Listen to Top 100 Audiobooks in Fiction, Historical

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: A Fierce Radiance

Subtitle: A Novel

Author: Lauren Belfer

Narrator: Paula Christensen

Format: Unabridged

Length: 18 hrs and 38 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-10-10

Publisher: HarperAudio

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 40 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

From the New York Times best-selling author of City of Light comes a compelling, richly detailed tale of passion and intrigue set in New York City during the tumultuous early days of World War II.

Claire Shipley is a single mother haunted by the death of her young daughter and by her divorce years ago. She is also an ambitious photojournalist, and in the anxious days after Pearl Harbor, the talented Life magazine reporter finds herself on top of one of the nation's most important stories.

In the bustling labs of New York City's renowned Rockefeller Institute, some of the country's brightest doctors and researchers are racing to find a cure that will save the lives of thousands of wounded American soldiers and countless others - a miraculous new drug they call penicillin. Little does Claire suspect how much the story will change her own life when the work leads to an intriguing romance.

This story touches her deeply, stirring memories of her daughter's sudden illness and death - a loss that might have been prevented by this new "miracle drug". And there is James Stanton, the shy and brilliant physician who coordinates the institute's top-secret research for the military. Drawn to this dedicated, attractive man and his work, Claire unexpectedly finds herself falling in love.

But Claire isn't the only one interested in the secret development of this medicine. Her long-estranged father understands just how profitable a new drug like pennicillin could be. When a researcher at the institute dies under suspicious circumstances, the stakes become starkly clear: a murder has been committed to obtain these lucrative new drugs. With lives and a new love hanging in the balance, Claire will put herself at the center of danger to find a killer - no matter what price she may have to pay.

Members Reviews:

Long winded and boring

Initially I enjoyed the characters and the details about the invention/testing of penicillin and the details about photography, but the more I read, the less interested I became. Because the story didn't really go anywhere.

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: The Silver Chalice

Author: Thomas B. Costain

Narrator: David Case

Format: Unabridged

Length: 23 hrs and 59 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-11-10

Publisher: Random House Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 56 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

The latest release in the Christian Epic series is an exciting novel that takes place shortly after Christ's death and resurrection. Basil is called to design the case which will hold the silver cup that Christ and His disciples drank from at the Last Supper, and plans to sculpt their likenesses upon it. As he seeks out these followers of Christ, he encounters grave danger.

Members Reviews:

A christian epic

This book was written in 1952 and was on the New York Times best seller list for 62 weeks. It was also made into a movie starring Paul Newman as Basil. It was Newman's first movie. The story was inspired by the archaeological discovery of a 1st century silver chalice in Antioch. Thomas B. Costain was a leading author of the 1940s and 50's writing in the area of historical fiction, he is famous for his lengthy description fortunately this book had only small descriptions, just enough to make you feel as if you are there. Costain was one of my favorite authors in the 1950's so when I saw this on Audible I jumped at the chance to re-read this book. This one and The Black Rose were my favorite books at the time. The plot of the story has Basil (a Greek) as a child with a gift as an artist. He caught the eye of a rich Antioch merchant who adopted him. When he was a youth the merchant died and the merchants brother defrauded Basil of his inheritance and sold him into slavery to a silversmith. Basil learned his trade and later his freedom was brought by Luke, the physician and was taken to Joseph of Arimathea to create the case to hold the silver chalice. He meets Paul and the apostle Peter and the story was lots of suspense as the zealots try to destroy the chalice and Simon Magus the magician try to destroy the story of Jesus. The story takes place in Israel and in Rome. Costain is a master at building up his character as he propels the story. there is a love story tucked into the main plot as Basil weds Deborah, daughter of Joseph of Arimathea. If you like historical fiction and stories of ancient times you will enjoy this book. David Case does an excellent job narrating this story.

