Listen Legally to Best Full Audiobooks in Classics, European Literature

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Title: Dubliners

Author: James Joyce

Narrator: Emma Hignett

Format: Abridged

Length: 1 hr and 59 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-01-11

Publisher: Saland Publishing

Genres: Classics, European Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Seven of the short stories in Joyce's collection entitled Dubliners, read by Emma Hignett. Includes 'The Sisters', 'An Encounter', 'Dubliners', 'Araby', 'Evelin'e, 'After the Race', 'Two Gallants', and 'A Little Cloud'.

Members Reviews:

Truly well written. I could never get very far ...

Truly well written. I could never get very far in Ulysses, but Dubliners showcases Joyce's incredible literary talents in a more conventional form.

Richard W. Wise, author: https://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Gem-Trade-Connoisseurs-Gemstones/dp/0972822321/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1478199815&sr=1-1&keywords=secrets+of+the+gem+trade+wise

things you should know

who would know better than james joyce? i ask for it and he gave it to me "good, bad and ugly"

My copy was in very good condition for a used book

My copy was in very good condition for a used book. The book itself is great quality- Norton Critical Editions provide excellent footnotes that are especially helpful for interpreting local Dublin slang. Note: The sexual content mentioned mostly is, like so much of the conflict in the Dubliners, implied. However, it would be false to suggest there is no sexual content.

Defective printed publication

Book had blank pages. For example pages blank included n the count so incomplete,

probably one of the finest in the English Language

Classic stories. If you don't usually read short stories buy this book anyway and read the last story, The Dead, probably one of the finest in the English Language.

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Title: The King of Root Valley and His Curious Daughter

Author: R. Reinick

Narrator: Cathy Dobson

Format: Unabridged

Length: 56 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-11-11

Publisher: Red Door Audiobooks

Genres: Classics, European Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Robert Reinick was a German painter and poet who lived from 1805 to 1852. He was the author of many well loved tales and fairy stories for children. One of his most enchanting works is the Story of the "King of Root Valley and his Curious Daughter", which tells the tale of a race of elves whose princess is curious about the ways of men. Realising that she cannot live among the big people, she vows only to marry someone her own size who resembles the human prince she fell in love with. When a toy-merchant's cart overturns next to a magic spring which can bring inanimate objects to life and a nutcracker and a harlequin puppet fall into the enchanted waters, the scene is set for a very unusual romance.

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Title: The Fairy Tales of Old Europe

Subtitle: Traditional Stories of Europe and Scandinavia

Author: Red Door Audiobooks

Narrator: Cathy Dobson

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 39 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-11-11

Publisher: Red Door Audiobooks

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 4 votes

Genres: Classics, European Literature

Publisher's Summary:

A splendid collection of both well loved and little known fairy stories which have entertained and delighted children for many generations.

"The Twelve Dancing Princesses", "The Golden Goose", "The King of Root Valley and His Curious Daughter", "The Horned Women", "East of The Sun, West of The Moon", "The Sleeping Beauty", In the Wood", "The Three Dwarfs", "The Nettle Spinner", "The Master Cat", "The Emperor's New Clothes", "The Lad with the Goatskin", "The Wonderful Birch", "The Enchanted Pig", "The Tinder Box", "The Frog Princess", "The Dragon of The North", "The Witch in the Stone Boat", and "The History of Whittington".

Members Reviews:

Good story marginal performance

Interesting stories but not a fan of the performance or narrator. I would have enjoyed more with another narrator

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Title: The Count of Monte Cristo

Author: Alexandre Dumas

Narrator: Bill Homewood

Format: Unabridged

Length: 52 hrs and 45 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-08-11

Publisher: Naxos AudioBooks

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 4150 votes

Genres: Classics, European Literature

Publisher's Summary:

On the eve of his marriage to the beautiful Mercedes, having that very day been made captain of his ship, the young sailor Edmond Dantès is arrested on a charge of treason, trumped up by jealous rivals. Incarcerated for many lonely years in the isolated and terrifying Chateau d'If near Marseille, he meticulously plans his brilliant escape and extraordinary revenge.

Of all the "masked avengers" and "caped crusaders" in literature, The Count of Monte Cristo is at once the most daring and the most vulnerable. Alexandre Dumas (père), master storyteller, takes us on a journey of adventure, romance, intrigue, and ultimately, redemption.

Members Reviews:

This is the one to spend 50 hours listening to!

