We are currently making improvements to the Audible site. In an effort to enhance the accessibility experience for our customers, we have created a page to more easily navigate the new experience, available at the web address www.audible.com/access.
Special Offer - Download and Listen to a Best Seller for $7.49

Classics

Your Likes make Audible better!

'Likes' are shared on Facebook and Audible.com. We use your 'likes' to improve Audible.com for all our listeners.

You can turn off Audible.com sharing from your Account Details page.

OK

Tad
Tad Philadelphia, PA, United States Member Since 2005

Shakespeare, Dickens, Homer, Mark Twain, Walt Disney, History.

HELPFUL VOTES
64
ratings
REVIEWS
22
5
FOLLOWERS
FOLLOWING
283
0
  • The Idiot

    "Intense and painfully sad"

    Overall
    Performance
    Story

    I avoided this book for a long time: who wants to read a book about a person who's so good everyone around him thinks he's an idiot?

    Boy, was I wrong. This is an intense and brooding novel, filled with Dostoevsky's usual array of deeply conflicted characters and blistering monologues. The idiot himself, Prince Myshkin, is no pushover: maybe he's a bit naive at times, but he insists on treating people as equals and assuming their good intentions until contrary evidence is overwhelming. He suffers from epilepsy, and in the course of the novel has a couple of seizures that dramatically alter the direction of the story.

    Superficially, the novel is about Myshkin's conflicted relationships with two women: Aglaya, the youngest daughter of a distant relative, with whom he is in love; and Anastassya Filippovna, a "fallen woman" who's been fobbed off by her former lover and who seems to be drifting from one self-destructive relationship to another. Myshkin may have loved her once, but now he mainly pities her. Aglaya, who at one point seems willing to marry Myshkin, ultimately breaks off because of his obsession with Anastassya.

    But that's only one small facet of this complex, teeming book. The characters are captivating, the scenes at times almost hypnotic in their intensity. I've only read a few of Dostoevsky's novels, but so far I'm inclined to say this is probably my favorite.

    Robert Whitfield (=Simon Vance) gives a stellar reading. Of particular note is his ability to distinguish the voices of the many women in the book: sometimes the shading is subtle, but I always knew instantly who was talking. Well done, highly recommended.

    More

    The Idiot

    • UNABRIDGED (22 hrs and 33 mins)
    • By Fyodor Dostoevsky
    • Narrated By Robert Whitfield
    Overall
    (284)
    Performance
    (87)
    Story
    (89)

    Prince Myshkin, is thrust into the heart of a society more concerned with wealth, power, and sexual conquest than the ideals of Christianity. Myshkin soon finds himself at the center of a violent love triangle in which a notorious woman and a beautiful young girl become rivals for his affections. Extortion, scandal, and murder follow, testing the wreckage left by human misery to find "man in man."

    Victoria says: "good audio"
  1. The Idiot
    2. .

A Peek at C. Telfair's Bookshelf

Helpful
Votes
518
 
C. Telfair
San Jose, CA, United States 171 REVIEWS / 181 ratings 160 Followers / Following 2
 
C. Telfair's greatest hits:
  • The Tenant of Wildfell Hall
    The Tenant of Wildfell Hall

    "My favorite Bronte book"

    Overall
    Performance
    Story

    Despite being lesser known than her sisters' works, "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall" may be the best of the Bronte books. Anne is a good writer; terrific at description, and there is humor here and richness of character development. I really loved this listen. The story is long and, I will admit, tedious at times (it's a Victorian novel after all!), but this edition of the audio book has handled the strange structure of the book very well. Both Alex Jennings and Jenny Agutter render their portions of the narrative beautifully.
    A word of warning, however. This claims to be an Unabridged version, but it is not so. Because I was listening to the book as a book club assignment, I followed along with the written version and found some puzzling omissions. Just why they chose to abridge some parts -- especially in the central, diary portion of the book -- I can't imagine. The cuts are small and not terribly important, but nevertheless are there. Anyone wishing to experience the entire work should be aware of the abridgment.
    But it's a fine trip! I'm very pleased to have learned that there is more to the Brontes than "Jane Eyre" and "Wuthering Heights".

  • The Hobbit
    The Hobbit

    "Gather Around and Listen!"

    Overall
    Performance
    Story

    If ever a book was meant to be read aloud, it's this one! The storyteller is a tremendously important part of "The Hobbit", and Inglis just does a wonderful job enthralling us all with this adventure.

    The tone and significance of this work is very different from that of "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy. As long as you recognize that and accept "The Hobbit" for the children's book it basically is, you will enjoy this version of a classic. And, when it comes to a good tale, there's a child in each of us who will absolutely love it!

  • Becoming Shakespeare: The Unlikely Afterlife That Turned a Provincial Playwright into the Bard
    Becoming Shakespeare: The Unlikely Afterlife That Turned a Provincial Playwright into the Bard

    "Underwhelmed"

    Overall
    Performance
    Story

    I'm not sure what I expected from this work, but I am an enthusiastic fan of nearly all things Shakespeare, so I thought I'd try it. It isn't a bad listen, but it's not really much about Shakespeare. The narrator is wonderful, and there are some interesting bits about various actors through the centuries and how different audiences relate to the Bard. Generally, though, I could take or leave this one. There are many more interesting books about Shakespeare and his life and times. If you want something introductory, for example, try a short biography by Bill Bryson.