Delightful Tale

Basil's epic quest to create the silver chalice takes him from Antioch to Jerusalem to Rome where he meets such historic characters as Luke, Paul, and Joseph of Arimathea. The author presents vivid descriptions of everyday life during the 1st century and has obviously done considerable research. David Case does an excellent job providing unique voices for the many characters. I found this story of faith and romance to be delightful.

No words good enough

Where does The Silver Chalice rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far?

The story is sweeping, gripping, and excellently told. It will stick with me. A story of quiet courage and great passion.

I wanted to like it

What disappointed you about The Silver Chalice?

It was very unBiblical. It included praying to angels, being visited by dead relatives, a heavenly 'score sheet' where it was important for good deeds to outweigh bad, the importance of making an image of Christ (hello idolatry!), and several other issues. That was up to chapter 26. Maybe things changed later, but it wasn't something I could listen to with a clear conscience.

Would you be willing to try another book from Thomas B. Costain? Why or why not?

Probably not.

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: The Red Queen

Subtitle: A Novel

Author: Philippa Gregory

Narrator: Bianca Amato

Format: Abridged

Length: 6 hrs and 6 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-03-10

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 77 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Heiress to the red rose of Lancaster, Margaret Beaufort never surrenders her belief that her house is the true ruler of England and that she has a great destiny before her. Her ambitions are disappointed when her sainted cousin Henry VI fails to recognize her as a kindred spirit, and she is even more dismayed when he sinks into madness. Her mother mocks her plans, revealing that Margaret will always be burdened with the reputation of her father, one of the most famously incompetent English commanders in France. But worst of all for Margaret is when she discovers that her mother is sending her to a loveless marriage in remote Wales.

Married to a man twice her age, quickly widowed, and a mother at only 14, Margaret is determined to turn her lonely life into a triumph. She sets her heart on putting her son on the throne of England regardless of the cost to herself, to England, and even to the little boy. Disregarding rival heirs and the overwhelming power of the York dynasty, she names him Henry, like the king; sends him into exile; and pledges him in marriage to her enemy Elizabeth of York's daughter.

As the political tides constantly move and shift, Margaret charts her own way through another loveless marriage, treacherous alliances, and secret plots. She feigns loyalty to the usurper Richard III and even carries his wife's train at her coronation.

Widowed a second time, Margaret marries the ruthless, deceitful Thomas, Lord Stanley, and her fate stands on the knife edge of his will. Gambling her life that he will support her, she then masterminds one of the greatest rebellions of the timeall the while knowing that her son has grown to manhood, recruited an army, and now waits for his opportunity to win the greatest prize.

In a novel of conspiracy, passion, and coldhearted ambition, number-one bestselling author Philippa Gregory has brought to life the story of a proud and determined woman who believes that she alone is destined, by her piety and lineage, to shape the course of history.

Critic Reviews:

"Nobody does the Tudors better than Gregory (The Other Boleyn Girl), so it should come as no surprise that her latestthe War of the Roses as seen through the eyes of Henry VII's motheris confident, colorful, convincing, and full of conflict, betrayal, and political maneuvering....[L]ike Margaret Beaufort, Gregory puts her many imitators to shame by dint of unequalled energy, focus, and unwavering execution." (Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

Great Historical Fiction!

If you enjoy English History, this is a great book.:) I would highly recommend it.

Best read after The White Queen

This novel is not my favorite of Gregory's stories, but I believe it is a wonderful accompaniment to her novels about the Cousins' War. I do think however that The Red Queen and The White Queen (possibly The Kingmaker's Daughter as well) could have easily been combined to produce a single compelling story, told from different facets. But alas that may not be as true to Gregory's style. I would strongly recommend reading The White Queen first, despite The Red Queen's storyline beginning slightly before. The latter book gives away too many elements of the other's unfolding plotline. Read this way, The Red Queen serves to answer questions that arise in The White Queen, filling in a few gaps and shedding light on some crucial but more obscure characters.

