Listen to Popular Titles Audiobooks in Fiction, Historical Popular Titles

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Title: Dakota

Author: Matt Braun

Narrator: Jack Garrett

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 11 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-25-06

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 22 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Stunned by a Valentine's Day telegram, Teddy Roosevelt reached his Manhattan home just in time to watch death claim first his mother and then his wife on that dark day in 1884.

Abandoning a promising political career, 25-year-old Teddy sought the healing solace of the Dakota Bad Lands. But after bagging grizzly and elk, decking a gun-waving giant, and building two thriving cattle ranches, he found himself in the sights of a deadly rival.

Members Reviews:

Dakota

Having grown up in western North Dakota this book brought to light the history of the area made famous by Roosevelt. It is a great historical tale that explores his life in the wilderness of the North Dakota badlands. I highly recomend this boook. It made me home sick for the openess of the area.

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Title: Savannah

Subtitle: The Civil War Battle Series, Book 9

Author: James Reasoner

Narrator: Lloyd James

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 30 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-01-06

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 35 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Following the defeat of Confederate forces at Chattanooga in November 1863, the battered Rebel army, including a bitter Cory Brannon, retreats slowly toward Atlanta. A large Union army led by Gen. William Sherman is marching to the coastal city of Savannah, laying waste to the territory through which it passes. Meanwhile, the Brannon family farm in Culpeper County, Virginia, is now behind enemy lines, the great plantation house in ruins. Titus is off fighting with Mosby's Rangers and Henry has been removed as sheriff. To everyone's surprise, Cordelia is courted by one of the Union officers, a Yankee she finds herself unable to hate. As Cory is trapped in Savannah, surrounded by Sherman's marauding hordes, despair grips the Confederacy. Fractured and defeated at every turn, the nation asks itself how much longer it can continue to fight.

Members Reviews:

Another Good Story

Once again the author does a nice job of weaving several character threads together to make a good story -- some in Texas and others in South Dakota with the union army in 1964/1865 as the climax to the war takes place. There is description of the fall of Atlant as well as Savannah. One aspect of this series that I enjoy is that the author details battles in the war that are not necessarily as well known. A good example in this story is the battle of Nashville/Frankiln which crushed Hood's army.

Things are not going well for the South

Sherman is making his way to Savannah and Titus is not a happy chappy and making life as miserable as he can for everyone he runs into. The rest of the Brannon's are making the best of things but its clear that unless there is a miracle the Confederacy is doomed. The way James Reasoner has conveyed the sense of hopelessness is well done - he doesn't go for the dramatics but the whole narrative has a cast of sadness throughout it lightened only by the recounting of life in Texas.

Lloyd James continues to excel and there is no end to his accents. Such a good narrator.

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Title: Leonardo's Swans

Author: Karen Essex

Narrator: Kathe Mazur

Format: Unabridged

Length: 13 hrs and 14 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-20-06

Publisher: Books on Tape

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 87 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Though Isabella weds the Marquis of Mantua, a man she has loved since childhood, Beatrice's fortunes rise effortlessly through her marriage to Ludovico. The two sisters compete for supremacy in the illustrious courts of Europe, and Isabella vows that she will not rest until she wrestles back her true fate and plays temptress to the sensuous Ludovico and muse to the great Leonardo. But when Ludovico's grand plan to control Europe begins to crumble, immortality through art becomes a luxury, and the two sisters must choose between familial loyalty and survival in the treacherous political climate.

Leonardo's Swans is an exceptionally vivid evocation of the artist during his years in the glittering court of Milan, re-creating the thrilling moments when he conceived The Last Supper and the Mona Lisa. It portrays a genius ahead of his time who can rarely escape the demands of his noble patrons long enough to express his own artistic vision.

Critic Reviews:

"Powerful historical fiction." (Booklist)

"The stories of Isabella and Beatrice d'Este along with the occasional investigations of Leonardo's artworks, methods, and personality are always engrossing." (Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

Good, but not Captivating

This is a novel in which all the main characters are actual historical figures. The story itself is quite good - but almost completely due to the subject matter. The time around the turn of the 16th century in Italy is rich in events, political intrigue and fascinating characters. So I almost hate to say that I wasn't captivated by this audiobook.