  • Adam Bede
    Adam Bede

    "First George Eliot Novel and First-Rate!"

    Overall
    Performance
    Story

    This has it all - great setting, characters, love triangles, tragedy, and a lot very welcome comedy, as well!

    I had never read this first book by George Eliot, but I must now rate it as one of my favorites. And I suspect that is partly because I have just first experienced "Adam Bede" in the audio format! The dialects of Eliot's wonderful people would be hard-going in book form, but Wanda McCaddon renders them understandable yet full of character and personality.

    This is a familiar old story. Class distinction, misplaced affection in Victorian England leads to unhappiness and tragedy. Yet the strong, the hard working, and the morally resolute prevail in the end.

    Adam Bede, the title character, is not necessarily the most interesting or the most important character in this book, yet one understands why the author chose him to represent what she believes to be the epitome of British virtue. It's not a revolutionary or a shocking novel, but Eliot weaves the old tale with a real mastery of description, characterization, and humor. I highly recommend this book, and especially the narration of Wanda McCaddon.

Connie
Connie Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada 08-14-08 Member Since 2007

trying to see the world through my ears

HELPFUL VOTES
134
ratings
REVIEWS
126
15
FOLLOWERS
FOLLOWING
49
0
  • Far From the Madding Crowd

    "respite from the madding crowd"

    22 of 22 helpful votes

    Though there are some audio quirks, they didn't significantly interfere with the listen (at least when formatted for ipod). I suppose the quick transmission to downloadable audio may keep the novel's price cheap?

    I fell in love with this novel (and Gabriel Oak) when I was 14 and have re-read the paper version several times over the last 35+ years. I hesitated to download it, thinking such a beloved book would suffer in audio, but I really enjoyed the listen. I loved the narrator. She brought to life Hardy's poetic sections, especially those involving the English countryside and farming practices. As others have pointed out, the novel contains a somewhat misogynist portrait, but of a strong-ish heroine (for a Victorian character). In middle age, I felt the misogyny more deeply than back in the 70s, but I put up with it (and often much stronger) in Hardy's contemporaries and predecessors for the beauty if the prose and old fashioned romanticism and realism. Well, admittedly the ending is "too happy;" as someone pointed out --it wasn't Hardy's original ending; I think he had to tone down his realism to get published, but as a teen and now as an old fart, I love the ending. There's enough angst in the world and contemporary lit to suffice for me!

    The listen motivates me to download and reacquaint myself with other Hardy novels and perhaps download his bio.

    More

    Far From the Madding Crowd

    • UNABRIDGED (15 hrs and 47 mins)
    • By Thomas Hardy
    • Narrated By Jill Masters
    • Whispersync for Voice-ready
    Overall
    (44)
    Performance
    (8)
    Story
    (9)

    Thomas Hardy brings us an England that once existed but no more. It is rural, traditional, pastoral - a society of mannered conduct that flows like a deep river where powerful currents eddy and swirl. In this powerful novel of love and disillusion, Hardy's heroine is torn between the three men in her life. Passionate but capricious, her romantic involvements have fascinated generations of readers.

    Connie says: "respite from the madding crowd"

What's Trending in Classics:

Customer Favorites

(More  Customer Favorites)
  • 4.8 (1136 ratings)
    The Two Towers: Book Two in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy
    Play The Two Towers: Book Two in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy
    Audiobook
    The Two Towers: Book Two in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy
    UNABRIDGED

    The Two Towers: Book Two in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy

    • UNABRIDGED (16 hrs and 40 mins)
    • By J. R. R. Tolkien
    • Narrated By Rob Inglis
    • Whispersync for Voice-ready
    Overall
    (1136)
    Performance
    (1002)
    Story
    (1027)

    The Two Towers is the second volume of J.R.R. Tolkien's epic saga, The Lord of the Rings. The Fellowship has been forced to split up. Frodo and Sam must continue alone towards Mount Doom, where the One Ring must be destroyed. Meanwhile, at Helm’s Deep and Isengard, the first great battles of the War of the Ring take shape. In this splendid, unabridged audio production of Tolkien’s great work, all the inhabitants of a magical universe - hobbits, elves, and wizards - spring to life. Rob Inglis’ narration has been praised as a masterpiece of audio.

    Anna says: "Thank you, Audible! Tolkien at long last!"
  • 4.8 (1009 ratings)
    The Return of the King: Book Three in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy
    Play The Return of the King: Book Three in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy
    Audiobook
    The Return of the King: Book Three in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy
    UNABRIDGED

    The Return of the King: Book Three in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy

    • UNABRIDGED (18 hrs and 18 mins)
    • By J. R. R. Tolkien
    • Narrated By Rob Inglis
    • Whispersync for Voice-ready
    Overall
    (1009)
    Performance
    (878)
    Story
    (900)

    The Return of the King is the towering climax to J. R. R. Tolkien’s trilogy that tells the saga of the hobbits of Middle-earth and the great War of the Rings. In this concluding volume, Frodo and Sam make a terrible journey to the heart of the Land of the Shadow in a final reckoning with the power of Sauron. In addition to narrating the prose passages, Rob Inglis sings the trilogy’s songs and poems a capella, using melodies composed by Inglis and Claudia Howard, the Recorded Books studio director.

