A Passage to India

By: E. M. Forster

Narrated by: Sam Dastor

Length: 11 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

Exclusively from Audible

Dr. Aziz is a young Muslim physician in the British Indian town of Chandrapore. One evening he comes across an English woman, Mrs. Moore, in the courtyard of a local mosque; she and her younger travelling companion Adela are disappointed by claustrophobic British colonial culture and wish to see something of the 'real' India. But when Aziz kindly offers to take them on a tour of the Marabar caves with his close friend Cyril Fielding, the trip results in a shocking accusation that throws Chandrapore into a fever of racial tension.

Set against the backdrop of the British Raj and the Indian independence movement in the 1920s it deals with the common racial tensions and prejudices between Indians and the British who ruled India.

Many of Forster's novels observed class difference and hypocrisy in early 20th-century British society including A Passage to India, the novel which brought him his greatest success. A secular humanist, Forster showed concern for social, political, and spiritual divisions in the world.

Time magazine included A Passage to India in its All-Time 100 Novels list and it was selected as one of the 100 great works of 20th century English literature by the Modern Library.

Directed by David Lean, a film adaptation was released in 1984 that won numerous awards including two Oscars.

Narrator Biography

A Cambridge graduate who trained at RADA under the direction of Sir Laurence Olivier, Sam Dastor has long featured on screen and stage. He is best known for The Life and Death of Peter Sellers (2004) and for twice portraying Gandhi in both Lord Mountbatten: The Last Viceroy (1986), and Jinnah (1998).

Sam Dastor has starred in many West End productions with roles such as Ariel in The Tempest, and Orlando in As You Like It. His most recent work has included starring on stage at the Wolsey Theatre in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2016). He has narrated a large catalogue of audiobooks including V.S. Naipaul’s A House for Mr Biswas.

Public Domain (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"[Narrator Sam] Dastor's performance is outstanding. A huge cast of characters of all classes and nationalities comes vibrantly alive as he takes the voice of each.... His eloquent reading transforms into powerful performance literature." ( AudioFile)

Excellent performance

I thought Sam Dastor did the most wonderful job as narrator of this epic novel. He brought the characters to life, male and female, Indian and British, with such effortless charm. I felt as if I could see them standing before me they were so vivid. Just magnificent - I was totally gripped.

Disappointed

Loved the narration, with all the accents and easily identifiable characters. Unfortunately, the story was slow and did not pull me in.

Excellent Narration

I Googled the narrator and learned that he’s a noted British actor who has also lived in India. The guy is good, very good, and has obviously had firsthand experience in British India. He also does female voices exceptionally well. For a while I thought an entire cast must have done the narration!

Slow reading but masterful

This is a masterfully crafted novel by a magnificent writer, as I have said in my last two reviews. The writing is perfect. For myself, and it is just me, the story just began slow; I couldn't get into it until the last half when Aziz is charged with sexual assault by Miss Quested. That's when the suspense churned and I found traction. But looking back this is a really a fine novel. Not a spy novel suspense level novel or a mystery or a crime novel but a well written classic novel. One will come away improved by it.

Slow start

Once you get to the pivotal conflict the book is amazing. The first handful of chapters are almost obsolete.
Amazing book once Forester goes for it.

A true classic

This novel (1920's ) resonates in today's world. Make this novel a part of your history and experience. Wonderous in every way.

To kill a mocking bird from Walmart

It felt almost exactly as to kill a mocking bird did almost less emotion, less character development and less of a good conclusion. But that’s my personal opinion. I’m sure others enjoy it.

Forster’s greatest

The narrator is brilliant, although I wish he didn’t feel the need to satirize Adela quite so much.

Extraordinary!!

There's a reason why books are classics. To quote Wikipedia, "A Passage to India" "was selected as [25th] of the 100 great works of English literature by the Modern Library and ...Time magazine included the novel in its...100 Best English-language Novels from 1923 to 2005." It's a novel inextricably bound up in the time and place of colonial India, yet absolutely timeless in its compassionate insights into the human character. The meaning of the title may be understood on many different levels. The skillful narration enriches the listening experience. I would give this book 10 stars if I could--it stands in a category by itself. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!

A must read classic rendered very well

What made the experience of listening to A Passage to India the most enjoyable?

Author's ability NOT to interfere with the writing if that makes sense. He has to do an Indian accent but if not perfect it isn't too bad.

What did you like best about this story?

It is great, lyrical writing; it is still topical in terms of colonialism /imperialism and race relations; part of it is a gripping legal thriller.

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

No, it is the kind of book you want to draw out slowly to appreciate the writing.

Any additional comments?

One of my favorites written, well done by Audible.