Hören Sie sich dieses volle Hörbuch kostenlos bei https://hotaudiobook.com

Titel: Das Lächeln der Fortuna (Waringham-Saga 1)

Autor:: Rebecca Gablé

Erzähler: Martin May

Format: Abridged

Spieldauer: 12 hrs and 27 mins

Sprache: Deutsch

Veröffentlichungsdatum: 05-11-10

Herausgeber: Lübbe Audio

Bewertung: 4 von 5 von 4 Stimmen

Kategorien: Fiction, Historical

Zusammenfassung des Herausgebers:

"Das Lächeln der Fortuna" ist der erste Band der Waringham-Saga von Rebecca Gablé.

Die Autorin:

Rebecca Gablé, Jahrgang 1964, in einer Kleinstadt am Niederrhein geboren, studierte nach mehrjähriger Berufstätigkeit Anglistik und Germanistik mit Schwerpunkt Mediävistik in Düsseldorf. Sie wirkte an einem Projekt zur Erforschung anglonormannischer Manuskripte mit. Diese Forschungsergebnisse flossen in ihre weitere literarische Arbeit mit ein. Heute arbeitet sie als freie Autorin und Literaturübersetzerin. Ihr erster Roman Jagdfieber wurde 1996 für den Glauser-Krimipreis nominiert. Außerdem gehört sie dem Autorenkreis historischer Romane "Quo Vadis" an. Neben der Literatur gilt ihr Interesse der (mittelalterlichen) Geschichte, dem Theater und vor allem der Musik, in fast jeder Erscheinungsform.

Kritik Bewertungen:

Ein fulminanter Roman aus der Feder der "Königin des historischen Romans".

-- Welt am Sonntag

Mitglieder Bewertungen:

Langweilig

Schlecht geschrieben und sehr langweilig. Die darstellung mit dem trommelnden orchester schmerzt schon fast. Ich habe dieses Buch geweahlt da es eine der wenigen in Deutsch war. Es war ein Fehler.

Gut aber nicht großartig

Ich bin ein großer Fan von historischen Romanen, aber diese Geschichte war doch manchmal etwas zu weit hergeholt für meinen Geschmack. Und die Fehde zwischen Robin und Mortimer wiederholte sich zu oft in fast dem gleichen Ablauf.

Am schlimmsten fand ich allerdings die Musik, die nicht nur total überflüssig sondern störend war und manchmal hatte ich Probleme, die Worte über die Musik zu hören. Wenn ich mir den nächsten Teil dieser Saga noch mal holen sollte, wird es im Buchformat sein.

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: The Hittite

Author: Ben Bova

Narrator: Stefan Rudnicki

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 22 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-13-10

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 31 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Ben Bova brings us an exciting new take on the timeless legend of Troy.

This is the tale of Lukka, the Hittite soldier who traveled across Greece in search of the vicious slave traders who kidnapped his wife and sons. He tracks them all the way to war-torn Troy, where he proves himself a warrior to rank with noble Hector and swift Achilles.

Lukka is the man who builds the Trojan horse for crafty Odysseus, who topples the walls of Jericho for the Israelites, and who steals the beautiful Helenthe legendary face that launched a thousand shipsfrom her husband Menaleus, fighting his way across half the known world to bring her safely to Egypt.

Critic Reviews:

Bova proves himself equal to the task of showing how adversity can temper character in unforeseen ways. (

New York Times)

Members Reviews:

A Unique perspective

I really enjoyed the flip side of the Orion story without the supernatural intervention. It was great!

Enjoyable story, easy to like.

Would you try another book from Ben Bova and/or Stefan Rudnicki?

Yes, While I'm am no writing master, the books language and story line was flowing, and Ben Bova did a good job of adapting the iliad's story, and incorporating it into his own.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Well, It would have to be Lukka, the main character. I was always a big fan of the Iliad's Hector, and some of the morals and personality traits he represented. I found myself still thinking the same thing.

What three words best describe Stefan Rudnickis voice?

I Don't Know, but he did a good job conveying the emotion of the story, and added an accent that sometimes seemed goofy. Yet, In my opinion the accent added more than detracted.

