the type that takes 200 pages to get into the story, by the second page (of course font sizing makes a page different) Lily will already be stuck up in the candy tree with twigs of barley sugar, candied cherries, and leaves that taste of peppermint and sassafras. If you love a good sugary classic, you will love this book!!!!!

A fun sugary tale

A fun little story for candy lovers. It gently delivers the message that too much of a good thing will make you long for some simple and less sugary food. I loved the details about all the different types of candy, as well as Lily's progression through the world of sweets.

Great Book

Classical Adventure book many people will love. Including children who enjoy classics, and great adventures. Louisa May Alcott greatest author.

Thanks to amazon for the free book.

This book is free to download in amazon kindle store. I am happy to own it.

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Title: The Moon-Bog

Author: H. P. Lovecraft

Narrator: K. Anderson Yancy

Format: Unabridged

Length: 26 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-20-09

Publisher: SonicMovie.net

Ratings: 2 of 5 out of 12 votes

Genres: Classics, American Literature

Publisher's Summary:

SonicMovies are premium audios with strong vocal performances enhanced by music and sound effects to such an extent that they sound like movies - hence, SonicMovies. Presented by Wollcott & Sheridan (WSAPL.com) / SonicMovie.net & K. Anderson Yancy.

Members Reviews:

It should be tossed into the Bog!!

I rarely get the chance to say this but this is a truly dismal attempt at producing an audiobook. Mr Yancy lacks the talent as a reader and one gets the feeling he's attempting to cover up his inadequacy by drowning it with the most annoying sound effects and music. Poor Mr. Lovecraft will be rolling in his grave over this one!!

Avoid Purchasing!

After purchasing three hundred plus books from audible this is my first unquestionable regret. Combining a great author with an unintelligible narrator is a waste of time and money!

painful to listen to. please avoid

Would you try another book from H. P. Lovecraft and/or K. Anderson Yancy?

From Lovecraft, yes. From Yancy, NO!

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Dunno...couldn't really hear it over the 500 instruments and sound effects blasting in my ears.

Would you be willing to try another one of K. Anderson Yancys performances?

Absolutely not, not if they are anything like this one.

Any additional comments?

K Anderson Yancy is actually a pretty decent reader, from what I could hear; it's a shame, therefore, that he's so addicted to blaring music and unconnected sound effects. At times, the music and sounds entirely drowned out what he was reading. Try to imagine listening to a story in the middle of a train station full of people and incoming trains and you will have some idea what it was like straining to hear this man over his own (he directs, produces, AND edits this nightmare) sound effects. The f***ing sounds and music even blared over the credits, for God's sake. Do your ears a favor and give this

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Title: The Hound

Author: H. P. Lovecraft

Narrator: Kevin Yancy, K. Anderson Yancy

Format: Unabridged

Length: 27 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-20-09

Publisher: SonicMovie.net

Ratings: 2.5 of 5 out of 16 votes

Genres: Classics, American Literature

Publisher's Summary:

SonicMovies are premium audios with strong vocal performances enhanced by music and sound effects to such an extent they sound like movies, hence, SonicMovies. Presented by Wollcott & Sheridan (WSAPL.com) / SonicMovie.net & K. Anderson Yancy.

Members Reviews:

Run Away!!

This is a dreadful, dreadful recording!!! Mr Yancy lacks the talent as a reader and one gets the feeling he's attempting to cover up his inadequacy by drowning it with the most annoying sound effects and music. Did i mention it was dreadful??

Avoid Purchasing!

After purchasing three hundred plus books from audible this is my first unquestionable regret. Combining a great author with an unintelligible narrator is a waste of time and money!

Terrible Narrator

The hound is classic Lovecraft, but listen to it elsewhere. Overproduced, and overacted. Don't know if he was trying to emulate an English accent, but it was all wrong and distracting. If anything, download it to see how not to narrate a story.

Love Lovecraft, Hate Narrator

This book wasnt for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

Well, here's the thing, I love H.P. Lovecraft, and I have listened to (and read) this particular story many a time. But this narrator, accompanied by the obtrusive background sounds ruined it for me.

Not as bad as one would be led to believe.