There are plenty of other versions, but after listening to some samples I went with Bill Homewood. He's the man. A different voice/ characterization for each person in the story - different enough that sometimes I forgot their names but remembered them from earlier in the story by the voice!

It's a good story, and I'd tried to get through the book before but could never fight through Dumas' long winded prose. Mr Homewood battered it down for me in style and has a great dramatic style.

If you like the classics, you should give this a listen. If you're going to listen to The Count, you should listen to this one.

This is the definitive reading!

There are two fantastic Unabridged recordings of this book on Audible.

* This one by Naxos Audiobooks, released in 2011, narrated by Bill Homewood, and

* Blackstone Audio's version, released in 2008, narrated by John Lee.

Now, at first glance, the John Lee version seems more energetic and might seem superior, but that's absolutely wrong. Listen to the audio sample of that version, and you'll be treated to a monotone reading where -every- -single- -character- -sounds- -exactly- -the- -same-. Most of the time you can't even hear the difference between him narrating the story or speaking a character's lines. I assure you that nearly 50 hours of the same monotone voice, where every character blends together, is not the best way to experience the book.

Now listen to THIS recording instead, by Bill Homewood. Listen to the sample all the way until the end, and you'll hear that he expertly crafts a UNIQUE voice for EVERY character, and gives each character a vibrant portrayal. It's an absolute joy to listen to him narrate the work with such talent for voices and accents, and it's really easy to follow along with what's happening since the voices are so distinct.

The book itself? It's a classic for a reason. If you have a taste for epic revenge and adventure stories, then this is for you. I suggest you choose this reading of the book and sit back, relax and enjoy. You'll be in for the ride of a lifetime.

Superior performance of a very intricate story

I have somewhat mixed feelings about this one, although in general I rate it highly.

Let me get the bad out of the way:

First, when I started listening, I was immediately dismayed to hear an echo in the recording that I had not noticed when listening to the sample. But with decent headphones in my ears, it sounded like the narrator was in a cavern, or perhaps a high-ceiling house. Also, you can hear the faint chirping of a bird in the background.

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Title: The Trial [Tantor Audio]

Author: Franz Kafka

Narrator: Todd McLaren

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 25 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-30-11

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 27 votes

Genres: Classics, European Literature

Publisher's Summary:

First published in 1925, The Trial tells the story of a man arrested for an unknown crime by a remote, inaccessible authority and his struggle for control over the increasing absurdity of his life. One of Franz Kafka's best-known works, The Trial has been variously interpreted as an examination of political power, a satirical depiction of bureaucracy, and a pessimistic religious parable. Left unfinished at the time of Kafka's 1924 death, The Trial is nevertheless a trenchant depiction of the seemingly incomprehensible nature of existence and a fascinating exploration of the universal issues of justice, power, freedom, and isolation.

Members Reviews:

Portable and well translated!

This is a well-translated, very portable version of a truly extraordinary book. If you're looking for the most affordable version of The Metamorphosis, this is the best fit I've found! It's clear and engaging, and has slightly simpler vocabulary than many. This means it would be great for a classroom setting or as a gift for a younger reader, a current English learner, or anyone who doesn't enjoy being sent to the dictionary when they're trying to enjoy a book. The story itself is fresh as ever--while this isn't personally my favorite of Kafka's work, I love the absurdism and the economy of language that he employs within it! I was very pleased with the binding quality as well, and there are several amusing graphics inside the book that made it just that bit more fun to read. The biggest selling point for me personally was the size-- I'm a pack rat, so it is often difficult to find books that will fit wherever I need them to. This has made a wonderful addition to my commute this week, for the price of a Starbucks order or a single decent sock. You can't go wrong!

The Trial: [Original Edition] Paperback â December 24, 2016 - Don't Buy This Version

Don't Like It: Initial Review here - is for this specific edition The Trial: [Original Edition] Paperback â December 24, 2016 - it's a cut and paste Gutenberg book project file in the super tiniest font. Impossible to read. I'm jumping over to another version and will re-visit with actual book review now that I can read that.The Trial: [Original Edition]

That one can waste away their life at a company (or with people) ...

The Metamorphosis is one of those books that you either read in high school or you never read at all. I heard so many people talking about The Metamorphosis and I thought that I wouldn't ever read the book and all of the puns, allusions and themes discussed between friends would just go over my head for the rest of my life. I finally decided to give the book a shot. I was quite surprised by how short the book is, and yet how relateable it is to my current life expectations and experience. The Metamorphosis is a book I would suggest to everyone to read. As I make my way from college to "being an adult" the concept discussed in the first part of the book I found to be the most relevant. Kafka discusses having a job and the expectations of having a job. That one can waste away their life at a company (or with people) that do not value you as a human being can do significant harm to your being. Anyways, great book, I'm happy I decided to read it.