    Natalie says: "Finally!"
  • 4.8 (136 ratings)
    The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Volume 1: The War of the Ring
    Play The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Volume 1: The War of the Ring
    Audiobook
    The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Volume 1: The War of the Ring
    UNABRIDGED
    • J.R.R. Tolkien

    The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Volume 1: The War of the Ring

    • UNABRIDGED (7 hrs and 28 mins)
    • By J.R.R. Tolkien
    • Narrated By Rob Inglis
    Overall
    (136)
    Performance
    (62)
    Story
    (63)

    The Companions of the Ring have become involved in separate adventures as the quest continues. Aragon, revealed as the hidden heir of the ancient Kings of the West, joined with the Riders of Rohan against the forces of Isengard, and took part in the desperate victory of the Hornburg. Merry and Pippin, captured by orcs, escaped into Fangorn Forest and there encountered the Ents. And all the time the armies of the Dark Lord are massing.

    Catherine says: "Inglis sounds like Tolkien!"
  • 4.8 (131 ratings)
    The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, Volume 1: The Treason of Isengard
    Play The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, Volume 1: The Treason of Isengard
    Audiobook
    The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, Volume 1: The Treason of Isengard
    UNABRIDGED
    • J.R.R. Tolkien

    The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, Volume 1: The Treason of Isengard

    • UNABRIDGED (9 hrs and 23 mins)
    • By J.R.R. Tolkien
    • Narrated By Rob Inglis
    Overall
    (131)
    Performance
    (66)
    Story
    (67)

    Frodo and the Companions of the Ring have been beset by danger during their quest to prevent the Ruling Ring from falling into the hands of the Dark Lord by destroying it in the Cracks of Doom. Now they continue their journey alone down the great River Anduin, alone, that is, save for the mysterious creeping figure that follows wherever they go.

    Catherine says: "third book of the series"
  •  
  • 4.8 (81 ratings)
    SmartPass Plus Audio Education Study Guide to Hamlet (Dramatised, Commentary Options)
    Play SmartPass Plus Audio Education Study Guide to Hamlet (Dramatised, Commentary Options)
    Audiobook
    SmartPass Plus Audio Education Study Guide to Hamlet (Dramatised, Commentary Options)
    UNABRIDGED
    • William Shakespeare , Simon Potter

    SmartPass Plus Audio Education Study Guide to Hamlet (Dramatised, Commentary Options)

    • UNABRIDGED (12 hrs and 9 mins)
    • By William Shakespeare, Simon Potter
    • Narrated By Joan Walker, Stephen Elder, Paul Clayton
    Overall
    (81)
    Performance
    (52)
    Story
    (52)

    The multi award-winning SmartPass study guide with and without commentary options. This is a full-cast, unabridged performance with comprehensive commentary and analysis for any student to fully understand and appreciate the play. Universally accepted as Shakespeare's finest play, we peel back the layers of Hamlet to discover how and why it deserves such a place of honour in world literature.

    Jane says: "Great introduction to Hamlet"
  • 4.8 (54 ratings)
    SmartPass Plus Audio Education Study Guide to Macbeth (Unabridged, Dramatised, Commentary Options)
    Play SmartPass Plus Audio Education Study Guide to Macbeth (Unabridged, Dramatised, Commentary Options)
    Audiobook
    SmartPass Plus Audio Education Study Guide to Macbeth (Unabridged, Dramatised, Commentary Options)
    UNABRIDGED
    • William Shakespeare , Simon Potter

    SmartPass Plus Audio Education Study Guide to Macbeth (Unabridged, Dramatised, Commentary Options)

    • UNABRIDGED (7 hrs and 7 mins)
    • By William Shakespeare, Simon Potter
    • Narrated By Full-Cast featuring Joan Walker, Nick Murchie, Coralyn Sheldon
    Overall
    (54)
    Performance
    (27)
    Story
    (27)

    Combined for great value! The multi-award-winning SmartPass study guide with and without commentary options. Full-cast, unabridged performance with comprehensive commentary and analysis for any student to fully understand and appreciate the play.

    "And nothing is, but what is not." Macbeth may be mystified by the Weird Sisters' words but this intense performance with incisive commentary cuts to the heart of Shakespeare's complex psychological tragedy.

    Philip says: "Shakespeare made easy to understand!"
  • 4.8 (32 ratings)
    SmartPass Plus Audio Education Study Guide to Romeo and Juliet (Unabridged, Dramatised, Commentary Options)
    Play SmartPass Plus Audio Education Study Guide to Romeo and Juliet (Unabridged, Dramatised, Commentary Options)
    Audiobook
    SmartPass Plus Audio Education Study Guide to Romeo and Juliet (Unabridged, Dramatised, Commentary Options)
    UNABRIDGED
    • William Shakespeare , Simon Potter

    SmartPass Plus Audio Education Study Guide to Romeo and Juliet (Unabridged, Dramatised, Commentary Options)

    • UNABRIDGED (7 hrs and 51 mins)
    • By William Shakespeare, Simon Potter
    • Narrated By Full-Cast featuring Joan Walker, Chris Kelham, Sara Bowes
    Overall
    (32)
    Performance
    (15)
    Story
    (15)

    Combined for great value! The multi-award-winning SmartPass study guide with and without commentary options. Full-cast, unabridged performance with comprehensive commentary and analysis for any student to fully understand and appreciate the play. The poetry of Shakespeare's star crossed lovers is poignantly performed and expertly explained in this unique production: "Passion lends them power."

