Listen to Best Sellers Audiobooks in Classics, British Literature Best Sellers

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Title: Heart of Darkness

Author: Joseph Conrad

Narrator: John Michaels

Format: Unabridged

Length: 4 hrs and 11 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-13-11

Publisher: Spoken Realms

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 9 votes

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness is widely regarded as one of the significant works of English literature. Conrad takes us not only into the darkness of the early 20th century Congo, but also into the deeper darkness of the human psyche. John W. Michaels' masterful narration of this work takes you into the troubled mind of a man tormented not only by the isolation of the tropical wilderness, but also man's inhumanity to man.

Members Reviews:

Good performance, challenging story

I've listened to another recoding of Michaels, and I found the same characteristics of that audio were present on this one. Great pacing, an pleasant voice to listen too. One problem I did encounter was the volume varied at least twice, however I was unsure if it was my dowload or if it was the recording itself. However, Heart of Darkness is a short, interesting story, but not the most engaging one and the reader may struggle to get through it.

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Title: Black Beauty

Author: Anna Sewell

Narrator: John Chatty

Format: Unabridged

Length: 5 hrs and 22 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-08-11

Publisher: Jimcin Recordings

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 4 votes

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Black Beauty, The Autobiography of a Horse, was written in 1877 novel by English author Anna Sewell. The book became an immediate bestseller and is one of the best-selling books of all time.

In addition to being a wonderful story for both children and adults, it teaches both animal welfare, and how to treat people and animals with kindness, sympathy and respect.

Members Reviews:

Classic Sinclair

I've read this over 20 years ago and I'm rereading it again, just to remind me what life is like if you don't speak up for your rights! Great Book from an era that we maybe repeating, hopefully not. In short, this a fictional (may have possibly happened) story is about an eastern European immigrant couple in search of the "American Dream", but due to extreme unsafe working/living conditions and class inequality, they ultimately succumb to the crushing wheels of progress of the Industrial Revolution.

Makes you happy to live in this century

This is the story of Jurgis, a Lithuaian immigrant who works in the stockyards of Chicago around the turn of the century. How much have we taken for granted in our day to day lives? Sinclair does a great job of conveying the terrible hardship faced by the unskilled labor force, and what gross injustices were plied against them in their ignorance.

I couldn't escape the constant thought of "This could've been me." My ancestors were immigrants and undoubtedly worked in similar conditions.how possibly could people have survived with any hope, with any belief in the goodness of mankind? A telling, frightening story which everyone should be required to read. Beautifully written, compelling story line.

Have times changed much?

I'd like to think that packing houses are cleaner and safer now. However, the greed at the top is just as bad and this is what struck me most from the book. We seem to be in an environment of an increasing gap of wealth between the average worker and those at the top. Left unchecked, we might see a worker revolution here in the USA.

The Jungle as Life

This is an important reflection on U.S. society that shows that as much as things have changed in the last century, they really haven't. Originally written to inform and upset the public on the realities of the meat industry, it is also a lesson on survival and Darwinistic behaviors on all levels, and in all demographic sectors. The story goes into history, sociology, social psychology, civil studies, political science, agronomy, economy, and more. You finish the book with not only a new knowledge, but a deeper understanding of how you yourself fits into your modern society and community.

Good for rounding out your "classic" reads.

I've wanted to read this for quite awhile, as I know that it is considered a classic. It was very useful in informing me of some of the issues of the era in which it was written/set. The author obviously had some passion around the issues and presented the story in a heart wrenching manner. All of that I appreciated. If I were just analyzing it as I would any other book, I don't think it did a good job of tying up some of the questions it raised in the story narrative. In some books that is intentional, in this it did not feel that way. Also, kind of a harsh read for younger/sensitive readers.

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Title: The Virgin and The Gypsy

Author: D.H. Lawrence

Narrator: Peter Joyce

Format: Unabridged

Length: 3 hrs and 58 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-28-11

Publisher: Assembled Stories

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 3 votes

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Written in 1926... and published posthumously [without the authors customary revision] in 1930, The Virgin and the Gypsy is a minor masterpiece in short story writing. It provides an excellent introduction to Lawrences work, being a succinct distillation of his ideas about sexuality and its ability to transcend class barriers. Yvette and her sister Lucille come back from finishing school in Lausanne with a much broader outlook on life than the inhabitants of the cloistered world to which they return. Their mother left their father for another man leaving a pall of sterility in his newly gathered family: Uncle Fred, Aunt Cissie and Granny the Mater Stifled by the rigidity of life in the rectory in this small village in the East Midlands - a microcosm of established Christian belief, the type of which Lawrence despised - Yvette finds herself drawn to a passing gypsy and her budding flower is awakened by his interest. In a torrential climax which symbolically sweeps away her old life she comes to fully realise and accept her sexual identity.

