Listen to Top 100 Audiobooks in Classics, British Literature

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Title: The Adventures of Bertie and Jeeves

Subtitle: Volume 1

Author: P. G. Wodehouse

Narrator: Charlton Griffin

Format: Unabridged

Length: 3 hrs and 3 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-13-06

Publisher: Audio Connoisseur

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 45 votes

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Pelham Grenville Wodehouse (1881 1975), a native of Guildford, England, was probably the greatest writer of comedy in the 20th century. With each passing year, his work continues to grow in popularity. Jeeves, the omniscient, highly competent valet, and Bertie Wooster, the upper-class, feather-brained gadabout, are his two most famous creations. His stories are generally characterized by intricate plots dealing with human foibles and complex, romantic entanglements. This series of short stories are perfect examples of his style.

The four stories in this collection were the very first pieces Wodehouse published about his famous duo. They already demonstrate his mastery of style, language, and complex imagery which was so marvelously sustained in his material for the ensuing 60 years. These short stories are jewels of comedic brevity and masterpieces of stylistic unity.

The stories in this collection are:

Members Reviews:

almost unlistenable

Would you try another book from P.G. Wodehouse and/or Charlton Griffin?

I'm a Wodehouse fan, but the Charlton Griffin narration is horrendous. Complete with tinkling 20's ragtime background music, this production is cheesy and grotesque.

What other book might you compare The Adventures of Bertie and Jeeves to and why?

After listening Frederick Davidson's elegant and understatedly humorous readings of other Wodehouse books, this came as a very bad surprise.

What didnt you like about Charlton Griffins performance?

It was just too corny, campy, cheesy. A good narrator should disappear into the background and support the written word. Griffin's performance does the opposite. And--I wouldn't have thought this possible--ruins the stories.

Any additional comments?

Please have Frederick Davidson narrate this!

Not good on any level

I really did not like this book. The characters are shallow and I was unable to develop any interest at all in what happens to them. The plot seemed pointless and completely failed to capture my interest. Worst of all was that the narration is simply annoying. The nasal quality of all the characters may be music to a British ear, but this American just couldn't stand any more after the first hour. And it really wasn't particularly funny.

Truly Dreadful. Great Book. Ruined by Narration.

How to ruin a Classic story. The accents are just awful. I am not sure what they are, but they certainly aren't British. I get the impression this guy is American attempting a British accent. I feel truly sorry for the American public if this is what they thought we sounded like early in the 20th Century!! Giving it 1 star was generous

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Title: The Short Stories of Robert Louis Stevenson, Volume 1

Author: Robert Louis Stevenson

Narrator: Charlton Griffin

Format: Unabridged

Length: 3 hrs and 5 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-15-05

Publisher: Audio Connoisseur

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 20 votes

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Selections:

"Markheim" is the story of a man whose life is spiraling out of control. While Markheim is involved in a crime, a "visitor" suddenly appears on the scene who seems to know everything about him.

In "A Lodging for the Night" a dissolute Parisian student finds himself forced into accepting the favors of a venerable and respected knight on a cold winter's evening in 1456. The ensuing dinner conversation is spellbinding.

"The Body Snatcher" is a supernatural thriller of crime and revenge. An anatomy class needs subjects, and two students become more deeply involved in their procurement than they had planned. A gothic masterpiece!

"Stevenson: An Essay", by Edmund Gosse, is the last item on this volume. It is an excellent review of Stevenson's brief life, and it is beautifully written by one who knew the great author personally.

Critic Reviews:

"The production gives a sense of the joys and dangers of life on the frontier, and it also brings to life Laura's sense of wonder, curiosity, and fun. This is an excellent choice for families to share." (AudioFile)

Members Reviews:

Perfect

This is a wonderful narration - the Gothic music, background noises, change of pacing, everything about it lends to increase the aura. Highly recommended. Look forward to volume 2 (hopefully they will do 'Pavilion on the Links' or other stories from New Arabian Nights). It should be noted "A Lodging for the Night" is Stevenson's first ever published fiction, when he was 22 in 1877.

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Title: The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood

Author: Howard Pyle

Narrator: David Case

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 50 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-10-04

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 30 votes

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

A beloved legend of all time, Pyle's The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood tells the compelling tale of the brave, good-humored outlaw and his cohorts Friar Tuck, Little John, and Will Scarlet, as they cavort about Sherwood Forest.

However, it is not all sport. Robin Hood and his band must also outwit the villainous Sheriff of Nottingham, who will stop at nothing to rid the forest of the outlaw.

Editorial Reviews:

"You who so plod amid serious things that you feel its shame to give yourself up even for a few short moments to mirth and joyousness in this land of fancy...these pages are not for you." So begins David Case in the hilariously proper British accent for which he is famous. He is introducing the Merry Adventures of Robin Hood, Howard Pyles 1883 take on the playful archer, a legendary hero since the Middle Ages.