    Cheryl says: "Very Helpful"
  • 4.8 (31 ratings)
    A Christmas Carol
    Play A Christmas Carol
    Audiobook
    A Christmas Carol
    UNABRIDGED
    • Charles Dickens

    A Christmas Carol

    • UNABRIDGED (2 hrs and 54 mins)
    • By Charles Dickens
    • Narrated By Simon Vance
    • Whispersync for Voice-ready
    Overall
    (31)
    Performance
    (27)
    Story
    (27)

    A Christmas Carol is a novella by English author Charles Dickens first published by Chapman and Hall and first released on 19 December 1843. The story tells of sour and stingy Ebenezer Scrooge's ideological, ethical, and emotional transformation after the supernatural visitations of Jacob Marley and the Ghosts of Christmases Past, Present, and Yet to Come.

    Tad Davis says: "One of the best"
  •  
  • 4.9 (13 ratings)
    Master i Margarita [The Master and Margarita]
    Play Master i Margarita [The Master and Margarita]
    Audiobook
    Master i Margarita [The Master and Margarita]
    UNABRIDGED
    • Mikhail Afanasyevich Bulgakov

    Master i Margarita [The Master and Margarita]

    • UNABRIDGED (16 hrs and 40 mins)
    • By Mikhail Afanasyevich Bulgakov
    • Narrated By Vladimir Ivanovich Samoylov
    Overall
    (13)
    Performance
    (10)
    Story
    (10)

    Master i Margarita - "posledniy zakatnyy" roman M.A. Bulgakova, roman zaveshchanie, voskresshiy iz pepla unichtozhennoy avtorom pervoy redaktsii. V Mastere i Margarite fantastika natalkivaetsya na realizm, mif na istoricheskuyu dostovernost, teosofiya na demonizm, romantika na klounadu.

  • 4.8 (12 ratings)
    Tales from Shakespeare: The Lambs' Tales
    Play Tales from Shakespeare: The Lambs' Tales
    Audiobook
    Tales from Shakespeare: The Lambs' Tales
    UNABRIDGED
    • Charles Lamb , Mary Lamb , William Shakespeare

    Tales from Shakespeare: The Lambs' Tales

    • UNABRIDGED (3 hrs and 54 mins)
    • By Charles Lamb, Mary Lamb, William Shakespeare
    • Narrated By Alan Cumming, Nigel Davenport, Andrew Sachs, and others
    Overall
    (12)
    Performance
    (8)
    Story
    (7)

    A perfect introduction for all ages to the breadth and beauty of Shakespeare's work, Tales from Shakespearehas become a classic work in its own right. The tales bring vividly alive the power of Hamlet and Macbeth, the fun of A Midsummer Night's Dream, and the drama of The Tempest. Blending detailed narrative with original dialogue and poetic language, they fully convey the wit, wisdom, and imagination of Shakespeare's magnificent plays.

    Heidi says: "My daughter's absolute favorite!"
  • 4.8 (10 ratings)
    Captains Courageous
    Play Captains Courageous
    Audiobook
    Captains Courageous
    UNABRIDGED
    • Rudyard Kipling

    Captains Courageous

    • UNABRIDGED (5 hrs and 57 mins)
    • By Rudyard Kipling
    • Narrated By George Guidall
    • Whispersync for Voice-ready
    Overall
    (10)
    Performance
    (8)
    Story
    (8)

    Captains Courageous is Rudyard Kipling’s classic fable of a boy’s initiation into the fellowship of men, played out on the high seas of the late 1800s. When he falls overboard from a luxury liner, Harvey Cheyne, the spoiled son of an American millionaire, is rescued by a small New England fishing schooner. To earn his keep, Harvey must prove his worth in the only way the skipper and his hardy crew will accept: through the grueling mastery of a fisherman’s skills.

    Walt Robertson says: "A case where a good movie ruined a great book"
  • 4.5 (4685 ratings)
    The Hobbit
    Play The Hobbit
    Audiobook
    The Hobbit
    UNABRIDGED

    The Hobbit

    • UNABRIDGED (11 hrs and 8 mins)
    • By J. R. R. Tolkien
    • Narrated By Rob Inglis
    • Whispersync for Voice-ready
    Overall
    (4685)
    Performance
    (4185)
    Story
    (4235)

    Like every other hobbit, Bilbo Baggins likes nothing better than a quiet evening in his snug hole in the ground, dining on a sumptuous dinner in front of a fire. But when a wandering wizard captivates him with tales of the unknown, Bilbo becomes restless. Soon he joins the wizard’s band of homeless dwarves in search of giant spiders, savage wolves, and other dangers. Bilbo quickly tires of the quest for adventure and longs for the security of his familiar home. But before he can return to his life of comfort, he must face the greatest threat of all.

    Darwin8u says: "Victory after all, I suppose!"