Do you think The Hittite needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

Yes, I definitely checked to see if there was a sequel. I thought there might be one because it ends somewhat abruptly. I would absolutely read it.

Any additional comments?

An awesome story for Iliad fans. However, you must try not to get too entwined with the traditional storyline, and give the author some creative room for interpretation, and alternate ending.

If you ignore the history, its an okay listen.

We listened to the novel while on a four week holiday through Turkey. We listened to the section on Troy right around the time we were there, and Ephesus was also featured in the novel. The story holds one's interest, and the characters are believable, for the most part, but I found the novel fairly predictable and formulaic, and since we were right in the middle of learning about all of these places, the merging of more than a thousand years of history -- Helen of Troy and Ephesus at its height -- was a bit problematic. The male voice doing Helen was unintentionally amusing, but it helped pass a lot of hours on Turkish highways.

It's a great story!

But, I don't understand why you wrote it? Was it an Epiphany? Was it a return to your roots?

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: Excalibur

Author: Bernard Cornwell

Narrator: Tim Pigott-Smith

Format: Abridged

Length: 6 hrs and 8 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-30-10

Publisher: HarperAudio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 89 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

With Excalibur, Bernard Cornwell draws his Arthurian trilogy to an exciting close that will have listeners gripping their headphones.

If Arthur existed (and Cornwell is quite certain he did) then he was probably the great British war leader who won the battle of Mount Badon. No one knows where it was fought, or how it was fought, but we do know that the battle took place and it was the one great defeat inflicted on the English invaders of Britain.

In Excalibur we follow Arthur and Derfel to that enormous struggle and incredible victory. It not only throws the Saxons back, but reunites Arthur and Guinevere. He might hope now to be left alone, to have a time of peace after gaining a great victory, but new enemies arise to destroy all he has achieved. First is Mordred himself, the crippled king who owes everything to Arthur and now tries to kill his benefactor. Mordreds ally is Nimue, who has come to hate her mentor, Merlin. And so the story ends as it has always ended, at Camlannand so my lord was gone. And no one has seen him since.

Members Reviews:

The best of the trilogy, makes up for the rest

I want to start off by making sure all potential readers know the trilogy itself is a great, unique way of looking at the Arthurian (is that a word?) world & what happened, especially how he decides Lancelot makes such a name for himself, which is so true in history.

Its historians that recall history & just play the 'phone game' to see how telling one person how X person slept with 5 people turns to 15 people very shortly, perhaps its human nature to want to contribute something even if they were not present.

Anyways, the last book wraps everything up into a 'bow' per say & there is battle that we all love the Cornwell way & he also deals with all the mythology revolving around the knights & happened to them, kinda. But overall it was a much better read than the other 2 books, u could probably read just this one book & get the overall jist of the other books & save urself some time, but if u like Cornwells writing as much as I do u will read all 3, just don't compare it to the Grail books, or 1356 (which is a partial extension of Grail series) because it doesn't compare in my opinion

A wonderful new take or twist on the tale of King.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This story of Arthur is probably the most realistic story on this subject I have ever read, and believe me, I have read A LOT of novels and history on this subject and these characters.

The characters came alive.

What other book might you compare Excalibur to and why?

Better than Mary Stewarts series.

Have you listened to any of Tim Pigott-Smiths other performances before? How does this one compare?

Pigott- Smith is an actor not just a narrator. His characterizations are not contrived or overdone. Just enough inflection and tone and accent to make them distinguishable. He was great.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The death of the little girl.

Any additional comments?

Glad I did not discover the series as it was being written. We listened to the entire series in a week and did not have to wait for the next book.

The Arthur Chronicles

Would you listen to Excalibur again? Why?

Yes.

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: The Summer House

Author: Mary Nichols

Narrator: Hilary Neville

Format: Unabridged

Length: 14 hrs and 37 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-19-10

Publisher: ISIS Audio Books

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 48 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

When Lady Helen Hardinghams parents say she will never find a better husband than Richard, she agrees to marry him. But all too soon Richard returns to war, and Helen begins to wonder just who she has married. Then she meets Oliver Donovan. As the war continues, Oliver has to return to his regiment - and is never seen again. But Helen is left with more than just her memories: she is with child.