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Title: La Princesse de Clèves (BBC Radio 3: Drama on 3)

Author: Madame de Lafayette

Narrator: Melody Grove, Candida Benson, Liam Brennan

Format: Original Recording

Length: 1 hr and 14 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-02-11

Publisher: BBC Worldwide Limited

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 10 votes

Genres: Classics, European Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Madame de Lafayette's classic tale of intrigue and love, La Princesse de Clèves, was dramatised for BBC Radio 3 and originally broadcast in the Drama on 3 slot on 28 February 2010. Set in the 16th century, the play follows the life of a beautiful young lady newly presented to Court. It's the reign of Henri II, and Mary Queen of Scots is safely ensconced in France. It's a time of dangerous liaisons when one step out of line could ruin a woman and her family.

Quickly married off, the naïve princess finds herself admired and taunted by those around her. And, whilst they gossip cruelly, she becomes helplessly and dangerously caught up in matters of love.

Playfully adapted, this BBC Radio 3 dramatization offsets the princess painful conflict between duty and love with characters who delight in the wickedness of their world.

La Princesse de Clèves stars Melody Grove as La Princesse, Candida Benson as her mother, and Liam Brennan as Clèves. Also featuring in the cast are Robin Laing, Laurie Brown, Meg Fraser, Irene MacDougall, Ralph Riach and Crawford Logan. Translated and dramatised by Jo Clifford and directed by Kirsty Williams.

Members Reviews:

Read the book in English only if you don't know French!

If you don't know French, then by all means read the English translation....which is does no justice to the original. See my review of the book (French edition)

I read both versions to compare, and the English version leaves a lot to be desired!

but the translation is terrible. I bought the Kindle version because it was ...

The story itself is ok, but the translation is terrible. I bought the Kindle version because it was so much cheaper than the book, and I definitely got what I paid for. Quite disappointed in the quality of the translation. I do not recommend buying the ebook.

Great packaging

Books where in good condition

Disappointed

I expected this book in French! A bit disappointed. The title of the book is written in French but it is a translation of the book. I need the original French version.

A stirring romantic drama

Slow to start, but picks up steam and eventually plunges headlong toward its tragic climax. Don't be put off by the front-loading of court titles, relations and other exposition. The bevy of names quickly sloughs off and leaves you with the core of the story: two people caught in a tangled pavane of court gossip and intrigue in 17th-century France.

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Title: Classic French Dramas Starring Laurence Olivier and Robert Morley, Volume 1

Author: Theatre Royal, Honore de Balzac

Narrator: Laurence Olivier

Format: Original Recording

Length: 47 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-25-11

Publisher: Heritage Media Ltd

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 3 votes

Genres: Classics, European Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Fully restored and remastered, Heritage Media presents the greatest of vintage artists in classic dramas from the literature of France. Here is the legendary Laurence Olivier starring in The Purse, adapted from the original tale by Honore de Balzac and Laurence Olivier starring in 'Zaramfeski's Duel' adapted from the original tale by Alexandre Dumas.

Theatre Royal is a unique series of classic radio dramas produced in the 1950's by the late Harry Alan Towers. Starring the leading theatre artists of the day it is the only series of radio dramas in which Laurence Olivier ever appeared. He was joined by Ralph Richardson, John Gielgud, Orson Welles, Robert Morley, John Mills, Michael Redgrave, Trevor Howard, Robert Donut, Alec Guinness and Margaret Lockwood.

Over the Years, Theatre Royal has received a glittering array of accolades, including: vivid, tense, and compressed.( Classic radio)

Great fun to listen to and, as radio history, they are unsurpassed. (Sunday Telegraph)

Voices like these justify the Golden Days tag. We won't hear their like again. (Sunday Times)

A must for archive fans. The excitement of vintage radio drama with strong storylines. (Radio Times.)

Editorial Reviews:

Laurence Olivier's unforgettable acting anchors these two productions from 1950s British radio series Theatre Royal, one adapted from an Honore de Balzac tale and the other from Alexandre Dumas. Both stories involve games of chance, but while one ends on a sweet note, the other goes quite sour. Classic British actors enliven the production in supporting roles, and the taut, tension-filled stories are likely to linger in your mind long after the closing credits. Lovers of old-fashioned radio dramas will find all the joys of a classic theatre production in a more portable format.