Critic Reviews:

"Peter Joyce is the most remarkable one-man band in audiobook publishing. Joyce, an experienced actor, reads them all himself." (The Independent)

Members Reviews:

Nice, short story

What did you love best about The Virgin and The Gypsy?

The story was short and got to the point rather quickly.

What did you like best about this story?

The narration, and the fact that the story was short. I would have gotten bored if it was any longer.

What does Peter Joyce bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book?

He gave the characters life by the tones he used for each characters. And the pace at which he presented made it feel like the story was moving along smoothly.

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Título: El Agente secreto [The Secret Agent]

Autor: Joseph Conrad

Narrador: Sonolibro

Formato: Abridged

Duración: 2 hrs and 7 mins

Idioma: Español

Fecha de publicación: 11-01-11

Editor: Sonolibro

Calificaciones: 3 de 5 de 4 votos

Categorías: Classics, British Literature

Resumen del editor:

El Agente secreto: Verloc vive con su mujer, Vinnie, más joven que el, su suegra y su cuñado, que tiene algún problema mental. Tienen una pequeña tienda en el centro de Londres y una vida bastante normal, al menos en apariencia. Sin embargo el Inspector Heat, no está nada convencido de lo que le dicen las apariencias y sospecha que detrás de esa fachada se oculta un criminal peligroso y aunque no tiene ninguna prueba, es testarudo y va a seguir investigando hasta que la encuentre.

El agente secreto, interactuando con anarquistas y comunistas consigue crear una atmósfera de inseguridad contra la que la policía británica se ve incapaz de luchar.

Please note: This audiobook is in Spanish.

Opiniones de los miembros:

Lamentable Edicion

Tengo la sensación que este libro merece una mejor calificación, pero lamentablemente su pésima edición me impidió apreciarlo. Efectivamente, a lo largo de todo el libro aparecen 2 frases intercaladas en cualquier parte que dificultan la comprensión y distraen la lectura. Las frases son: ÂJoseph Conrad  y ÂEl agente secretoÂ

Una lástima!!!!

La trama parece entretenida, pero no he podido leerlo ...

La trama parece entretenida, pero no he podido leerlo completo porque me molesta terriblemente la lectura que el libro venga con fallas de formato.

Excelente novela peroâ

Excelente novela. Lastima los errores en el formato que hacen ilegible la obra por momentos.

Conrad, logra una novela de suspenso muy entretenida y con personajes bien desarrollados.

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Title: On the Kings Service

Subtitle: Chaplain to the Forces, 1914-1916

Author: Innes Logan

Narrator: Felbrigg Napoleon Herriot

Format: Unabridged

Length: 1 hr and 28 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-12-11

Publisher: FNH Audio

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 3 votes

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

FNH Audio presents an unabridged reading of On the Kings Service. Rev. Innes found himself at a recruiting barracks when the first world war broke out. In this narrative ,he reports on how vast numbers of volunteers sweapt into the barracks, which found itself desperately short of material to clothe and equip so many men. His duties soon move him over to France, where, in between his religious duties, he finds himself helping in the hospital with the vast number of wounded that came back from the lines. We then follow him towards the front, where his medical and religious duties combine to allow him to give comfort to the men and a mere medical hand could not procure.

The book is made up of anecdotal memories and occasional reports from the front that combine to give the listener a small insight into how a religious man lives and operates behind the front lines.

Members Reviews:

I found it a bit romantic

I listed to an abridged audiobook version. It's a simple lovely description of his experience of war. This version seems to lack a depth. It feels reasonably descriptive, but don't see so much of the Reverend in his narrative. If I had to guess, this seems like something to support the troops so is somewhat romantic, somewhat stiff upper lip. I got a little of his work as Chaplain, seems to be mostly focused on everyone else, but with few people to follow.