I have to admit that on the first listen I was a little taken aback. However, after a few times it has grown on me. Kevin Yancy has a passion for Lovecraft that is obvious and it shows.

I have to also admit that having read the story helped me to understand this particular story.

Here is the good part. Enjoy it. No, its not for everyone but boy did I find it a fun ride. Despite previous reviews I took it as an interesting ride on someones interpretation. Yancy, I applaud you for your time and dedication and to help my love of Lovecraft grow. I can't read The Hound without hearing your voice.

Thanks man!

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Title: The Hell Bound-Train

Narrator: K. Anderson Yancy

Format: Unabridged

Length: 5 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-20-09

Publisher: SonicMovie.net

Ratings: 1 of 5 out of 2 votes

Genres: Classics, American Literature

Publisher's Summary:

SonicMovies are premium audios with strong vocal performances enhanced by music and sound effects to such an extent that they sound like movies, hence, SonicMovies. Presented by Wollcott & Sheridan (WSAPL.com) / SonicMovie.net & K. Anderson Yancy.

Members Reviews:

I so stupid!!!!!

This book was an abomination to listen to; appalling narration, fantastically bad sound effects. But suddenly I realized: "Hey what am i thinking? Anyone dumb enough to shell out $3 for 5 minutes of ANYTHING deserves to be abused." Just the fact you're actually reading this review right now should alert you to the fact that you are dangerously close to walking down the same road of humiliation that i once traveled.

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Title: The Oval Portrait

Author: Edgar Allan Poe

Narrator: Gary Zupkas, K. Anderson Yancy

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-20-09

Publisher: SonicMovie.net

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 2 votes

Genres: Classics, American Literature

Publisher's Summary:

SonicMovies are premium audios with strong vocal performances enhanced by music and sound effects to such an extent that they sound like movies - hence, SonicMovies. Presented by Wollcott & Sheridan (WSAPL.com) / SonicMovie.net & K. Anderson Yancy.

Members Reviews:

It's short, just print it yourself!

A bit too much extra framing in this story, with a man exploring an abandoned castle and finding a journal that tells the story itself. The story itself would have been fine.

At the time it was written, this was probably top-notch horror but it's been covered so much by now that I wasn't very impressed. An artist grows obsessed with painting a woman, not noticing her wasting away as he works, until he finishes and she dies. A trope copied many times since, and with better writing (and without the weird framing, as said).

This story is in the public domain and can be obtained free from sources like Librivox and Project Gutenberg. I listened to the free audio production from Librivox.

Is Beauty better alive, or preserved in paint?

A man becomes sick while hiking through the mountains. He finds refuge in a decaying castle. His valet (you know you can never go hiking w/out your valet, right?)sets him up in the smallest bedroom, complete with decaying tapestries, adorned with lovely pictures.

The most beautiful picture has a strange story behind it.

Gothic Checklist:

Ruined building - check. Delightfully creepy place for a sick man to recuperate. Ruined tapestries are just icing on the cake.

Obsessed character who thinks he's perfectly normal - check. How did the long-dead painter not notice that his wife was dying as he painted her?

Innocent person who has no idea that horror is about to unfold - check. But lo and behold! The beautiful wife has been immortalized! She just had to die first.

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Title: 'Buckshot Cheney's Last Train Ride' and 'A Mysterious Visit'

Author: Mark Twain

Narrator: Timothy Patrick Miller

Format: Unabridged

Length: 41 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-04-09

Publisher: American Listeners Theatre

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 2 votes

Genres: Classics, American Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Mark Twain has been making us laugh for generations and, with "Buckshot Cheney's Last Train Ride" and the preposterous income tax insights of "A Mysterious Visit", American Listener's Theatre presents us with the greatest known antidote to the waves of fear that grip the nation: some belly shaking laughter at the expense of our tormentors.

Members Reviews:

What a Hoot!

Loved the tale and the twisty ending... My granddaughters enjoyed this one too, but not nearly as much as the Green Man - a little too Twainy for the under 12 years demographic. I found myself having to explain a lot of the dialogue but found it delightful for sharing across generations.

