Listen to Top 100 Audiobooks in Classics, British Literature

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Title: The Best of British Short Stories

Author: Arthur Conan Doyle, Robert Louis Stevenson, Stacy Aumonier, D. H. Lawrence, W. W. Jacobs, Charles Dickens, Joseph Conrad

Narrator: Cathy Dobson

Format: Unabridged

Length: 20 hrs and 12 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-02-13

Publisher: Red Door Audiobooks

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 5 votes

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

A fascinating collection of tales from some of Great Britain's finest classic authors:

Members Reviews:

Wonderful recollection of pure Brit storytelling

Just like reading Mark Twain gets you immediately into the Mississippi, these recollection of British Short stories puts you right into a pure -Brit world of sailors, exclusive clubs, life in the country and the City. Most stories are truly charming. This is the kind of reading you need to leave aside for a while your daily business or non-fiction usual reading

Such an annoying voice

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

I tried really hard to listen to this book, I had paid for it so did not want to waste my money, but the narrator has such an annoying voice and needlessly extends the ends of sentances that after struggling through the first story I had to give up.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

Ger a different reader

Would you be willing to try another one of Cathy Dobsons performances?

Never!

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Title: Model Millionaire

Author: Oscar Wilde

Narrator: David Timson

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-02-13

Publisher: Naxos AudioBooks

Ratings: 5 of 5 out of 2 votes

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

This is a story from the Lord Arthur Savile's Crime and Other Stories collection.

A palmist's prediction leads to murder; an enigmatic woman's lifestyle is a mystery to be solved; a ghost tries to frighten the new tenants of his home; a man has discovered the dedicatee of Shakespeare's Sonnets; a millionaire wants to be painted as a pauper. Lord Arthur Savile's Crime and Other Stories is a collection of fascinating short stories that are subversive as well as entertaining. Also included in this audiobook is 'The Birthday of the Infanta from A House of Pomegranates', in which an ugly dwarf loves a beautiful princess. How will his feelings fare in a cruel society?

Editorial Reviews:

Steeped in his trademark ironic wit, Oscar Wildes airtight short story "The Model Millionaire" documents the travails of the strapping, charming, and frustratingly destitute Hughie Erskine, who fortuitously stumbles across the 10,000 pounds he so desperately needs to secure the hand of his beloved Laura Merton, the daughter of a retired Colonel, in marriage.

The buoyancy of Wildes prose is enlivened by the accomplished vocal stylings of narrator Stephen Critchelow, whose spry, nimble performance injects a kinetic energy into this delightful audiobook.

Members Reviews:

some of these stories are timeless

I really enjoyed most of the stories in this collection. If nothing else they give a window on the popular English perceptions about Americans of the time as well as some (again, for the time) biting satire on English middle-class mores and attitudes. I often re-listen to this collection when I need an antidote to the reverentional treatment that late Victorian England gets on PBS, especially Masterpiece Theatre -- which I enjoy, but come on, in reality the streets were full of horse dung and the upper-class treated the lower classes like they were not human. All in all, well worth the price.

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Title: Pictures

Author: Katherine Mansfield

Narrator: Juliet Stevenson

Format: Unabridged

Length: 22 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-02-13

Publisher: Naxos AudioBooks

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 3 votes

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

This is a story from the Bliss & Other Stories collection.

One of Katherine Mansfield's finest short stories, Bliss introduces us to Bertha, who experiences a sense of rapture as she reflects on her life. On her walk home one day, she is overwhelmed by a sense of bliss and contentment.

However, her joy later turns to disappointment as she discovers her husband is having an affair with her new friend Pearl.

Katherine Mansfield became well-known for her focus on psychological conflicts and complex characters; and "Bliss" displays these qualities brilliantly, exploring themes of marriage, adultery and duplicity. This set also contains five other short stories by Katherine Mansfield: "Mr Reginald Peacock's Day", "Pictures", "The Little Governess", "Feuille D'Album", and "A Dill Pickle".

Editorial Reviews:

Author Katherine Mansfield is well known for her subtle, finely detailed accounts of the joys and sorrows of everyday life, and "Pictures", selected from her short story collection Bliss and Other Stories, displays her characteristic light touch as it follows its protagonist, the impoverished Miss Moss, through a long day in early 20th century London.

Narrator Juliet Stevenson employs her somewhat stern and refined voice to great effect in this performance, skillfully drawing out the melancholic, meditative qualities of this deft story in ways that make it impossible not to sympathize, and empathize, with the characters populating Mansfields devastatingly realistic world.

Members Reviews:

Sadly Lacking in Substance

I have an older book from 1973 though I am sure there are others much older.

