Where to Listen to Audiobooks in Classics, British Literature Popular Authors

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Title: The Seven Poor Travelers

Subtitle: A Charles Dickens Christmas Story

Author: Charles Dickens

Narrator: Deaver Brown

Format: Unabridged

Length: 1 hr and 4 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-20-12

Publisher: Simply Media

Ratings: 2.5 of 5 out of 7 votes

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

A classic Dickens Christmas story full of love, loss, regret, and reuniting. At listener request an American voice was used to make the audio more accessible to North American listeners. The story begins by relating the hardships the English were enduring at the time of the writing and tells of a dear soul who had endowed an inn for poor travelers to give room and board to destitute visitors for one night. Dickens ironically points out that the travelers got about 1/30th of the value, while the management and lawyers of the trust got the other 29/30ths.

After a Christmas Eve feast, the narrator tells a story about Richard Doubledick, saved by an officer friend , who became his friend for life until his death at Waterloo. Richard later met the French officer who killed his friend and used forgiveness to get over it, which lead to them and their children becoming lifelong friends. This is a classic story about generations of salvation and friendship. "The Seven Poor Travelers" is a wonderful introduction to Dickens for students who wish to dabble first before taking on his longer novels.

Members Reviews:

awful

the readrr broke up sentences making the story hard to follow. it seemed he was not enjoying the storyb and just wanted to get it over with

Sub-standard narration

I tried my best to persevere, but I managed less than ten minutes before I had to stop the torture to my ears.

Having listened to Peter Bachelor's narration of Oliver Twist prior, perhaps my standards are too high.

I will however, endeavour to find this book narrated by someone else.

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Title: Where Angels Fear to Tread

Author: E. M. Forster

Narrator: Flo Gibson

Format: Unabridged

Length: 5 hrs and 2 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-17-12

Publisher: Audio Book Contractors

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 5 votes

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

This brilliant novel depicts cultural clashes between a middle-class English family and a penniless Italian. His marriage to a young widow from Sawston leads to a tumultuous situation within the family.

Members Reviews:

Ironic Humor

I wasn't quite certain what to expect I dove into my first experience with Forster. I've heard opinions on him ranging from "brilliant" to "depressing tripe." I'm not willing to go quite so far as "brilliant," but it's much closer to that mark than the latter. All right, yes, it *is* depressing in many respects. But the subtlety, the irony, the characterizations, and the downright humor is a delight. I look forward to the rest of his books.

What I remembered

What I remembered from this novel was the opera scene (still glorious) and the tragic climax (still brutal so that I slowed down coming up to it in hopes of preventing its appearance). What I forgot was how witty it was, how warm, how accomplished for such an early novel in a writer's career. In short, it was actually better than I remembered, a rare accomplishment for an author I love so much. Not as magnificent as Proust nor as fine a writer as James, but equally as wise as both and much more welcoming than either.

I liked this book

I liked this book. I read it for my IB English class and enjoyed deciphering the hidden messages within it. It's a very dry read at some parts but overall it is very well written. I'd recommend this book to anyone.

Very operatic story

I read this because Opera San Jose (California) has commissioned an opera, to appear next spring (2015) based on this book. So I wanted background to appreciate the opera. It is the kind of good news-bad news book that could make a very good opera.

I did not like it at all

I did not like it at all. There was not enough character development for me to get to know the protagonists and either like them or not. I could not find the point of this story. This seems to me to be an episode without a beginning or an end.

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Title: The Chimes

Author: Charles Dickens, Geoffrey Palmer

Narrator: Geoffrey Palmer

Format: Abridged

Length: 3 hrs and 28 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-08-12

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 11 votes

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Penguin Classics presents the audiobook adaptation of Dickens lesser-known Christmas novella, The Chimes, read by the actor Geoffrey Palmer. Toby Trotty; Veck, a downtrodden ticket-porter, is struggling with a decision. Will a visitation from spirits help him see the light? Scathing, dark, but also heart-warming, The Chimes is a thought-provoking Christmas read for fans of Dickens social commentary.

Part of a series of abridged, vintage recordings taken from the Penguin Archives. Affordable, collectable, quality productions - perfect for on-the-go listening.