Members Reviews:

Remastered, but still needs a little work

Laurence Olivier plays the protagonist in both of these mini-plays adapted from French stories. Both are old-fashioned, even quaint, tales of their times.

In Balzac's "The Purse," he is successful painter Hyppolyte Schinner. When the artist suffers an accident, he is helped by a lovely young girl and her mother who seem ideal in every way. But as time goes on, he becomes suspicious of both.

The subject of Dumas' "Zodmirsky's Duel" is self-evident, although the outcome isn't.

The sound levels in the Theatre Royal series leave something to be desired. The spoken parts are fine and then, all of a sudden, dramatic ear-splitting brass or shrieking string music breaks the spell. Yes, that is the dramatic style of the old radio dramas, but what I have a problem with is the intensity of the extreme contrast in volume between the spoken and the musical.

If you can bear with the above, you'll not find better actors in the classic radio archive.

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Title: Classic Russian Dramas Starring Laurence Olivier, Orson Welles, Michael Redgrave and Trevor Howard, Volume 1

Author: Theatre Royal, Alexander Pushkin, Nikolai Gogol

Narrator: Orson Welles, Michael Redgrave

Format: Original Recording

Length: 40 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-22-11

Publisher: Heritage Media Ltd

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 11 votes

Genres: Classics, European Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Fully restored and remastered, Heritage Media presents the greatest of vintage artists in classic dramas from the literature of Russia. Here is the legendary Orson Welles starring in The Queen of Spades, adapted from the original tale by Alexander Pushkin and Michael Redgrave starring in 'The Overcoat' adapted from the original tale by Nikolai Gogol.

Theatre Royal is a unique series of classic radio dramas produced in the 1950s by the late Harry Alan Towers. Starring the leading theatre artists of the day it is the only series of radio dramas in which Laurence Olivier ever appeared. He was joined by Ralph Richardson, John Gielgud, Orson Welles, Robert Morley, John Mills, Michael Redgrave, Trevor Howard, Robert Donut, Alec Guinness and Margaret Lockwood.

Over the Years, Theatre Royal has received a glittering array of accolades, including: vivid, tense, and compressed.( Classic radio)

Craft, like character, ages well.(Daily Telegraph)

Great fun to listen to and, as radio history, they are unsurpassed. (Sunday Telegraph)

Voices like these justify the Golden Days tag. We won't hear their like again. (Sunday Times)

A must for archive fans. The excitement of vintage radio drama with strong storylines. (Radio Times.)

Editorial Reviews:

This selection from Heritage Medias Classic Russian Dramas is a true aural treat for any fan of radio drama or Russian literature. Introduced by Sir Lawrence Olivier it features Orson Welles, undeniably one of the greatest actors and voices of the 20th century, performing in an adaptation of Alexander Pushkins short story "The Queen of Spades" and Michael Redgrave, legendary actor of screen and stage, in an adaptation of Nikolai Gogols The Overcoat.

These two actors would lend a sense of gravitas to any audio recording and these particular stories chosen by Mr. Welles and Mr. Redgrave are definitive selections of the Russian cannon. As with many stories in the genre they circle around themes of tragic irony with elements of comedy and terror.

Members Reviews:

For the Voices alone.

Stories adapted for radio and performed by great actors. As such, I find them a good introduction to the stories as written by the authors.

The remastering comes over well on my pc speakers.

A joy to hear Orson Wells and Sir Michael Redgraves..

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Title: Classic Russian Dramas Starring Laurence Olivier, Orson Welles, Michael Redgrave and Trevor Howard, Volume 2

Author: Theatre Royal, Nikolai Gogol, Fyodor Dostoevsky

Narrator: Laurence Olivier, Trevor Howard

Format: Original Recording

Length: 45 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-22-11

Publisher: Heritage Media Ltd

Ratings: 5 of 5 out of 6 votes

Genres: Classics, European Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Fully restored and remastered, Heritage Media presents the greatest of vintage artists in classic dramas from the literature of Russia. Here is the legendary Laurence Olivier starring in The Inspector General, adapted from the original tale by Nikolai Gogol and Trevor Howard starring in 'Judgment' adapted from the original tale by Fyodor Dostoevsky.

Theatre Royal is a unique series of classic radio dramas produced in the 1950's by the late Harry Alan Towers. Starring the leading theatre artists of the day it is the only series of radio dramas in which Laurence Olivier ever appeared. He was joined by Ralph Richardson, John Gielgud, Orson Welles, Robert Morley, John Mills, Michael Redgrave, Trevor Howard, Robert Donut, Alec Guinness and Margaret Lockwood.