These stories are all about what's going on in the narrator's head. Nothing that actually happens is of any consequence. In fact, the narrators' thoughts are of no consequence either.

Someone else reviewed the book, speaking of Mansfield's tragic life and how she kept writing. I would have loved to read stories of that tragic life, rather than a bunch of rich people sitting around, eating, drinking or smoking.

Sorry, but this book os short stories did nothing for me. I even skipped through one section, just trying to get to the end. As they say "The truth is stranger than fiction." Mansfield's mistake was in not writing HER TRUTH.

I love the book

Katherine Mansfield is to me the real struggeling artist. Lots of real raw courage and endurance. Leaving her homeland, having a baby without been married, which was difficult stuff at the time and then heartbreak when it died.

A real creative force, who wrote her books even when everything else was falling apart.

I would love to be like her.

Rotten Print Quality

This printing of Bliss and Other Stories is a completely worthless printing. The font size is about 3 pt. or less, literally,and all the stories are run together from one big printout. I love the writer Mansfield, but this printing is physically unusable, a real rip off and a huge disservice to a great writer. Buy her stories, but NOT in this physical presentation of them.

Another excellent readine

This CD excellent, maintaining the level of the other naxos readings. The stories themselves are overrated, alas; Katherine Mansfield no longer seems to be on a par with D.H. Lawrence, and the stories have eve even 'corny' surprise endings. But if you want to read them the diction is impeccable.

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Title: An Anthology of Classic Stories

Author: Guy de Maupassant, D. H. Lawrence, Edgar Allan Poe, W. W. Jacobs, Wilkie Collins, Mark Twain, Ambrose Bierce

Narrator: Cathy Dobson

Format: Unabridged

Length: 20 hrs and 32 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-14-13

Publisher: Red Door Audiobooks

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 6 votes

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

A treasure trove of short classic stories by some of the greatest storytellers in the world:

Members Reviews:

Exceeded Expectations

Any additional comments?

I am not usually a short story collection fan, but this anthology was better than I was expecting. I think the stories were well-selected and tended to be more along the lines of the novels that I enjoy (19th and early 20th century). It was my first introduction to D.H. Lawrence which I enjoyed. I ended up liking the narrator more that I expected as well. I am glad that I chose this title and if you are looking for something thought provoking but with multiple story lines, this is a good option.

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Title: A Christmas Carol

Author: Charles Dickens

Narrator: Timothy Ackroyd

Format: Unabridged

Length: 2 hrs and 27 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-14-13

Publisher: Saland Publishing

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Dicken's classic morality tale which lead the way with its themes of nostalgia and festive redemption.

Read by leading celebrated British Actor, Sir Timothy Ackroyd.

Members Reviews:

Extensively abridged although the Reader's voice is exquisite

I read A Christmas Carol every year during the Christmas Holiday. There are so many reasons to enjoy this beautiful book, every word of which demonstrates the incredible craft and whimsy of Mr. Dickens. I look forward to some of the smaller sections and descriptions which are perfect examples of the writer's humor and art. I purchased an e-book version of the original book, down to the illustrations and was looking for an unabridged audiobook that I could listen to and read the book at the same time. The product description indicates the audiobook is "unabridged," by definition "not cut or shortened; complete. "an unabridged edition". synonyms: complete, entire, whole, full-length, intact, uncut, unshortened, unexpurgated." Well, this reading does not meet this definition in any way, and leaves out entire paragraphs, words and in some cases the reader restates the comments made by the characters, actually putting words (and NOT Dickens's word) in the mouth of Scrooge and others. Yes, this is a very fine dramatic reading and the Reader has a thrilling voice, but takes liberties with the book that not only make the book and the reading severely abridged, the book becomes less that what it is, a witty and lovely tale if it wasn't kneecapped by Mr. Ackroyd's misplaced economy and editing. If you are looking for an unabridged version of A Christmas Carol, keep on looking and look elsewhere.

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Title: Odour of Chrysanthemums

Author: D. H. Lawrence

Narrator: Cathy Dobson

Format: Unabridged

Length: 49 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-01-13

Publisher: Red Door Audiobooks

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Elizabeth, a young wife and mother, waits for her husband Walter to come home from the coal mine. She attributes his lateness to him having gone drinking. As time goes on, she goes to look for him and alerts his colleagues.

It transpires he has been killed in a pit accident. Elizabeth's mother-in-law helps her to wash the corpse after it is brought home from the mine. The reactions of the two women are in stark contrast - and the experience of laying out the body shows Elizabeth how she and her husband never really knew one another in life.