Members Reviews:

Good... but Flawed

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Sure, I enjoyed this book and don't regret the listening time. I just won't be listening to it again. To me, a three-star review doesn't mean it's a bad book, it's just... average.

If youve listened to books by Charles Dickens and Geoffrey Palmer before, how does this one compare?

I have no complaints with the narrator, but he couldn't raise this above a three-star. This is Dickens going for a not-so-subtle social commentary on poverty, of course. It's just a bit heavy-handed in this one, and I finished the story not uplifted so much as feeling I'd had a narrow escape from a very, very hopeless tale. I'm sure that's what he was going for but, really? There are so many other ways to say the same thing, and Dickens does it well in other books.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

Geoffrey Palmer beats the "Dickens on Dickens" version hands down, as that rendition is over the top. At least I didn't feel I was being beaten over the head with the "hopelessness" in an already fairly bleak tale.

Was The Chimes worth the listening time?

Sure, listen to it. It's, after all, NOT "A Christmas Carol," so if you need something different at Christmas, there's this. But I wouldn't recommend spending a credit on it, or spending full price.

Any additional comments?

This is NOT a bad book, how can Dickens ever be, really? But there's a whole helluva lot out there that is worth listening to. If you want something GREAT? Oh, DO get "Jacob T. Marley!" Now there's another, more delightful way to spend your Christmas!

A lesser Christmas tale

This was a bit of a chore to listen to and seemed to push Dicken's political cause at bit too clumsily. I really wanted to like this and hoped it was a good fit with the Christmas Carol. It was okay at the start but then it just seemed to drag. The supernatural parts, which I guess were to be like Scrooge's visit by the 3 ghosts, weren't that great, to me.

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Title: Dombey and Son

Author: Charles Dickens

Narrator: Andrew Sachs

Format: Abridged

Length: 7 hrs and 38 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-06-12

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 4 votes

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Penguin Classics presents the audiobook adaptation of Dombey and Son, Charles Dickens classic tale of family and power. Read by Andrew Sachs. Dombey and Son are both a firm and a family and the ambiguous connection between public and private life lies at the heart of Dickens novel. Paul Dombey is a man who runs his domestic affairs as he runs his business: calculatingly, callously, coldly and commercially. Through his dysfunctional relationships with his son, his two wives, and his neglected daughter Florence, Dickens paints a vivid picture of the limitations of a society dominated by commercial values and the drive for profit and explores the possibility of moral and emotional redemption through familial love. Part of a series of abridged, vintage recordings taken from the Penguin Archives. Affordable, collectable, quality productions - perfect for on-the-go listening.

Members Reviews:

GREAT READ. WELL WORTH THE $$$

Would you consider the audio edition of Dombey and Son to be better than the print version?

DEFINITELY, COULD LISTEN WHILE DOING DISHES, LAUNDRY, ETC. COULD REALLY GET INTO THE BOOK AND ACTUALLY BE THERE.

What does Andrew Sachs bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book?

LOVE HIS VOICE AND TYHE ACTION HE PLACES INTO EACH CHAPTER

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

HELD ME THROUGH THE ENTIRE READ.

Another great narration by Andrew Sachs

Would you listen to Dombey and Son again? Why?

Let me address the elephant on the page before I say anything else. Why did I rate a 5 to both the performance and the story, but drop a star for the overall rating. It's a simple matter really, I'm not a fan of abridged books. Audio or otherwise. I prefer the story as written. While I a fan of Charles Dickens written, having read most of his works, I am now listening for personal reasons. That is to hear various narrators perform audio versions of Dickens work as a way to hear how it is done by a wide variety of narrators. I have several novels by Dickens done by different narrators. As an audio book narrator myself, it is always good to be listening to as many books as possible.

What did you like best about this story?

Andrew Sachs, once I stumbled upon him, has become one of my favorite audio book narrators. Andrew disappears into the story and to the characters. When he reads, there is no Andrew, there is only the story. This is the work of a master storyteller.

Have you listened to any of Andrew Sachss other performances before? How does this one compare?

This is possibly the 6th work by Andrew Sachs I have in my collection. I have no favorites, well, perhaps Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. He tells each story in the voice it needs. The characters are well rounded...no "phoning in" by Andrew.