Best Sellers

(More Classics Best Sellers) All Classics Best Sellers
  • The Great Gatsby
    Play The Great Gatsby
    The Great Gatsby
    UNABRIDGED
    • F. Scott Fitzgerald

    The Great Gatsby

    • UNABRIDGED (4 hrs and 52 mins)
    • By F. Scott Fitzgerald
    • Narrated By Jake Gyllenhaal
    • Whispersync for Voice-ready
    Overall
    (530)
    Performance
    (489)
    Story
    (489)

    F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic American novel of the Roaring Twenties is beloved by generations of readers and stands as his crowning work. This new audio edition, authorized by the Fitzgerald estate, is narrated by Oscar-nominated actor Jake Gyllenhaal (Brokeback Mountain). Gyllenhaal's performance is a faithful delivery in the voice of Nick Carraway, the Midwesterner turned New York bond salesman, who rents a small house next door to the mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby....

    Darwin8u says: "Simple, Beautiful, and Exquisitely Textured"
  • Heart of Darkness: A Signature Performance by Kenneth Branagh
    Play Heart of Darkness: A Signature Performance by Kenneth Branagh
    Heart of Darkness: A Signature Performance by Kenneth Branagh
    UNABRIDGED
    • Joseph Conrad

    Heart of Darkness: A Signature Performance by Kenneth Branagh

    • UNABRIDGED (3 hrs and 51 mins)
    • By Joseph Conrad
    • Narrated By Kenneth Branagh
    • Whispersync for Voice-ready
    Overall
    (778)
    Performance
    (583)
    Story
    (583)

    A Signature Performance: Kenneth Branagh plays this like a campfire ghost story, told by a haunted, slightly insane Marlow.

    Darwin8u says: "Conrad's Brilliant & Wild Novella"
  • The Hobbit
    Play The Hobbit
    The Hobbit
    UNABRIDGED

    The Hobbit

    • UNABRIDGED (11 hrs and 8 mins)
    • By J. R. R. Tolkien
    • Narrated By Rob Inglis
    • Whispersync for Voice-ready
    Overall
    (4685)
    Performance
    (4185)
    Story
    (4235)

    Like every other hobbit, Bilbo Baggins likes nothing better than a quiet evening in his snug hole in the ground, dining on a sumptuous dinner in front of a fire. But when a wandering wizard captivates him with tales of the unknown, Bilbo becomes restless. Soon he joins the wizard’s band of homeless dwarves in search of giant spiders, savage wolves, and other dangers. Bilbo quickly tires of the quest for adventure and longs for the security of his familiar home. But before he can return to his life of comfort, he must face the greatest threat of all.

    Darwin8u says: "Victory after all, I suppose!"
  • The Fellowship of the Ring: Book One in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
    Play The Fellowship of the Ring: Book One in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
    The Fellowship of the Ring: Book One in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
    UNABRIDGED

    The Fellowship of the Ring: Book One in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy

    • UNABRIDGED (19 hrs and 11 mins)
    • By J. R. R. Tolkien
    • Narrated By Rob Inglis
    • Whispersync for Voice-ready
    Overall
    (1923)
    Performance
    (1687)
    Story
    (1722)

    The Fellowship of the Ring, the first volume in the trilogy, tells of the fateful power of the One Ring. It begins a magnificent tale of adventure that will plunge the members of the Fellowship of the Ring into a perilous quest and set the stage for the ultimate clash between the powers of good and evil.

    Ellen says: "At last - The Definitive Recording!"
  •  
  • The Two Towers: Book Two in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy
    Play The Two Towers: Book Two in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy
    The Two Towers: Book Two in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy
    UNABRIDGED

    The Two Towers: Book Two in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy

    • UNABRIDGED (16 hrs and 40 mins)
    • By J. R. R. Tolkien
    • Narrated By Rob Inglis
    • Whispersync for Voice-ready
    Overall
    (1136)
    Performance
    (1002)
    Story
    (1027)

    The Two Towers is the second volume of J.R.R. Tolkien's epic saga, The Lord of the Rings. The Fellowship has been forced to split up. Frodo and Sam must continue alone towards Mount Doom, where the One Ring must be destroyed. Meanwhile, at Helm’s Deep and Isengard, the first great battles of the War of the Ring take shape. In this splendid, unabridged audio production of Tolkien’s great work, all the inhabitants of a magical universe - hobbits, elves, and wizards - spring to life. Rob Inglis’ narration has been praised as a masterpiece of audio.

    Anna says: "Thank you, Audible! Tolkien at long last!"
  • The Great Gatsby
    Play The Great Gatsby
    The Great Gatsby
    UNABRIDGED
    • F. Scott Fitzgerald

    The Great Gatsby

    • UNABRIDGED (5 hrs and 44 mins)
    • By F. Scott Fitzgerald
    • Narrated By Tim Robbins
    Overall
    (1091)
    Performance
    (545)
    Story
    (545)

    The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald's portrait of the Jazz Age in all its decadence and excess, is, as editor Maxwell Perkins praised it in 1924, "a wonder". It remains one of the most widely read, translated, admired, imitated, and studied 20th-century works of American fiction.

    Erin says: "Something you won't fall asleep to..."
  • Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: A Signature Performance by Elijah Wood
    Play Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: A Signature Performance by Elijah Wood
    Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: A Signature Performance by Elijah Wood
    UNABRIDGED

    Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: A Signature Performance by Elijah Wood

    • UNABRIDGED (10 hrs and 12 mins)
    • By Mark Twain
    • Narrated By Elijah Wood
    • Whispersync for Voice-ready
    Overall
    (1546)
    Performance
    (1109)
    Story
    (1085)

    A Signature Performance: Elijah Wood becomes the first narrator to bring a youthful voice and energy to the story, perhaps making it the closest interpretation to Twain’s original intent.