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Title: The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg and Other Stories

Author: Mark Twain

Narrator: Al Bedrosian, James Aylward, Laurellee Westaway, Linda Montgomery, Bob Wilk, Bruce Blau, David Thorn

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 42 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-28-09

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 3 of 5 out of 8 votes

Genres: Classics, American Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Other stories in the collection include: "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County", "The One Million Pound Bank Note", "Edward Mills and George Benton: A Tale", "The Stolen White Elephant",l "Cannibalism in the Cars", "The Man Who Put Up at Gadsby's", "The Story of the Good Little Boy", "The Story of the Bad Little Boy", "Baker's Blue Jay Yarn: What Stumped the Blue Jays", and "A Double Barreled Detective Story".

Members Reviews:

One of American's greatest, just not this one.

I am a Mark Twain fan but I do not consider this his best work. Our book club explored this short story but we did not do much in depth.

Three Stars

I just wasn't a big fan of the story

Read it

I am a fan of Mark Twain. This is a very nice collection of short stories that gives a small view into the authors mind.

A perceptive writer

This book contains some short stories such as the one in the title, and also some autobiographical notes, not necessarily 'unimproved' relations, and possibly totally invented. Of interest is his advocacy of prolongued fasting as a cure for a wide range of illnesses.

Five Stars

Mark Twain at his best.

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Title: The Stolen White Elephant (Dramatized)

Author: Mark Twain

Narrator: Ivor Hugh

Format: Original Recording

Length: 33 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-20-08

Publisher: Jimcin Recordings

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 4 votes

Genres: Classics, American Literature

Publisher's Summary:

In this hilarious spoof of the detective story, a team of detectives try unsuccessfully to capture an stolen white elephant. This dramatized version features a full cast of characters.

Editorial Reviews:

Mark Twain is undeniably a genius storyteller and he doesn't disappoint in this short story, "The Stolen White Elephant". When a special elephant intended for the queen disappears in New Jersey, nothing else goes well, either. Ivor Hugh has fun with Mark Twain's text. Hugh's performance is varied and exciting. In particular, Hugh incorporates many unique voices, bringing to life Twain's vivid characters, from the silliest to the most stoic. Hugh's energized performance makes listening to this audiobook feel very much like watching a play, acted out by a number of performers. A gifted audio actor, Hugh lends great expertise to Twain's tale.

Members Reviews:

Another Mark Twain Masterpiece!

Why anybody would need to read a review for a free download of a book is beyond me, but here it goes! I thought that I had read all of Mark Twain's books, but it looks as if I might have overlooked this book.

This fictional story of a stolen elephant is truly a joy to read. Many parts of this ridiculous and incredibly detailed story of an idiotic bureaucracy are just as true today as they were 150 years ago. This is another masterpiece reflecting Mark Twain's imagination and wry sense of humor. I think there was a sentence or two in which the original text was somehow scanned incorrectly, but it didn't raise my hackles enough to warrant the purchase of an original (OMG paper) version of this book! Reading any Mark Twain book in an E-Book form has many advantages over the paper version. In nearly every chapter, Mark Twain used an obscure word that I could not recall the definition of. In an E-Reader (I use a Nook Fire) you can highlight the unfamiliar word, and immediately get the definition of that word. If you like Mark Twain, you will want to read "The Stolen White Elephant".

I was a little disappointed that there was only one line

I read it mainly because I heard that my hometown of Monroe, Michigan was mentioned. I was a little disappointed that there was only one line. I had hoped it would be featured more prominently. But it was good. How can you say no to Mark Twain. LOL

Five Stars

Love the book.

Not worth buying free

There seems to be problems with transcribing some parts of books such as this. Throughout, the major turning points of the stories, which are quotes from either letters or newspaper articles, are completely missing. I am guessing that the missing sections appear in italics or some variant form.

This not the only book in which I have seen this -- makes the entire thing useless. The whole development of the story involves newspaper ads -- all of which are missing.

Missing bits, but still appreciable

This is not a well done copy of The Stolen White Elephant. As other reviewers have noted, bits are missing throughout the story. Mostly newspaper clippings are missing, but frequently the article bits that do make it in have their formatting a bit butchered. The story is still very good and worth reading in this format, just know that if you really love it here then it is worth rereading in a printing that has the whole thing.