Any additional comments?

I do hope that one day I, using either my given name, or my nom de guerre of Scott MacDonald, that I can be as good a narrator as people like Andrew Sachs. (RIP) He doesn't know it, but I consider him as a mentor.

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Title: Pigeons from Hell

Author: Robert E. Howard

Narrator: Jim Roberts

Format: Unabridged

Length: 1 hr and 12 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-08-11

Publisher: Jimcin Recordings

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 26 votes

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Robert E. Howard, best known as the creator of Conan the Barbarian, also wrote stories in a diverse range of genres. He was particularly masterful with horror stories. This 1938 spell-binding story is one of his best. In 1983, Stephen King, wrote that he considered Pigeons from Hell to be "one of the finest horror stories of our century". With a decaying Southern family, a gruesome murder, a strange sort of "undead" creature and, of course, evil pigeons, it makes for a story that will send a chill down your backbone.

Members Reviews:

A Short Masterpiece of Gothic Horror

Robert Howard, famous for his Conan sagas, also wrote many pulp horror stories and was a pen pal of H. P. Lovecraft. This is a well crafted tale of Gothic horror, which begins when our hero, Griswell, and his buddy Branner make the mistake of spending the night in a deserted southern plantation mansion. Griswell gets an unpleasant surprise when he wakes up to find his buddy converted into zombie who is attacking him with an axe. Griswell flees in terror, has a chance meeting with Buckner, the local sheriff, and the two return to the haunted house to unravel the mystery. Very dark and highly suspenseful, as the plot unfolds to reveal a spine-tingling web of voodoo, a cursed cruel slave-owning family and vengeful ex-slaves practicing the dark arts. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys a well-written horror tale. Well narrated.

classic

the performance is not very good but the story is worth hearing. it's classic horror, almost Lovecraftian.

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Title: She

Subtitle: A History of Adventure

Author: H. Rider Haggard

Narrator: Bill Homewood

Format: Abridged

Length: 5 hrs and 17 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-16-11

Publisher: Naxos AudioBooks

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 3 votes

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Somewhere in Africa, a tiny, primitive tribe, the Amahaggers, live secretly amongst the debris of a lost Egyptian civilization, ruled by the beautiful semi-goddess Ayesha, or She-who-must-be-obeyed. Ludwig Horace Holly, a Cambridge academic, is reluctantly drawn into plans for a voyage in search of this legendary queen. With his adopted son, Leo, he sets out on a brave journey, following a trail of clues. Shipwrecked and captured by cannibals, their voyage soon turns into a nightmare.

This masterpiece of suspense and adventure, by the author of King Solomons Mines, contains some of the most sensual, gently erotic passages in 19th-century literature.

Editorial Reviews:

This imaginative classic from the late 1800s is expertly narrated by Bill Homewood. The story is a first-person narrative that follows the journey of Horace Holly, a Cambridge University professor, and his ward, Leo Vincey, to a lost kingdom in central Africa. After a shipwreck, they encounter a primitive people called the Amahagger in the lost kingdom of Kor and a mysterious white sorceress who reigns as the all-powerful "She-who-must-be-obeyed." Homewood exquisitely captures the wonders and horrors encountered by these Victorian gentlemen on their adventures. His calm, well-paced narration adds a dimension of reality to a tale of natives, murder, and rage. Modulations of tone and inflection add to a performance that keeps listeners entranced.

Members Reviews:

Classic Fantasy-Adventure

"She" was first published in 1886, and is written in the florid literary style of the day, but it still reads like the wind. Haggard was a born storyteller, and he never lets his overblown prose slow down the pace of this adventure. It is no wonder that this book has never been out of print in the last 124 years and has sold a reported 44 million copies.

The plot involves three Englishmen who follow the clues written on an ancient piece of pottery to find a fabulous kingdom hidden in the interior of Africa, where a strange lost race is ruled over by "She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed," a mercurial Queen with supernatural powers, including near-eternal life. The suspense and action rarely flag, and the story set the pattern for countless "lost world" and "lost race" stories that followed, most notably those of Edgar Rice Burroughs. A great read.