Over the Years, Theatre Royal has received a glittering array of accolades, including: vivid, tense, and compressed.( Classic radio)

Craft, like character, ages well.(Daily Telegraph)

Great fun to listen to and, as radio history, they are unsurpassed. (Sunday Telegraph)

Voices like these justify the Golden Days tag. We won't hear their like again. (Sunday Times)

A must for archive fans. The excitement of vintage radio drama with strong storylines. (Radio Times.)

Editorial Reviews:

Stage and screen greats Laurence Olivier and Trevor Howard serve as primary performers in these full-cast radio adaptations of two classic Russian short stories, "The Inspector General" by Nikolai Gogol and "Judgment" by Fyodor Dostoevsky.

Even a passing familiarity with these acting legends should convince you to give this sparkling audiobook a chance. Olivier and Howard, alongside a slew of classic stars including Alec Guinness, Margaret Lockwood, and Orson Welles, bring a truly astounding depth to these stories, engaging easily with their costars to bring these Russian classics to life.

Members Reviews:

great stories, top actors, ruined by audio editing

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

the incidental music was so loud that I had to turn the volume down whenever it blasted in (frequently) , then back up again in order to hear the dialogue.

What did you like best about this story?

All the stories were well-written classics

Which scene did you most enjoy?

There were several equally enjoyable.

You didnt love this book--but did it have any redeeming qualities?

Not true - I loved the book - all except the awful production; The music was at least three times as loud as the dialogue - The 1-star overall rating is purely due to the fact that my listening pleasure was ruined by having to constantly play with the volume control

Any additional comments?

Please have strong words with the music programmer!

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Title: Classic French Dramas starring Laurence Olivier and Robert Morley, Volume 2

Author: Theatre Royal, Honore de Balzac, Guy de Maupassant, Jules Romains

Narrator: Laurence Olivier

Format: Original Recording

Length: 58 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-22-11

Publisher: Heritage Media Ltd

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 3 votes

Genres: Classics, European Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Fully restored and remastered, Heritage Media presents the greatest of vintage artists in classic dramas from the literature of France. Here is the legendary Laurence Olivier starring in Little Louise, adapted from the original tale by Guy de Maupassant and Robert Morley starring in 'Doctor Knock' adapted from the original tale by Jules Romains.

Theatre Royal is a unique series of classic radio dramas produced in the 1950s by the late Harry Alan Towers. Starring the leading theatre artists of the day it is the only series of radio dramas in which Laurence Olivier ever appeared. He was joined by Ralph Richardson, John Gielgud, Orson Welles, Robert Morley, John Mills, Michael Redgrave, Trevor Howard, Robert Donut, Alec Guinness and Margaret Lockwood.

Over the Years, Theatre Royal has received a glittering array of accolades, including: vivid, tense, and compressed.( Classic radio)

Craft, like character, ages well.(Daily Telegraph)

Great fun to listen to and, as radio history, they are unsurpassed. (Sunday Telegraph)

Voices like these justify the Golden Days tag. We won't hear their like again. (Sunday Times)

A must for archive fans. The excitement of vintage radio drama with strong storylines. (Radio Times.)

Editorial Reviews:

Classic French Dramas starring Laurence Olivier and Robert Morley, Volume 2 presents two half-hour stories adapted for the radio: "Little Louis", by Guy de Maupassant and "Doctor Knock", by Jules Romains. Master actor Laurence Olivier and other leading theater artists from the 1950s charmingly perform these vintage radio dramas. Olivier, as usual, brings a poise and power to this performance, and a certain good-old-days nostalgia. The Theatre Royal brings together this series of dramas, complete with traditional radio sound effects and musical interludes. This is the only series of radio dramas featuring Olivier.

Members Reviews:

A trio of nostalgic radio plays

Olivier plays Comte de Merret in Balzac's "La Grande Bretêche," a dark story of a man who takes a practical step toward putting an end to his wife's adultery.

In the second play, he is Renardet, 'Monsieur le Maire,' in de Maupassant's "Little Louise." When a young girl is found murdered, the citizens of Carvelin demand revenge.

Finally, Robert Morley plays the eponymous "Dr Knock" to comic effect in Jules Romains' satire of medicine.

Once again, the uneven sound quality is my only complaint.

great

would highly recommend for people who are interested in learning french love it a lot