In this two-part audiobook, Pyle and Case regale the listener with all the familiar events and characters: the Sherrif of Nottingham, Friar Tuck, and, of course, Little John. Of additional interest, Pyles text is written in an "old English" dialect that is as delightful as it is entirely invented.

Members Reviews:

If you love Robin Hood , read this book

The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood depicts the REAL Robin Hood. It's written in olde English dialect so it's a little easier to listen to than to read, but either way you'll catch on after a few stories.

The narrator is great and does an excellent job changing his voice for different characters. This is a must read/listen for the avid Robin Hood fan. Be prepared though... there's no Maid Marion. Stealing from the rich to give to the poor and partying with the guys didn't leave much time for women. Enjoy.

A Merry Adventure

The most enjoyable book I have heard. The contemporary movie, "Robin Hood - Men in Tights" captures the light-hearted nature of this tale. I wish it would never have ended.

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Title: The Pilgrim's Progress

Author: John Bunyan

Narrator: Edward de Souza

Format: Abridged

Length: 5 hrs and 6 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-26-00

Publisher: Naxos AudioBooks

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 44 votes

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

For three hundred years The Pilgrim's Progress has remained perhaps the best-loved and most read of devotional fictions. In plain yet powerful and moving language, Bunyan tells the story of Christian's struggle to attain salvation and the Gates of Heaven. He must pass through the Slough of Despond, ward off the temptations of Vanity Fair and fight the monstrous Apollyon...

In Part 2, his wife and children follow the same path, helped and protected by Great-heart, until for them too "the trumpets sound on the other side."

Editorial Reviews:

Bunyan's classic allegory of the battle of good and evil is clearly delivered in grave, sepulchral tones. Edward de Souza's very British, judicial voice gives credence to court scenes. He depicts Christian as Everyman wading through the slough of Despond, where he meets Mr. Worldly Wiseman and the Evangelist, who hope to delay him on his journey to salvation. When portraying Beelzebub, Souza's voice engages the listener with imperious, commanding, and fearful tones. Funereal organ music provides breaks between scenes and adds to the sense of despair. This novel was first published three hundred years ago; this rendition explains why it is ever popular.

Members Reviews:

The Reader is a Genius!

While I generally prefer unabridged books, I recommend this edition because the reader (Edward de Souza) does such a wonderful job. Bunyan's book can seem pretty dry upon the page - being written in fairly archaic language, and lacking any quotation marks. But de Souza's reading makes the book come alive, so that one can appreciate it for the exciting, imaginative work that it is.

Really didn't like the book

Would you try another book from John Bunyan and/or Edward de Souza?

No

What do you think your next listen will be?

Not sure

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

Yes

What character would you cut from The Pilgrim's Progress?

All of them

Any additional comments?

I am going into 7th grade and had to read this for school and really did not enjoy one second of it.

Great Reading by Edward de Souza

Most enjoyable version of this great classic. Max McLean's voice intonations can be a bit annoying on his version. Robert Whitfields version is unabridged, but not as listenable or well done as this.I found this very uplifting.

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Title: Youth and Heart of Darkness

Author: Joseph Conrad

Narrator: Brian Cox

Format: Abridged

Length: 3 hrs and 49 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-26-00

Publisher: Naxos AudioBooks

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 11 votes

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

In these two magnificent novellas Conrad explores the question of self-discovery through powerful and exciting narratives: In Youth, the experienced seaman Marlow tells the story of a young man's coming of age on his first voyage to the East, while in Heart of Darkness he describes with terrifying depth and vividness the slide into corruption of an idealistic trader, Kurtz, who has become the demi-devil of the Inner Station in the Belgian Congo...

To supplement this reading of Heart of Darkness, listen to

.

Editorial Reviews:

The great Scot, Brian Cox, has enjoyed a brilliant career as an actor specializing in Shakespearean drama. He is the perfect choice, therefore, to perform Joseph Conrads demanding and seminal short novels, Youth and Heart of Darkness. Both novels focus on the human condition through the prism of Marlowe, a swarthy English seaman.

In Youth, Marlowe suffers a horrendous shipwreck en route to Thailand. In Heart of Darkness, Marlowe sails deep into the African jungle where he meets Kurtz, arguably a personification of the degrading power of imperialism. While the novels were written one year apart, Heart of Darkness is widely considered one of the great works of the English language and is the basis of the Francis Ford Coppolas film Apocalypse Now.

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Title: Four Short Stories

Author: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Narrator: Carl Rigg

Format: Abridged

Length: 2 hrs and 34 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-26-00

Publisher: Naxos AudioBooks

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 7 votes

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

In these stories, Conan Doyle draws the listener in to experience drama, suspense and, ultimately, the shock of surprise. Here is a unique combination of a famous analytical intellect telling spine-tingling tales against a background of turn-of-the-century England. Nothing is quite as it seems. What is the secret of Lot No. 249? What lies in wait for an aviator in the stratosphere? And what lies inside The Sealed Room?