Members Reviews:

There is no one better than D.H. Lawrence

I fell in love with D.H. Lawrence after reading Odour of Chrysanthemums. It is a love story, it's beautifully written, it's full of emotion. Lawrence isn't for everyone but this story will pull at the heart. It is a story about the human heart and the compassion to love.

Five Stars

This was a wonderful short story written in excellent English prose and a most enjoyable read.

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Title: The Light That Failed

Author: Rudyard Kipling

Narrator: David Thorn, Full Supporting Cast

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 27 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-29-13

Publisher: Alcazar AudioWorks

Ratings: 3 of 5 out of 4 votes

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Dick Heldar is well known for the drawings he sends home to the London papers from wars in exotic places like Sudan. When he returns to London, he attempts to make a career for himself as a serious artist and reencounters his childhood sweetheart, Maisie. Then he learns that a minor problem with his eyes is actually the onset of an incurable blindness, the result of a head injury during the war. As his vision fails, the light of everything around him - his life, hopes, and dreams - fails with it. Terrible choices must be made between the love of a woman and the love of the men who stood by him at the front.

Joseph Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936) was popular author and poet. Born in Bombay, India, but raised in England, Kipling established an international reputation with his stories and verses of Indian and Army life, including such classics as The Jungle Book and Kim. In 1907, he became the first English-language writer to receive the Nobel Prize.

Members Reviews:

Appalling and disgraceful

This is the worst production I have come across on Audible to date, after some 30+ titles. Avoid it at all costs. The story may have glimmers of merit but it's poorly sketched and the characters mere shadows. But the production is simply appalling. The narrator is voiced with a proper English accent, but the characters themselves are dramatized by actors, all of whom have this midwest, Minnesota type of accent that is not only inappropriate and jarring every time they open their mouths, but also grates on the nerves after a few minutes. They speak their lines with horrible timing, no sense of what they are saying, it sounds like a bad high school play. They should truly be ashamed of releasing such a monstrosity onto the unsuspecting public.

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Title: The Interlopers

Author: Saki

Narrator: Mike Vendetti

Format: Unabridged

Length: 14 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-16-13

Publisher: Spoken Realms

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 2 votes

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Imagine you are hunting an enemy who happens to be your neighbor, and suppose that your neighbor is hunting you. What makes people who should be friends become fierce enemies? Who is the loser in this deadly fight? The answer may shock you.

Members Reviews:

Best Short Story Ever!

I grew up in cold country with plenty snow and dark forests. I almost was reaching for more clothing as I was totally immersed in this story and setting. It has a real gotcha at the end so start at the beginning and do not cheat. After all it is only about a 1/2 hour read!

Too Simple

OK a short story should save words and hit you between the eyes but I think this was a bit too shallow (for me anyway!)

It seemed too stilted or dated to have the impact that this story was supposed to give , but I am not a real critic and would ask everyone to make up their own minds.

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Title: The Doll's House

Author: Katherine Mansfield

Narrator: Cathy Dobson

Format: Unabridged

Length: 17 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-05-13

Publisher: Red Door Audiobooks

Ratings: 2.5 of 5 out of 6 votes

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Katherine Mansfield's heartbreaking story of playground bullying. The Kelvey children are excluded from the schoolyard crowd because they come from a poor family with more than a hint of disreputableness about them. When the Burnell children are given a doll's house and invite their school friends two by two to see it, only the Kelveys are excluded. Until one day, Kezia Burnell decides to invite the Kelveys in to see it....

Members Reviews:

A Doll's House

What would have made The Doll's House better?

Was this a sample? It drew me into the story, then it just ends. What a tease.

Has The Doll's House turned you off from other books in this genre?

No, just super short stories.

What does Cathy Dobson bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book?

She really brings the children to life, without sounding all squeaky, as most adults sound.

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

Well, it began alright. But then it just, ENDED.

Any additional comments?

Eh, it had potential.

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Title: The Door in the Wall

Author: H. G. Wells

Narrator: Glenn Hascall

Format: Unabridged

Length: 41 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-30-13

Publisher: Spoken Realms

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 5 votes

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

The Door in the Wall is considered by many to be one of Wells' finest works. Narrator Glenn Hascall does a superb interpretation of this work.

Members Reviews:

DISAPPOINTED!!

I AM SO DISAPPOINTED ABOUT MY PURCHASE. I CAN NOT BELIEVE THAT ANYONE HAD THE NERVE TO SEND THIS OUT. THE BOOK WAS COPIED AND AS SOON AS MY CHILD OPENED IT,IT FELL APART. IT WAS VERY POOR QUALITY. YOU SHOULD BE ASHAME TO SEND THIS OUT. MORE SO TO ATTACH YOUR COMPANY NAME TO IT. THIS IS AWEFUL!!!