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Title: The History of Tom Jones - A Foundling

Author: Henry Fielding

Narrator: Maurice West

Format: Abridged

Length: 6 hrs and 58 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-24-11

Publisher: Naxos AudioBooks

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

The Voice of the Year competition introduced and sponsored by Naxos AudioBooks and The Times books pages, edited by Erica Wagner, took place in Spring 2004. Readers without any formal drama training or professional acting experience were invited to send in recordings of a short extract of either Dickens, Austen or from The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame and an own choice. The judging panel - Martin Jarvis, Juliet Stevenson, and Anton Lesser, with John Tydeman, David Timson, and Christina Hardyment (audiobook reviewer for The Times), under the chairmanship of Naxos AudioBooks managing director Nicolas Soames chose the winner and finalists from nearly one thousand entries. First prize was to read a classic for Naxos AudioBooks.

The winner was Maurice West, a fifty-five-year-old English teacher from Croydon. His chosen piece was from Tom Jones and he was invited to read an extended abridgement 6-CD set of the same novel. We were very impressed by the natural storytelling talent shown by Mr West, with a strong narrative character, a sense of period style as well as a firm grasp of the many characters who appear, said Nicolas Soames. After graduating from Cambridge, Mr West applied to LAMDA on the main acting course and was accepted. Unfortunately, he didnt have sufficient funds to take up the offer and had to confine his thespian interests to amateur dramatics. Now, later in life, he has a chance to open a new thread of activity. This 6 CD recording of Tom Jones is an important addition to the eighteenth-century audio library on Naxos AudioBooks.

Editorial Reviews:

Maurice West narrates this edition of Fielding's eighteenth-century ribald satire. The title character romps through many erotic adventures before finally being united with his beloved Sophia. West is always in tune with his text; he never fakes his way through long narrative sections and never lapses into repetitive cadences. Although he takes his time getting into the spirit of the narrative voice, he hits the target of his characterizations with panache every time. Other notable pluses are an excellent abridgment and Naxos's trademark musical bridges.

Members Reviews:

Delightful and entertaining

314. The History of Tom Jones: a foundling by Henry Fielding (Novel-Audible/E Book-Fiction) 5* I read along with the Audible of the novel which I found a highly delightful and entertaining experience.

The narrator, Bill Homewood, who performed the audio version of the work was excellent doing the various characters as well as the invisible narrator (author) of the story. The Synopsis is as follows:

A foundling of mysterious parentage brought up by Mr. Allworthy on his country estate, Tom Jones is deeply in love with the seemingly unattainable Sophia Western, the beautiful daughter of the neighboring squireâthough he sometimes succumbs to the charms of the local girls. When Tom is banished to make his own fortune and Sophia follows him to London to escape an arranged marriage, the adventure begins.

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Title: Lawrence Loves

Author: D.H. Lawrence

Narrator: Peter Joyce

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 28 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-13-11

Publisher: Assembled Stories

Ratings: 5 of 5 out of 2 votes

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

David Herbert... Lawrence was born into a mining family in Nottinghamshire in 1885. He created his finest work shortly after the finish of the First World War. Two of the themes in his writing are the gradual disintegration of the class system and the customs and sexual mores of people across class divisions. What made Lawrence unusual was the combination of this subject matter with the style of his direct, modern prose. He was a great believer in instinct and intuition and this has the effect, as you listen to his stories, of not knowing what his characters will do nor knowing where they will arrive as a result of their ambivalence.

The short stories in this collection reflect Lawrences broad experience of love in all its beauty and anguish. They are presented in this order; The Horse-Dealers Daughter In Love Tickets Please Shades of Spring Two Blue Birds Fannie and Annie Samson and Delilah The White Stocking.

Critic Reviews:

About Assembled Stories: Over the years the national press have reviewed Assembled Stories titles as "excellent", "remarkable", "entrancing", "superb", "magic for sure", "masterly", "wonderful", "a class act" and "a splendid example of audio at its best".

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Title: 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea

Author: Jules Verne

Narrator: Alex Jennings

Format: Abridged

Length: 2 hrs and 24 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-11-11

Publisher: The Copyright Group

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 1 votes

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Professor Aronnax, his faithful servant, Conseil, and the Canadian harpooner, Ned Land, begin an extremely hazardous voyage to rid the seas of a little-known and terrifying sea monster. However, the "monster" turns out to be a giant submarine, commanded by the mysterious Captain Nemo, by whom they are soon held captive. So begins not only one of the great adventure classics by Jules Verne, the 'Father of Science Fiction', but also a truly fantastic voyage from the lost city of Atlantis to the South Pole.