The story is told from the viewpoints of sisters Isabella & Beatrice d'Este - two of the most influential women of the Italian Renaissance. It focuses on their relationships with their politically powerful husbands, with each other, and (marginally) with Leonardo da Vinci.

Perhaps if I had read, rather than listened to, this book, I might have had a much different opinion. It's possible that the narrator - even though she seemed to be a good reader - lacked that certain spark that makes for a great audiobook. The characters all seemed to run together & at times, I'm afraid I lost track of which sister was "speaking."

On the plus side, this book made me want to know more about each character & their actual histories. So my overall experience with this book was a positive one.

Should be better

What should be an interesting story is marred by 7th grade level prose and really bad narration. The narrator's voice is very modern and young - perhaps better suited to romances for young girls. The story, while simplistic, would have been better served with more gravitas in the narration department. The characters are selfish, silly, and predictable. I find myself feeling annoyed instead of engaged. I'm about a third of the way through and haven't decided whether to finish listening or not. I keep hoping the prose style and characters will be less annoying, but alas . . .

Don't Bother

I didn't even make it half way through this book. I liked the narrator, but the story was just dull and very slow moving. I could not care about any of the main characters as all they did was whine for what they did not have - clothes, money, power.

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Title: Sound the Trumpet

Author: Gilbert Morris

Narrator: Robert Whitfield

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 30 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-17-05

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 18 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

But eventually, Daniel marries a young woman, Holly Blanchard, and they settle near Mount Vernon, Virginia. Daniel meets George Washington and experiences firsthand the taste of freedom sweeping the land. Then tragedy strikes and Daniel moves his family to Boston, where he prospers and meets Sam Adams, the flaming patriot for independence. Bound by his loyalty to England, he struggles as he sees two of his sons caught up with the Sons of Liberty.

As the storm clouds of revolution begin to gather, family and friends must take sides as the Colonies are inexorably swept into battle at Lexington and Concord. Daniel, too, must decide his loyalties, not only politically, but deeply personal as well.

Members Reviews:

Sound the Trumpet

I truly enjoyed this audiobook. I listen to it over my car's audio system while on vacation. Gilbert Morris is a wonderful story teller and has included his fictional characters into the America's history so that there is realism and learning combined. The narration was excellent and together with the varied voice characterizations and inflections gave a mental picture as though you were watching it. Great all the way around. I wish you would do more Gilbert Morris books

great narrator, best I've herd.

awesome story but a soft ending. narrator was amazing, hit the accents spot on. entertaining book

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Title: Heretic

Author: Bernard Cornwell

Narrator: Tim Piggott-Smith

Format: Abridged

Length: 6 hrs and 18 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-19-05

Publisher: HarperAudio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 159 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

While capturing Astarac, Thomas learns of a tragedy in the making: a beautiful young woman named Genevieve, innocent if not pious, is to be burned as a heretic. Thomas prevents the corrupt local priest from carrying out his "God-given" duty, a sacrilege that turns him into an outcast, even among his own men. Eventually he and Genevieve have no choice but to flee. While hidden away at a monastery, they learn of a plot involving the creation of an imitation Grail for a diabolical end; and they witness the murder of a trusted priest at the hands of Guy de Vexille.

At last reconciled with his allies, Thomas leads his brave band in a bloody battle to the death, the outcome of which could determine the seat of power, and the direction of Christendom, forevermore.

Critic Reviews:

"Perhaps the greatest writer of historical adventure novels today." (Washington Post)

Members Reviews:

A Fitting Conclusion to a Great Series

For those who are familiar with Bernard Cornwell's other series, this one starts with An Archer's Tale and concludes in a very satisfying way with this book. I read this book in paperback on a long flight and decided to listen to the series. The narrator was superb and the story really seemed to come alive. It was exciting without being gratuitously violent. There was romance without lurid details and adventure without meaningless action sequences. Everything in the story contributed to the conclusion and all the story lines were brought together skillfully. I can hardly wait for Mr. Cornwell to start another series about this era of Norman/British history.

great

Would you listen to Heretic again? Why?