One caveat: the $1.00 Kindle version has some typos, and the author's illustrations are missing.

a classic tale of a Lost World

In the style of the times, this is a tale of adventure passed off as truth by the narrator. Unique is that this is purportedly the first instance of the use of a lost civilization in science fiction and it carries many of the hallmarks that later authors shall employ. In particular, a remote civilization cut off from the world in a volcanic caldera.

Also, in the style of the day, the characters oft wax philosophical, which can bog down the adventurous nature of the tale. But I find it something I like about early science fiction.

good read of an old book

Pros: it is very nice to be able to read a long out-of-print book without breaking the bank. the paper stock was a decent weight and the binding was adequate to not fall apart.

Cons: the publisher has a caveat that the scanning used to create this publication is not perfect and typos were not corrected.

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Title: Charles Dickens: A Collection of Readings

Subtitle: Dickens on Dickens

Author: Charles Dickens

Narrator: Gerald Dickens

Format: Abridged

Length: 36 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-11-11

Publisher: Create Digital Publishing

Ratings: 5 of 5 out of 2 votes

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

This short collection of readings from Charles Dickens pulls together stories from various parts of his life as well as from the novels themselves. Read by Charles great great grandson Gerald Dickens, the collection comprises extracts from Dickenss autobiographical fragment; The Pickwick Papers: The first appearance of Mr Samuel Weller; Martin Chuzzlewit: A pleasant little family party at Mr Pecksniff's; The writing of Dombey and Son: Letters sent from Dickens in Switzerland whilst writing the first parts of the novel Bleak House; The beginning of the novel A Tale of Two Cities: The stoppage at the fountain.

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Title: Flatland

Subtitle: A Romance of Many Dimensions

Author: Edwin A. Abbott

Narrator: Robin Field

Format: Unabridged

Length: 3 hrs and 54 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-19-11

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 2 of 5 out of 4 votes

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

With this satirical novella, English schoolmaster Edwin A. Abbott provides both a mathematical fantasy and pointed observations on the social hierarchy of Victorian culture. The narrator, "A. Square", resides in the fictional two-dimensional world of Flatland. When he is visited by a sphere, he is suddenly faced with proof of the existence of three dimensions and is forced to see the limitations of his world.

In a foreword to one of the many publications of this novella, noted science writer Isaac Asimov described Flatland as the best introduction one can find into the manner of perceiving dimensions. As such, this novella is still popular among mathematics, physics, and computer-science students.

Critic Reviews:

This pre-Einstein geometrical fantasy is one of the best things of its kind that has ever been written, for it is more than an ingeniously sustained fantasy: it is a social satire, with wit as sharp as the sub-lustrous end of a Flatland woman; it is an easy philosophical introduction to the fourth dimension; and it is a rebuke to everyone who holds that there is no reality beyond what is perceptible by human senses. (

Saturday Review)

Members Reviews:

Don't bother with this edition

I've read Flatland several times in printed form -- it's one of my favorite books. I got this edition free, but even at that, this isn't worth it. The illustrations are missing, and for this book they're not just a nice addition; the pictures are crucial to following the story. (Also, the text makes references to the pictures.) There are also some mangled words and other problems.

If you're about to read this excellent book for the first time, you'd be robbing yourself of the experience by trying to follow this garbled, text-only version. If you're already a fan, you'll just find this edition frustrating. So, whether or not you've read Flatland before, please spend the $1 for a nice, edited version with the illustrations included:Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions (Illustrated)

A classic

Flatland is a mathematical journey and a satire of culture and societal structure. Short in length but deep in thought! Plus, this edition is beautiful.

Five Stars

Delightful introduction to some important math (and sociological) issues.

Four Stars

Slow to process, but opened my mind to the possibility of a fourth dimension.

Thought provoking!

A great example of how social commentary is truly timeless. This is a vintage tale best characterized as sci-fi or fantasy, yet the descriptions of how certain classes are treated are utterly chilling in the most up-to-date sense. No need to be a mathematician to âgetâ the principles illustrated here â the points are easily taken. NOTE: I do wish an effort would be made to include the diagrams in these old books that have been put into digital format by volunteers (for whom I am grateful). This one would really benefit from their inclusion! But I really enjoyed it.