Twenty years later and a second war is ravaging Europe. Now a grown woman, Helens daughter, Laura, is also caught in a tragic love affair and left expecting a baby. Gradually the truth about her parentage comes out, old wounds are healed, and, with Helens support, Laura learns to fall in love again.

Members Reviews:

Nice mix of romance and history

At first I thought the book was going to be predictable but as I listened on I saw the twist and turns as the plot grew. I thought the author did a wonderful job of showing what it was like

to have lived in London during WWII. The narrator

was easily understood with her British accents.

Great Historical Read

I love how this book wove together the lives of the characters and I got a glimps of life in Englad during WWII. I really enjoyed it!

Very Good book

The first thing I noticed was that there were no murders. I would venture to say that 9 out of 10 books that focus on a good mystery involves a murder. This book about secrets raised my curiosity about solving the mystery. At times it held my attention and forced me to try and figure out how this mystery would ever be resolved. I won't even mention how I feel about the injustices to women to save the faces of the "family".

I stumbled upon this book and am so glad I did. It was definitely worth the read.

Great story, I couldn't put it down.

WW II story about life in England

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, I love a good story

What does Hilary Neville bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book?

Soft English accent, easy to listen. She brings you closer to the English county side

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, it is several hours long

Good story.

Enjoyed the book. Good characters. Takes place during world war II.

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: A King's Commander

Author: Dewey Lambdin

Narrator: John Lee

Format: Unabridged

Length: 15 hrs and 38 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-09-10

Publisher: Random House Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 198 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

It is 1793, for love of war and money....

Once a French corvette, she was reborn HMS Jester, sleek and fast. At her sea-sprayed helm is former Midshipman Alan Lewrie, turned grizzled warrior by trade. But when Commander Lewrie reaches the island of Corsica, he gets orders for which even he is not prepared: lure his archenemy, French commander Guillaume Choundas, into battle - and personally strike him dead.

From splintering-hulled ships battling broadside to exotic ports of call, the adventures of Alan Lewrie capture an age of heroism and action on the great, wind-lashed fighting ships.

Members Reviews:

Allan is at it again scret mission

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

The author writes a great story and keeps the reader interested I do enjoy the characters and the story line

What was one of the most memorable moments of A King's Commander?

I liked when he got his cat and all the other trouble he gets into

Which scene was your favorite?

Too many to discribe, the battles are very interesting as well as the sex

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

Jester's Secret Mission

Any additional comments?

Like the books before this one and look forward to reading many more

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: Stone's Fall

Author: Iain Pears

Narrator: Gareth Armstrong, Daniel Coonan, Jonathan Keeble

Format: Unabridged

Length: 25 hrs and 34 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-23-09

Publisher: ISIS Audio Books

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 17 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

A panoramic novel with a riveting mystery at its heart, Stoneï¿¿ï¿¿s Fall is a quest to discover how and why John Stone dies, falling out of a window at his London home.

Chronologically, it goes backwards, and Stone's character deepens as the book progresses. Here is a love story and a murder mystery, set against the backdrop of the evolution of high-stakes international finance, Europe's first great age of espionage, and the start of the 20th century's arms race.

Members Reviews:

Woven Tapestry

This is a very good listen for it explores the plot from a variety of veiwpoints. Complex but not complicated, elegant but not fluffy. Am on my third listen and still it holds the attention.

Excellent in every way.....

This is a great book and makes an almost perfect audio book. The writing is excellent - don't be put off by the length - and the story is compelling from start to finish. It charts the rise and fall of "Stone", from an obscure begining to his shocking, mysterious and abrupt end. Told from different perspectives the story never flags and is the best audio book I have ever listened to.