Yes, if I could get the unabridged version I'd listen to it again.

What did you like best about this story?

Wonderful main character doing what he's best suited to.

Which character as performed by Tim Piggott-Smith was your favorite?

Thomas of Hookton who did was he was best suited to and so made his greatest mark- as himself

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

an Archer's Heart

Any additional comments?

the only thing wrong with this is that it's abridged! I want all of it

WHERE IS THE UNABRIDGED? otherwise, 4 star story

The only reason I gave the story 3 stars was because it was abridged & I'm sure I missed so many specifics that make Cornwell's books so great to read... I think it takes place at least 5 years before 1356 but it ends a great trilogy... If you haven't read 1356, you should read it to get an extension of the merry band of characters in this book... its quick, highlighted, & to the point, so even though I got the general idea of the story I think I'll have to read the unabridged to get the full effect... If you have coupon $$ I'd suggest using the free cash they give you at times for getting books to get this because its only a bit over 6 hours... but its Cornwell....

Sharp Revisited

The setting is different, but the gore is the same as are many of the battle scenes. I have enjoyed so many of Cornwell's books that it is a shame to see him running out of new ideas. If you liked the Sharp books stay away from this series.

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Title: Desolation Island

Subtitle: Aubrey-Maturin, Book 5

Author: Patrick O'Brian

Narrator: Robert Hardy

Format: Abridged

Length: 2 hrs and 49 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-16-05

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 13 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Commissioned to rescue Governor Bligh of Bounty fame, Captain Jack Aubrey and his friend and surgeon, Stephen Maturin, sail the Leopard to Australia with a hold full of convicts. Among them is a beautiful and dangerous spy...and a treacherous disease which decimates the crew.

© Patrick O'Brian; (P)1997 HarperCollins UK

Critic Reviews:

"Hardy's rough and tumble salty sea-dog tone is perfect." (Evening Standard)

"Unlike most sea writers, Mr. O'Brian has humour and human nature at his command as well as high adventure. There is good history, fascinating erudition, espionage, romance, fever in the hold, wreck in lost latitudes, and an action at sea that for sheer descriptive power can match anything in sea fiction." (The Guardian)

Members Reviews:

The best, hands down

The best nautical historical fiction ever written, period. O'Brian researched exhaustively and infused a lifetime of passion, expertise, and emotion into every volume. The books are not only infinitely readable, they're page burners, each and every one, with laudable character development and environmental description that put you firmly in the midst of what you're reading, There is such a wealth of description, you'll want a dictionary, thesaurus, and an atlas at hand when you dive in. Trust me when I tell you, buy them all, because you won't be able to put them down, and when you're done with one, you'll simply have to have the next.

Not just for sailors.

If you're a sailor, rejoice. If not, read this series anyway for the incomparably delightful writing, characters, adventures, daily life aboard and ashore, natural history, regular history, settings, spy craft, spotted dick, and above all, humor. You have my grudging permission to skim over the admittedly exhaustive (to some readers, perhaps, but by no means all) details of sails, rigging, and naval battles. Do read. I envy your coming discoveries of the manifold delights of "the canon," as the series is known. Start with Master and Commander, and may god set a flower upon your head.

Exceptional and great books by Patrick O'Brien

Exceptional and great books by Patrick O'Brien. You get deeply involved almost immediately. This story amazes you with the dangers that sailing around the world confronted. Hard to put down.

A terrific read

Different than some others in the series. Less focus on ship battles, but really outstanding descriptions of battles against nature and of survival against all odds by way of superb seamanship.