    James says: "Worthy "signature" premiere"
  • Jane Eyre [Brilliance Edition]
    Play Jane Eyre [Brilliance Edition]
    Jane Eyre [Brilliance Edition]
    UNABRIDGED
    • Charlotte Bronte

    Jane Eyre [Brilliance Edition]

    • UNABRIDGED (17 hrs and 21 mins)
    • By Charlotte Bronte
    • Narrated By Susan Ericksen
    • Whispersync for Voice-ready
    Overall
    (654)
    Performance
    (398)
    Story
    (405)

    After a sad and neglected childhood as an orphan, Jane Eyre was hired by Edward Rochester as governess for his ward. Jane was pleased with the quiet country life at Thornfield, with the beautiful old manor house and gardens, with the book-filled library, and with her own comfortable room. But there were stories of a strange tenant, a woman who laughed like a maniac, and who stayed in rooms on the third floor.

    Elizabeth says: "a book that can be heard/read again and again"
  •  
  • Meditations
    Play Meditations
    Meditations
    UNABRIDGED
    • Marcus Aurelius

    Meditations

    • UNABRIDGED (5 hrs and 11 mins)
    • By Marcus Aurelius
    • Narrated By Duncan Steen
    Overall
    (105)
    Performance
    (85)
    Story
    (86)

    One of the most significant books ever written by a head of State, the Meditations are a collection of philosophical thoughts by the Emperor Marcus Aurelius (121 - 180 ce). Covering issues such as duty, forgiveness, brotherhood, strength in adversity and the best way to approach life and death, the Meditations have inspired thinkers, poets and politicians since their first publication more than 500 years ago. Today, the book stands as one of the great guides and companions - a cornerstone of Western thought.

    Guilherme says: "Stoic Wisdom at it's best"
  • The Return of the King: Book Three in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy
    Play The Return of the King: Book Three in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy
    The Return of the King: Book Three in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy
    UNABRIDGED

    The Return of the King: Book Three in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy

    • UNABRIDGED (18 hrs and 18 mins)
    • By J. R. R. Tolkien
    • Narrated By Rob Inglis
    • Whispersync for Voice-ready
    Overall
    (1009)
    Performance
    (878)
    Story
    (900)

    The Return of the King is the towering climax to J. R. R. Tolkien’s trilogy that tells the saga of the hobbits of Middle-earth and the great War of the Rings. In this concluding volume, Frodo and Sam make a terrible journey to the heart of the Land of the Shadow in a final reckoning with the power of Sauron. In addition to narrating the prose passages, Rob Inglis sings the trilogy’s songs and poems a capella, using melodies composed by Inglis and Claudia Howard, the Recorded Books studio director.

    Natalie says: "Finally!"
  • Atlas Shrugged
    Play Atlas Shrugged
    Atlas Shrugged
    UNABRIDGED
    • Ayn Rand

    Atlas Shrugged

    • UNABRIDGED (63 hrs)
    • By Ayn Rand
    • Narrated By Scott Brick
    Overall
    (4003)
    Performance
    (2036)
    Story
    (2031)

    In a scrap heap within an abandoned factory, the greatest invention in history lies dormant and unused. By what fatal error of judgment has its value gone unrecognized, its brilliant inventor punished rather than rewarded for his efforts? In defense of those greatest of human qualities that have made civilization possible, one man sets out to show what would happen to the world if all the heroes of innovation and industry went on strike.

    Mica says: "Hurt version decidedly superior"
  • The Great Gatsby
    Play The Great Gatsby
    The Great Gatsby
    UNABRIDGED
    • F. Scott Fitzgerald

    The Great Gatsby

    • UNABRIDGED (4 hrs and 52 mins)
    • By F. Scott Fitzgerald
    • Narrated By Jake Gyllenhaal
    Overall
    (14)
    Performance
    (13)
    Story
    (13)

    F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic American novel of the Roaring Twenties is beloved by generations of readers and stands as his crowning work. This new audio edition, authorized by the Fitzgerald estate, is narrated by Oscar-nominated actor Jake Gyllenhaal (Brokeback Mountain). Gyllenhaal's performance is a faithful delivery in the voice of Nick Carraway, the Midwesterner turned New York bond salesman, who rents a small house next door to the mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby. There, he has a firsthand view of Gatsby’s lavish West Egg parties - and of his undying love....

    Ian C Robertson says: "The Very Good Gatsby, Reprised"

New Releases

(More Classics New Releases) All Classics New Releases
  • The Unknown Quantity
    Play The Unknown Quantity
    The Unknown Quantity
    UNABRIDGED
    • O. Henry

    The Unknown Quantity

    • UNABRIDGED (13 mins)
    • By O. Henry
    • Narrated By Cathy Dobson
    Overall
    (0)
    Performance
    (0)
    Story
    (0)

    When Dan Kinsolving inherits a fortune from his late father, he wants to make amends for the immoral way in which the money was amassed. Kinsolving senior had been responsible for a rise in the price of bread which had caused great hardship among the poor of New York. Kinsolving's friend Kenwitz shows Dan the impact of the bread price on real people's lives... and also explains the impossibility of undoing the damage which has been done.