Do not listen to Book One

I persevered through Book One and knowing its story possibly helps one enjoy and understand Books Two and Three. However, if you buy this audio book, I urge you to skip Book One altogether - or read it to your self from the written word. The narration is abysmal. The narrator appears to have read the words without understanding them. He places emphasis on the wrong words and in the wrong parts of sentences. I suspect that he did not practice but simply picked up the book and read. He is unable to provide any sense that the characters are real; so poor is his ability to act. He is utterly unconvincing, and I winced my way through his reading.

The story is, however, for all that, a decent one and worth the effort. Narrators Two and Three are excellent. Isis, the publishers, would be advised to re-narrate Book One altogether.

Complex story ruined by poor narration!

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

By re-recording the first section of this book using a narrator who understood what he was reading and when it was appropriate to pause!!

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Liked the ending!

Would you be willing to try another one of the narratorss performances?

I purchased this audiobook on the basis of previous performances by the narrator of the second section of this book - a favourite of mine. Also enjoyed the performance of Narrator 3 who I had not listened to before.

Please open https://hotaudiobook.com ONLY on your standard browser Safari, Chrome, Microsoft or Firefox to download full audiobooks of your choice for free.

Title: Ironweed

Author: William Kennedy

Narrator: Jonathan Davis

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs

Language: English

Release date: 08-13-09

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 99 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Ironweed is the best-known of William Kennedy's three Albany-based novels. Francis Phelan, ex-ballplayer, part-time gravedigger, full-time drunk, has hit bottom. Years ago he left Albany in a hurry after killing a scab during a trolley workers' strike; he ran away again after accidentally and fatally dropping his infant son. Now, in 1938, Francis is back in town, roaming the old familiar streets with his hobo pal, Helen, trying to make peace with the ghosts of the past and the present.

As an added bonus, when you purchase our Audible Modern Vanguard production of William Kennedy's book, you'll also receive an exclusive Jim Atlas interview. This interview where James Atlas interviews Russell Banks about the life and work of William Kennedy begins as soon as the audiobook ends.

Editorial Reviews:

The living and the dead, the past and the present linger together in William Kennedy's haunting, lyrical masterpiece, Ironweed. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 1984 and one of the best books in Kennedy's deservedly-praised "Albany cycle", Ironweed reads like a classic novel James Joyce would have written if he had grown up in upstate New York in the late 19th century. One sentence flows seamlessly into the next, the words lingering in your mind like the lyrics of a melancholy ballad sung by an Irish tenor who's lived a hard, heart-breaking life.

Set on Halloween and the day after in 1938, in the midst of the Great Depression, Ironweed tells the story of Francis Phelan, a middle-aged, self-described "bum" who once dazzled fans playing third base for the Washington Senators but who's now simply struggling to get through one day at a time. Phelan's life went off track years earlier when he accidentally dropped his 13-day-old son on the floor, killing the baby.

The baby's death and other tragic events in Phelan's past haunt him. Phelan vainly tries to forget such incidents. But the harder he tries, the more real his demons become. So as the novel unfolds, many of the people Phelan once knew who died years ago now appear more real to him than the living who walk the streets of Albany. And yet Phelan never asks for anyone's pity. Kennedy wisely avoids sentimentalizing Phelan's struggle to come to terms with his past. Instead, Kennedy bestows honor and dignity on Phelan and his fellow dispossessed friends, writing about the down-and-out with a touch as light and graceful as a concert pianist.

And like Jack Nicholson, who famously portrayed Phelan in a film adaptation of Kennedy's grim novel, narrator Jonathan Davis delivers an astounding reading of Ironweed in the Audible Modern Vanguard production of this book. Like Nicholson, Davis gives an understated yet powerful performance, allowing the grandeur of the author's vivid language to speak for itself. And like Kennedy, Davis veers from a gritty, hardscrabble tone of voice one second, to a solemn, elegiac whisper when expressing Phelan's yearning to set things right in his life once and for all. Ironweed will cling to your memory long after you've parted ways with Phelan and his memorable cast of friends.