Desolation Island

In this installment, which reads more like one long novel rather than a serial, we find our heroes at sea again this time in " The Horrible Old Leopard", who we saw briefly in the last installment, an old ship, slow and with a somewhat tarnished reputation. The first order of business is to ferry convicts to New Holland and Botany bay for exile, naturally plague breaks out and the ships ranks are decimated, to make matters worse harsh weather and a collision with an iceberg leave the Leopard damaged and sinking. there is a wonderful portion of the novel where the leopard is under repair and Dr.

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Title: Nuremberg

Subtitle: The Reckoning

Author: William F. Buckley

Narrator: Stuart Langston

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 13 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-16-05

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 41 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Leading the listener into the palace is Sebastian, a young German-American whose fate is entwined with the lives and deaths of some towering figures of 20th-century history, including Hermann Goering and Adolf Hitler. In a gripping account of war makers who must face the consequences of their actions, Nuremberg: The Reckoning flows through Warsaw, Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, and finally Nuremberg, as Sebastian comes to terms with his family legacy and his national identity.

Critic Reviews:

"Buckley displays his unmatched talent for fictionalizing key historical moments in this masterful account of the infamous trials." (Booklist)

Members Reviews:

I recommend this book

I throughly enjoyed reading this book. I recommend it to everybody that I know. It shows the narrative about the so called I was only following orders.

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Title: As the Crow Flies

Author: Jeffrey Archer

Narrator: Martin Jarvis

Format: Abridged

Length: 3 hrs and 48 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-22-04

Publisher: Macmillan Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 62 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Encompassing three continents and spanning over 60 years, As the Crow Flies brings to life a magnificent tale of one man's rise from rags to riches set against the backdrop of a changing century.

Critic Reviews:

"An endearing story." (The Wall Street Journal)

"Archer is a master storyteller." (Time)

Members Reviews:

Very nice

BUT TOO SHORT. I love Jeffrey archer, but this abridgement took all the meat out of the book.

It is a family saga,unfortunately inscribed on a grain of rice, with most of everything savory left out. A summary. a Cliff note. I went and got the book.

the rest of his are

crap that this was an ABRIDGED version

this is a GREAT book by archer (i read it years ago), but it was not obvious to me that it was an ABRIDGED download... when the recording ended after such a short amount of time, i was very, very upset that i wasted my time AND my audible credit on an ABRIDGED version... seriously considering cancelling my service!

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Title: 1812

Author: David Nevin

Narrator: Geoffrey Howard

Format: Unabridged

Length: 19 hrs and 56 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-13-04

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 123 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

The war of 1812 would either make America a global power sweeping all the way to the Pacific or break it into small pieces bound to mighty England. It was a second revolution of sorts to prove to the British that America had to be taken seriously. The principal players in this drama were James and Dolley Madison and Andrew and Rachel Jackson. Their courage and determination would shape America's destiny.

©1996 David Nevin (P)2003 Blackstone Audiobooks

Critic Reviews:

"Crammed with color and captivating characters." (Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

Couldn't stand the narrator

If you're considering this book, I suggest listening to the sample first. I wanted to listen to this book, but dumped it because ...

The. Narrator. Is. So. Determined. To. Enunciate. That. He. Has. The. Pace. Of. A. Talking. Robot.

No way am I putting up with that choppy delivery for 19 hours. Fortunately, the nice folks at Audible gave me a credit for another book when I called and asked.

Easy & enjoyable but less content than I had hoped

This book is certainly an easy and enjoyable listen. The reader is excellent. However, the book bares a striking resemblence to a historical romance novel - "heaving bosoms" and "swelled loins" while discussing Andrew Jackson & James Madison. Less romance and more historical content would have made this a more satisfying book. After 20 hours, I thought I would have learned more about the book's subject matter.

Excellent Historical Fiction

Nevin paints a enlightening picture of the politics and battles of the time that help me put events of today in better context--to think the U.S. was that close to dissolution! He takes great license in giving well-known historical characters distinctive personalities that entertain while at the same time providing a great history lesson. I finished this book feeling like I really knew 'Little Jimmy Madison', Ol' Hickory Andrew Jackson, and the ambitious soldier that was Winfield Scott.

