Dracula [Audible Edition]

By: Bram Stoker

Narrated by: Alan Cumming, Tim Curry, Simon Vance, Katherine Kellgren, Susan Duerden, John Lee, Graeme Malcolm, Steven Crossley

Length: 15 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's summary

Audie Award, Distinguished Achievement in Production, 2013

Audie Award, Multi-voiced Performance, 2013

Audie Award Nominee, Classic, 2013

Because of the widespread awareness of the story of the evil Transylvanian count and the success of numerous film adaptations that have been created over the years, the modern audience hasn't had a chance to truly appreciate the unknowing dread that readers would have felt when reading Bram Stoker's original 1897 manuscript. Most modern productions employ campiness or sound effects to try to bring back that gothic tension, but we've tried something different. By returning to Stoker's original storytelling structure - a series of letters and journal entries voiced by Jonathan Harker, Dr. Van Helsing, and other characters - with an all-star cast of narrators, we've sought to recapture its originally intended horror and power.

This production of Dracula is presented by what is possibly the best assemblage of narrating talent ever for one audiobook: Emmy Award nominees Alan Cumming and Tim Curry plus an all-star cast of Audie award-winners Simon Vance (The Millenium Trilogy), Katherine Kellgren (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies), Susan Duerden (The Tiger’s Wife), John Lee (Supergods) and customer favorites Graeme Malcolm (Skippy Dies), Steven Crossley (The Oxford Time Travel series), Simon Prebble (The Baroque Cycle), James Adams (Letters to a Young Contrarian), Nicola Barber (The Rose Garden), Victor Villar-Hauser (Fun Inc.), and Marc Vietor (1Q84). These stellar narrators have been cast as follows:

Alan Cumming as Dr. Seward
Simon Vance as Jonathan Harker
Katy Kellgren as Mina Murray/Harker
Susan Duerden as Lucy Westenra
Tim Curry as Van Helsing
Graeme Malcolm as Dailygraph correspondent
Steven Crossley as Zookeeper’s account and reporter
Simon Prebble as Varna
James Adams as Patrick Hennessey
Nicola Barber as Sister Agatha
Victor Villar-Hauser as Arthur Holmwood
Marc Vietor as Quincey Morris
John Lee as Introductory paragraph, various letters

Public Domain (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Listening to this full-cast performance turns out to be remarkably suspenseful and chilling…The superlative cast lends this powerful production the diversity that is required by the structure of the novel…Each actor employs various accents, infusing into the characters vibrant emphasis, urgency, and dread." ( AudioFile)

A thrilling adventure with a wonderful cast

Man oh man. Where do I start? This story tells the story of Dracula and the efforts of a group of people to chase him down after all of his horrific acts. There were so many heroes on this book. Mina Harker is a real hero as are the men in the group. I was on the edge of my seat till the very end. What a thrill I’ve had. Read this book.

FANTASTIC VOICES AND READING

What did you love best about Dracula?

alan cummings is brilliant. and the range of voices is fantastic

What was one of the most memorable moments of Dracula?

the first time harker sees dracula after he is married

What does the narrators bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

real understanding and it really draws u in farther than ever

If you could rename Dracula, what would you call it?

The Dark and Twisted Night

Any additional comments?

wonderful and fantastic

Creepy, and great performances

After hearing so many variations of Dracula, it was interesting to hear the original story. I thought there were parts that were genuinely creepy, and the narrators were a big part of the overall atmosphere. Simon Vance was terrific. Not an overwhelming amount of blood and gore (considering it's Dracula, after all!), which for me, is good. I listened to this in the comfort and security of my own home, and actually found myself startled by little sounds around the house, and thinking I should turn another light on.

Absolutely Fantastic!

Where does Dracula [Audible Edition] rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is in the top 3 Audible books I've ever heard.

What other book might you compare Dracula [Audible Edition] to and why?

I would compare it with Sherlock Holmes: A Baker's Dozen because of the high level of voice talent.

Which scene was your favorite?

I haven't yet finished!

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

No -

Any additional comments?

This book is unique in that it uses so many different talents. Each character is read by a different voice actor. That makes this epistolary novel so much easier to follow. It is worth twice the price, maybe three times.

THE MASSIVE TALENT!

Oh, my stars!!! Alan Cumming AND Tim Curry! Get me a fainting a couch!

Listened to this on the way to the Mothman Festival in WV (no lie!!) with my daughter who had to write a paper on the book. Because her books have to be audio, I found this for her. I was floored, and she was, too, also being a fan of Cumming and Curry. It was a dream to listen to this!

The entire cast was outstanding! Simon Vance was especially good!

I had never read the book, so I didn't understand the format until recently, and it was superb in audio form. Filled with suspense!

Loved it.

Dated but still thrills

The narrative can be laborious and repetitive at times. The author does love to go on and on, and the format of the novel means that the same information must be rehashed from multiple points of view multiple times - useful for the characters but tedious for the reader. Modern readers will also find the sexism disturbing. The characters are true to type stereotypes of the good Jesus-loving English gentlemen, the slangy cowboy, the damsel in distress, etc.

However, the story can be thrilling. The initial journal of Harker, the ship captain’s log and parts of the final chapters will have you on the edge of your seat as you listen.

The narrators of the Audible version are hit-or-miss. I hated some of them (Lucy) but others were passably good (Harker, Mina).

Gripping Tale

Bram Stoker’s Dracula is a gripping tale that is very well narrated with an excellent cast. Highly recommended for all fans of horror novels!

One of my favorite books. Enjoyable story.

Wonderful performance, excellent narration. Highly recommend this book for anyone looking for a scary story.

Awesome!

This is a fantastic production! I highly recommend listening to it! It did not cease to be suspenseful!

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You will be engulfed by the story. The readers bring it to life causing your heart to beat faster. You will loose the sense of time as you listen. Enjoy as I have!