Editorial Reviews:

Narrator Carl Rigg uses his extraordinary vocal talent to infuse this collection of Conan Doyles most suspenseful stories with a sense of danger and horror. There is exactitude to Riggs delivery that engages the listener both intellectually and emotionally, creating empathy with the characters and their plights. As Rigg employs an authoritative tone for the descriptions, he creates a detailed picture of each scene in the listeners mind. His use of pauses and special emphasis makes this listening experience amazing.

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Title: The Trespasser

Author: D.H. Lawrence

Narrator: Frederick Davidson

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 39 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-26-00

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 13 votes

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Helena Verden, a young woman in her late 20s, and Siegmund MacNair, her violin teacher, are in love. But there is more than one obstacle to their happiness. Siegmund is a married man with children and Helena is full of inhibitions. They spend a week together on the Isle of Wight, their passion remaining unrequited. When they return to London, Siegmund faces a deadlock. Tormented by his family's bitter reproaches, he is nonetheless unable to desert them for Helena. His solution to his dilemma turns a woman's longing for love into tragedy.

Lawrence based his novel on the true-life experiences of his friend Helen Corke, as revealed in her diaries.

Members Reviews:

Interesting but not equal to the famous novels

I have read the author's more famous works and liked them very much. This early work recently became available as an audiobook at a reasonable price, so I indulged myself. The story is unsatisfying because it lacks diversity. Lawrence draws an interesting portrait of a married man of about 40, an artist, who starts an affair with a young woman and joins her for a week's holiday on the Isle of Wight. He is bored with his wife but loves his children and knows that this affair will only lead to his own destruction. Whether he and the woman even consummate their affair is unclear -- something I would not have believed based on Lawrence's other books. The novel merely consists of the details of their holiday, his return to his very angry, resentful family, and his suicide. The character portraits are interesting and the author's language is always arresting, but I missed the elaborate narrative development of Women In Love or Lady Chatterley's Lover and the candid sexual themes.

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Title: Balthazar

Author: Lawrence Durrell

Narrator: Nigel Anthony

Format: Abridged

Length: 3 hrs and 55 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-01-00

Publisher: Naxos AudioBooks

Ratings: 5 of 5 out of 10 votes

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

The politics of love, the intrigues of desire, love and murder, moved obscurely in the dark corners of Alexandria's streets and squares, brothels and drawing rooms- moved like a great congress of eels in the slime of plot and counter-plot.

In this second volume in Durrell's Alexandria Quartet, the story and the characters come more clearly into focus. Darley, the reflective Englishman, receives from Balthazar, the pathologist, a mass of notes which attempts to explain what really happened between the tempestuous Justine, her husband Nessim, Clea the artist, and Pursewarden the writer.

Members Reviews:

balthazar

This is great literature. The reader is excellent when reading lines of English male characters. But any lines of women or Egyptians are so awful as to grate on the ears.

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Title: The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (Dramatized)

Author: Robert Louis Stevenson

Narrator: full cast

Format: Original Recording

Length: 1 hr and 35 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-03-00

Publisher: Monterey SoundWorks

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 18 votes

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

This exciting full-cast presentation is like nothing you've ever heard before!

Critic Reviews:

"Here is the tale revitalized by actors who seem to be the characters Stevenson created. So close your eyes, unless you are driving, and diisappear into the tangled web of Jekyll and Hyde." (AudioFile)

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Title: Dracula (Dramatized)

Author: Bram Stoker

Narrator: full cast

Format: Original Recording

Length: 2 hrs and 7 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-03-00

Publisher: Monterey SoundWorks

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 14 votes

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Stylish gentlemen and ladies await their carriages in the Victorian London night. But lurking in the shadows is one of the creatures of the night, one who brings chilling fear to those he encounters, a man who cannot die yet must prey upon the blood of others to prolong his doomed existence...the vampire Dracula.

This exciting full-cast presentation is like nothing you've ever heard before!

©1998 Monterey Movie Company, All Rights Reserved

Critic Reviews:

"Dracula is a paradoxical masterpiece, one of the most remarkable classics in the whole realm of horror fiction." (Horror 100 Best Books)

"Students will delight. Teachers could also use [the program] to motivate students to read the book." (School Library Journal)

Members Reviews:

No horror to speak of

I chose this abridged version of Dracula because I wanted to learn the basic plot. I think that this abridgment might have strained out all the fun parts of the book.

It seemed to me as though Dracula was a perfectly polite, if mysterious host, and Harker, the guest, comes off as this self-important worry wart with delusions that his host is trying to kill him.

It reminded me of any number of old westerns where the cowboy hero fights against the Indian villains. But when you watch those films nowadays, they seem completely silly, and so does this version of the book.