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Title: Jane Eyre

Author: Charlotte Brontë

Narrator: Annette Grunnet

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 22 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-13-11

Publisher: Viatone

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Jane Eyre blev udgivet i 1847 af Charlotte Brontë under pseudonymet Currer Bell. Forfatteren var total ukendt, men romanen blev rets bestseller og mtte genoptrykkes igen og igen. Den blev Dronning Victorias ynglingsroman og er i dag en af de mest populre klassikere. Lserne blev betaget af Jane Eyres svre barndom som en forldrels Askepot, hendes tid p kostskole, den romantiske krlighedsaffre med Rochester og de gotiske elementer med hemmelighedsfulde og dramatiske begivenheder.

Please note: This audiobook is in Danish.

Critic Reviews:

"Bogen er den dag i dag tilfredsstillende for fantasien, fordi den rummer alle de elementre nskedrmselementer og samtidig flger urtypen p en rigtig historie - selve eventyrets linje. Der er ikke s forfrdelig mange bger i verdenslitteraturen, der har denne elementre dragning, og de der er der, elskes uforandret gennem generationer." (Elsa Gress)

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Title: The Coming of Bill

Author: P. G. Wodehouse

Narrator: Frederick Davidson

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 25 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-29-11

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 7 votes

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

The nearest Wodehouse ever came to a serious story,

The Coming of Bill is a fascinating blend of social commentary and light comedy.

Kirk, an impecunious artist of perfect physique, and Ruth, a spoilt heiress, were blissfully happy through their early days of marriage and the birth of their first son. But when Kirk returns from a trip to Columbia to find Ruth under the thumb of her Aunt Laura, an advocate of eugenics, parenting philosophies divide them. It takes a series of comic mishaps, featuring a galaxy of vintage Wodehouse characters, to retrieve the familys happiness from the overbearing aunt.

Members Reviews:

Don't Pluck This Lemon in the Garden of Literature

Not, that is, if you've reveled in the adventures of Jeeves and Wooster, the schemes of Ukridge and the insanity of Blandings Castle. Not, in other words, if you're looking for more of the same fast-paced, incisively-written, ludicrous hilarity these works dish our with such a lavish hand.

Things start out in the normal way. We have a fine portrait of the kind of character who always ends up snootered by the better sort in Wodehouse's world: a female writer of theosophical tracts, a confirmed spinster who is somehow an expert on raising children and a rabid eugenicist armed with all the latest, up-to-date, sterilized thinking and gadgetry that go with that particular branch of lunacy. Holding herself so high above the common run of human kind (especially men, whom she views almost purely in the light of breeding stock) that she disdains to accept any blame when she runs over a pedestrian with her car, the seasoned Wodehouse reader will snuggle a few inches deeper into the old arm chair and await with relish the inevitable downfall.

It comes, but in the most unsatisfactory (for the Wodehouse devotee) way--only after strained family relations (usually such a gold mine of humor for Wodehouse) sudden deaths, an unhappy marriage, expeditions to the South American jungle, another tragic death by fever, a headlong plunge into financial ruin, an all-too-real portrait of marital separation and a well-meant kidnapping. Kidnapping is a theme Wodehouse has a lot of fun with from time to time--see The Little Nugget, Piccadilly Jim or The Mating Season where Jeeves lures Aunt Agatha's son, young Thos, away from his school to play chess with Cora Star, the film actress. Here it's the desperate last move of a desperate father. At times it almost seems like Wodehouse should be writing under a pseudonym: Rosie M. Banks.

It all turns out, of course, Love triumphs. But the way there isn't the usual Wodehousian romp.

There must be a back-story to this book, a reason why it can't make up it's mind to be a comedy or a tragedy, a serious examination of human life or a farce. The publication date, 1920, lands it squarely in the Jeeves-and-Wooster zone, (My Man Jeeves, 1919 and The Inimitable Jeeves, 1923), the first glimmerings of Blandings Castle (Something Fresh, 1915 and A Damsel in Distress, 1919) and the teeing-off of the great golf sagas (The Clicking of Cuthbert, 1922). As Wodehouse entered his early 40's he truly hit his stride, embarking on those story lines that would make his books essential to those of us who like their literature bright and light. Maybe someone bet him he couldn't write something serious.