Cheap romance masquerading as history

This could have potentially been an interesting and informative book but instead it reads like a history book written by Danielle Steel. What little history you can get through the discussions of "bulging pants" and characters erections is fairly good and interesting. The War of 1812 is an interesting bit of history to read about - but choose something else besides this ridiculous book.

A melodramatic novel

The author tries to combine history and fiction, without much success. Using drama to enhance history is acceptable, but using history to enhance drama is not--especially if the drama is second-rate and the history is distorted.

This is especially true in the love scenes, which are right out of a gothic romance. He uses the same melodramatic techniques on battle scenes. I was impressed by this at first; having never been in battle myself, but then it became too heroic, and even unbelievable. There was just too much drama, and I got tired of it.

He has chosen a great subject: the war of 1812. But he should fit it into a larger context: American history in general. What does 1812 tell us about America? According to this book, not much, and this is a pity, because I can see parallels between 1812 and Iraq. America still goes to war with great enthusiasm, but little intelligence.

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Title: An Unpardonable Crime

Author: Andrew Taylor

Narrator: Simon Vance

Format: Unabridged

Length: 15 hrs and 53 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-22-04

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 302 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

With settings ranging from the coal-scented urban jungle of late Regency London to the stark winter landscapes of a rural Gloucestershire, An Unpardonable Crime is a multi-layered literary murder mystery, a historical novel, and a love story. In addition to shedding fascinating light on Edgar Allan Poe, the book is a fast-paced suspenseful tale, filled with shocking revelations.

Critic Reviews:

"Taylor does an excellent job in portraying early 19th-century London and writes in a clear, consistent period style...." (Publishers Weekly)

"Taylor is a major thriller talent."(Time Out London)

"A remarkable thriller, elegantly written...a work of superlative fiction." (Denver Post)

Members Reviews:

worthwhile

For me, this is what the audio book experience is all about. I am sure I would have loved this story in any format, as the writing is terrific. However, with an excellent reader who is perfect for the material, the experience was enhanced tremendously. For anyone who enjoys historical fiction at its best, give this one a try.

keeps you on your toes!

This was a terrific read! The author spun a great tale that never let you get too comfortable that you knew where it was going. His descriptions of places were vivid, as if I could both smell his spring flowers and feel my feet stuck in the mud on a seedy street. The story shows over and over again how inconsiderate people are to one another, for little reason and to such ill-effect. The narrator was a delight!

Good story great reader

I am reviewing this book because someone should. Good characters, good story, great reader. Although this writer did not go as deep into the tourtured soul as Poe ( maybe he will next time), he did manage to spin a "What happens next?" story. I really do hope that if there is a next book the author researches mans inhumanity to man.

Complex Story, The BEST Narrator.

An interesting and unusual tale. Different from the usual thriller I enjoy, but captivating. This book is probably better as an audio than in print due to the outstanding reader. I've listened to over 60 audio books and this the best narration I have found to date. More than just a reader, Simon Vance is a performer. He creates a huge range of easily identifyable and believable characters that make it both enjoyable and easy to keep up with the excellent story. Some might find the story slow, I found it a refreshing change. My only complaint is the rather short ending, but that could be due to wanting the performance to continue. The only narrator I have found Vance's equal, and for different reasons, was the actress Jenna Lamia who narrated The Secret Life of Bees.

An Unpardonable Waster of Time

First, I did not finish this book. I gave up after 7 hours. Before that, NOTHING HAPPENS. This book seems to be a narcissistic vehicle for the author to pretend he's writing a 19th century novel. There is always the sense that something's going to happen, but it never does. Well, at least not until after 7 hours of listening - which I reckon to be about half the book. There may be more to it, and if I had only given it another 30 minutes, it might have grabbed me. But all during the time I was listening, I was anxious to be reading something else. Anything else. I don't know this author's other works, but this one is not a good introduction. Oh, and Poe is just a hook.