Members Reviews:

READ REVIEW FOR ***CORRECT TRANSLATION***

There are three significant translations of this book, and amazon's lacklustre book-sorting system creates nothing but chaos when searching for the correct format / translation of this book. I'm here to help!

note: (find the version you are looking for with the ISBN numbers I've provided at the bottom of this review, you can just copy and paste them into the amazon search field and hit GO).

Here are excerpts from the three most common translations:

Paragraph one, translated by Mercier Lewis -

THE YEAR 1866 WAS signalized by a remarkable incident, a mysterious and inexplicable phenomenon, which doubtless no one has yet forgotten. Not to mention rumors which agitated the maritime population, and excited the public mind, even in the interior of continents, seafaring men were particularly excited. Merchants, common sailors, captains of vessels, skippers, both of Europe and America, naval officers of all countries, and the governments of several states on the two continents, were deeply interested in the matter.

Paragraph one, translated by Walter James Miller and Frederick Paul Walter (1996) -

THE YEAR 1866 was marked by a bizarre development, an unexplained and downright inexplicable phenomenon that surely no one has forgotten. Without getting into those rumors that upset civilians in the seaports and deranged the public mind even far inland, it must be said that professional seamen were especially alarmed. Traders, shipowners, captains of vessels, skippers, and master mariners from Europe and America, naval officers from every country, and at their heels the various national governments on these two continents, were all extremely disturbed by the business.

Paragraph one, translated by William Butcher -

The year 1866 was marked by a strange event, an unexplained and inexplicable occurrence that doubtless no one has yet forgotten. Without mentioning the rumours which agitated the denizens of the ports and whipped up the public's imagination on every continent, seafaring men felt particularly disturbed.

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Title: Sense & Sensibility

Author: Jane Austen

Narrator: Anna Massey

Format: Abridged

Length: 2 hrs and 13 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-05-11

Publisher: The Copyright Group

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Marianne Dashwood wears her heart on her sleeve, and when she falls in love with the dashing but unsuitable John Willoughby she ignores her sister Elinor's warning that her impulsive behaviour leaves her open to gossip and innuendo. Meanwhile Elinor, always sensitive to social convention, is struggling to conceal her own romantic disappointment, even from those closest to her. Through their parallel experience of love - and its threatened loss - the sisters learn that sense must mix with sensibility if they are to find personal happiness in a society where status and money govern the rules of love.

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.

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Title: The Card

Author: Arnold Bennett

Narrator: Peter Joyce

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 48 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-21-11

Publisher: Assembled Stories

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 5 votes

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Arnold Bennett's... splendidly comic portrayal of Edward Henry Machin, known as Denry to his mother to save time, is set in Bursley, one of the author's Five Towns of Staffordshire. Starting in 1897, when Denry first saw the smoke of the pot banks, the tale chronicles his rise to fame and wealth including such events as improving his exam results to guarantee success, adjusting the guest list of the municipal ball to include himself and then daring to ask the Countess of Chell to dance! Denry is given a week's notice as a result of this last impertinence but soon turns it to his advantage, setting up in business as a Rent Collector and Estate Agent. Eventually Denry becomes Bursley's youngest Mayor having gained the reputation of the Five Towns greatest 'Card'.

Critic Reviews:

About Assembled Stories: Over the years the national press have reviewed Assembled Stories titles as "excellent", "remarkable", "entrancing", "superb", "magic for sure", "masterly", "wonderful", "a class act" and "a splendid example of audio at its best".

Members Reviews:

What fun!

This is old-fashioned, simple, good natured fun. Absolutely perfect listening for the morning commute. An Edwardian-era solicitor's clerk goes from rags to riches by taking wacky risks, applying his innate cleverness, and enjoying an endless stream of happy accidents. This author was very popular in his day and I am glad to add him to my library.

Old fashioned but wonderful

Thought that I must/should get acquainted with Mr Bennett. Well worth it. Now I'll try Virginia Woolf! My money is on Bennett. Great reading by the way

The Card

This book is very well read by the narrator who has captured the personality of the main character in his voice tone and accent. It's also worth watching the film which can be found on YouTube.