  • The Watter's Mou'
    Play The Watter's Mou'
    The Watter's Mou'
    UNABRIDGED
    • Bram Stoker

    The Watter's Mou'

    • UNABRIDGED (2 hrs and 24 mins)
    • By Bram Stoker
    • Narrated By Kaleo Griffith
    Overall
    (0)
    Performance
    (0)
    Story
    (0)

    The Watter's Mou, meaning "the water's mouth," revolves around the romance between a young coast guard officer and his girlfriend, the daughter of a fisherman. The officer, William Barrow [or Sailor Willy], is tasked with dealing with smuggling going on among the local fishermen, including his girlfriend’s father. Maggie MacWhirter's father had fallen upon hard times, when once his fishing boat had brought him a prosperous living.

  • Poe on Poetry: Edgar Allan Poe Audiobook Collection, Volume 4
    Play Poe on Poetry: Edgar Allan Poe Audiobook Collection, Volume 4
    Poe on Poetry: Edgar Allan Poe Audiobook Collection, Volume 4
    UNABRIDGED
    • Edgar Allan Poe , Christopher Aruffo

    Poe on Poetry: Edgar Allan Poe Audiobook Collection, Volume 4

    • UNABRIDGED (5 hrs and 22 mins)
    • By Edgar Allan Poe, Christopher Aruffo
    • Narrated By Christopher Aruffo
    Overall
    (0)
    Performance
    (0)
    Story
    (0)

    The author reveals his craft in the structure of story, the creation of Beauty, the role of the critic, and the mechanics of verse - including a complete, step-by-step explanation of how he wrote his most famous poem, The Raven.

  • Robinson Crusoe: The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe
    Play Robinson Crusoe: The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe
    Robinson Crusoe: The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe
    UNABRIDGED
    • Daniel Defoe

    Robinson Crusoe: The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe

    • UNABRIDGED (13 hrs and 29 mins)
    • By Daniel Defoe
    • Narrated By Alan Munro
    Overall
    (0)
    Performance
    (0)
    Story
    (0)

    Who has not dreamed of life on an exotic isle, far away from civilization? Here is the novel that has inspired countless imitations by lesser writers, none of which equal the power and originality of Defoe's famous book. Robinson Crusoe, set ashore on an island after a terrible storm at sea, is forced to make do with only a knife, some tobacco, and a pipe. He learns how to build a canoe, make bread, and endure endless solitude. That is, until, 24 years later, when he confronts another human being.

  •  
  • Short Story Classics: From the Great Storywriters of the World
    Play Short Story Classics: From the Great Storywriters of the World
    Short Story Classics: From the Great Storywriters of the World
    UNABRIDGED
    • Edgar Allan Poe , George Eliot , Kate Chopin , Mark Twain , Robert Louis Stevenson , Oscar Wilde , O. Henry

    Short Story Classics: From the Great Storywriters of the World

    • UNABRIDGED (10 hrs and 7 mins)
    • By Edgar Allan Poe, George Eliot, Kate Chopin, and others
    • Narrated By Cathy Dobson
    Overall
    (0)
    Performance
    (0)
    Story
    (0)

    A vintage collection of some of the greatest short stories ever written: "The Purloined Letter", by Edgar Allan Poe; "The Nose", by Nikolai Gogol; "The Story of an Hour", by Kate Chopin; "The Gift of the Magi", by O. Henry; "The Apparition of Mrs. Veal", by Daniel Defoe; "The Lifted Veil", by George Eliot; "Life of Ma Parker", by Katherine Mansfield; "The Baron", by Katherine Mansfield; "The Cask of Amontillado", by Edgar Allan Poe; "The Seventh Pullet", by Saki; and more.

  • Edgar Allan Poe Audiobook Collection 2: William Wilson / The Masque of the Red Death
    Play Edgar Allan Poe Audiobook Collection 2: William Wilson / The Masque of the Red Death
    Edgar Allan Poe Audiobook Collection 2: William Wilson / The Masque of the Red Death
    UNABRIDGED
    • Edgar Allan Poe , Christopher Aruffo

    Edgar Allan Poe Audiobook Collection 2: William Wilson / The Masque of the Red Death

    • UNABRIDGED (1 hr and 7 mins)
    • By Edgar Allan Poe, Christopher Aruffo
    • Narrated By Christopher Aruffo
    Overall
    (0)
    Performance
    (0)
    Story
    (0)

    William Wilson is drawn into a desperate struggle against a mysterious doppleganger intent on his destruction. The Masque of the Red Death: As his kingdom dies of a hideous plague, the Prince revels in his palace, sealed away from a gruesome fate. But is he as safe as he believes....?

  • The Wings of the Dove (Dramatised)
    Play The Wings of the Dove (Dramatised)
    The Wings of the Dove (Dramatised)
    ORIGINAL
    • Henry James , Linda Marshall Griff (dramatisation)

    The Wings of the Dove (Dramatised)

    • ORIGINAL (2 hrs and 50 mins)
    • By Henry James, Linda Marshall Griff (dramatisation)
    • Narrated By Lyndsey Marshal
    Overall
    (1)
    Performance
    (1)
    Story
    (1)

    Kate and Merton need money. Milly needs love. How far will they go to get what they want? Kate Croy is in love with Merton Densher; a poor writer. Her rich aunt Maud disapproves. Maud has offered Kate a wealthy existence but if Kate chooses to marry Merton she risks losing it all. When American Heiress Milly Theale steps into her London society, Kate sees a way out. Milly confides in Kate that she believes herself to be gravely ill and Kate begins to see a way for her and Merton to have a future. When Merton returns to London, Kate sets out to bring her lover and her friend together.

  • Edgar Allan Poe Audiobook Collection 3: The Fall of the House of Usher/The Imp of the Perverse
    Play Edgar Allan Poe Audiobook Collection 3: The Fall of the House of Usher/The Imp of the Perverse
    Edgar Allan Poe Audiobook Collection 3: The Fall of the House of Usher/The Imp of the Perverse
    UNABRIDGED
    • Edgar Allan Poe , Christopher Aruffo

    Edgar Allan Poe Audiobook Collection 3: The Fall of the House of Usher/The Imp of the Perverse

    • UNABRIDGED (1 hr and 2 mins)
    • By Edgar Allan Poe, Christopher Aruffo
    • Narrated By Christopher Aruffo
    Overall
    (0)
    Performance
    (0)
    Story
    (0)

    This audiobook is a collection of two short stories by author, Edgar Allan Poe. The Fall of the House of Usher: At his friend's dire pleading, a man braves a living tomb now beset by madness and unknowable disease. The Imp of the Perverse: Blinded by the promise of wealth, a man commits the perfect murder... but how will he keep his secret when his own soul turns against him?

  •  
  • The Sphinx Without a Secret
    Play The Sphinx Without a Secret
    The Sphinx Without a Secret
    UNABRIDGED
    • Oscar Wilde

    The Sphinx Without a Secret

    • UNABRIDGED (13 mins)
    • By Oscar Wilde
    • Narrated By Cathy Dobson
    Overall
    (0)
    Performance
    (0)
    Story
    (0)

    When Lord Muchison catches sight of a mysterious and beautiful lady in a carriage on London's Bond Street, he is captivated and spends the next few days on the lookout for her again. A week later, by chance he finds himself at a dinner party where Lady Alroy is present, who he immediately recognizes as the lady from Bond Street. But her mysterious behaviour and insistence on secrecy puzzles him greatly.

  • Edgar Allan Poe Audiobook Collection 1: The Pit and the Pendulum/The Black Cat
    Play Edgar Allan Poe Audiobook Collection 1: The Pit and the Pendulum/The Black Cat
    Edgar Allan Poe Audiobook Collection 1: The Pit and the Pendulum/The Black Cat
    UNABRIDGED
    • Edgar Allan Poe , Christopher Aruffo

    Edgar Allan Poe Audiobook Collection 1: The Pit and the Pendulum/The Black Cat

    • UNABRIDGED (1 hr and 8 mins)
    • By Edgar Allan Poe, Christopher Aruffo
    • Narrated By Christopher Aruffo
    Overall
    (0)
    Performance
    (0)
    Story
    (0)

    This audiobook is a collection of two short stories by author, Edgar Allan Poe. It includes: The Pit and the Pendulum: Imprisoned and subjected to extraordinary torments at the hands of the Spanish Inquisition, one man struggles to keep his sanity... and his life. The Black Cat: A man overcome by alcohol sinks into wild depravity, goaded by the haunting spectre of a murdered pet.

  • Gargantua & Pantagruel (Classic Serial)
    Play Gargantua & Pantagruel (Classic Serial)
    Gargantua & Pantagruel (Classic Serial)
    ORIGINAL
    • Francois Rabelais , Lavinia Murray (dramatisation)

    Gargantua & Pantagruel (Classic Serial)

    • ORIGINAL (1 hr and 53 mins)
    • By Francois Rabelais, Lavinia Murray (dramatisation)
    • Narrated By David Troughton, full cast
    Overall
    (0)
    Performance
    (0)
    Story
    (0)

    Gargantua and Pantagruel by Francois Rabelais. Dramatised by Lavinia Murray. Episode 1: Gargantua. The bawdy, exuburant adventures of medieval giants. A dizzying blend of fantasy, comedy, philosophy and scatological humour. The world's a messy place. The first episode depicts the young life of the giant Gargantua, who is reduced to laughable insanity by an education at the hands of paternal ignorance, old crones and syphilitic professors. Episode 2: - Pantagruel. Concluding the bawdy and scatological adventures of Medieval giants.

  • The Great Gatsby
    Play The Great Gatsby
    The Great Gatsby
    UNABRIDGED
    • F. Scott Fitzgerald

    The Great Gatsby

    • UNABRIDGED (5 hrs and 10 mins)
    • By F. Scott Fitzgerald
    • Narrated By Dan Russell
    Overall
    (0)
    Performance
    (0)
    Story
    (0)

    The Great Gatsby, first Published in 1925 and probably F. Scott Fitzgerald's finest novel, is set on Long Island's North shore, where Nick Carraway begins a new life in New York in the "roaring 20's".

    Carraway is invited to join his new neighbour Jay Gatsby's social circle, including the self-made millionaire's legendary parties, and bears witness to Gatsby's rekindled love affair with the unhappily married Daisy, which ends in tragedy. Today the novel is widely regarded as a paragon of the Great American Novel and a literary classic.