Gone with the Wind

By: Margaret Mitchell

Narrated by: Linda Stephens

Length: 49 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Literature, Margaret Mitchell's great novel of the South is one of the most popular books ever written. Within six months of its publication in 1936, Gone With the Wind had sold a million copies. To date, it has been translated into 25 languages, and more than 28 million copies have been sold.

Here are the characters that have become symbols of passion and desire: darkly handsome Rhett Butler and flirtatious Scarlett O'Hara. Behind them stand their gentler counterparts: Ashley Wilkes and Melanie Hamilton. As the lives and affairs of these absorbing characters play out against the tumult of the Civil War, Gone With the Wind reaches dramatic heights that have swept generations of fans off their feet.

Having lived in Atlanta for many years, narrator Linda Stephens has an authentic ear for the dialects of that region. Get ready to hear Gone With the Wind exactly as it was written: every word beautifully captured in a spectacular unabridged audio production.

©1964 Stephens Mitchell (P)2001 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"Beyond a doubt one of the most remarkable first novels produced by an American writer. It is also one of the best." ( The New York Times)
"The best novel to have ever come out of the South...it is unsurpassed in the whole of American writing." ( The Washington Post)

It’s a classic for a reason

I have loved this book for decades, but this time through I saw it in a different light. The whole theme of this book is what can happen to people because of pride. The Bible tells us that “pride goeth before a fall,” and as usual, it is right. What a difference it would have made in all of these characters’ lives if they had not been prideful, and of course that goes for both Rhett and Scarlett by at least double. If only they didn’t have that need to be right all the time, they could have been extremely happy.

I totally understand how this book is socially and racially offensive today, however, if you are going to read it and learn the great lessons it has to teach, you must keep in mind that the era it portrays and the time in which it was written were very different from where we live now. This book could not be written today and enjoy any success. But if you want to take a look at the antebellum south and it’s aftermath, you will be able to see it in this story. That’s the way it was and although some people try, history can’t be changed. All we can do is learn from it. That is the great value of this story. It screams, ‘don’t be like this!’ and shows us why we shouldn’t be like them.

A word about Melanie. This weak, gray, small person was the strength behind everyone she knew. Too late, Scarlett learned that Melanie was her best friend, perhaps her only real friend, something that some people never have. She was a blessing to everyone because she was not prideful. She stood for truth and righteousness, something that too many in this world lack so badly.

One last word about the narrator. Linda Stephens is nothing short of amazing! Wow! What a performance. There were so many personalities and dialects that she had to capture, and she did it to perfection.

Pulitzer Prize winner extroidenaire!

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

Yes, this is the ultimate GWTW listen. It is so well done and the story so enthralling. Not to be missed.

What did you like best about this story?

Scarlett and Rhett, of course! I also liked the way it follows the movie sometimes almost word for word. Yes, I know the movie came later and it is a testament to the many authors and directors that the story was so closely adapted.

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

For the most part she has the accents down pat. I really enjoyed her reading. No one can do Rhett like Clark Gable but she gives it a shot.

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

Gee, I think they did make a movie out of this... I'll think about it tomorrow. Tomorrow is another day.

Any additional comments?

Some parts of this book made me cringe with the stereotypes and the glorious klan, etc. but I feel that just like Twain's Huckleberry Finn we need the original story to really appreciate how far we have come today. I don't believe political correctness is accurate or viable in this book. Appreciate it for it's flaws and all.

Fabulous narrator, engaging story

The narrator is excellent. Living in the south I am frequently irritated by imitation southern accents but this narrator was believable in every character, one of the best I've heard. The only reason I didn't give the book 5 stars is some general frustrations with the book. It is an epic story with wonderful history and narrative. However I frequently found Scarlet's characterization to be unbelievable and contradictory. I'm sure the author was going for complex but I just never bought it. Maybe it's a generational thing, maybe I would have better understood if I had grown up in the 30's?

Classic

This book's leanings are very dated and politically incorrect. That does not affect the good writting, historical value, or realisim. The only bother I have is that it is obvious that the author is very sentimental about the old South and the Confederacy including slavery. The fact that this author could make me understand and even consider sympathizing with the old genteel southern people who had their way of life abruptly abolished is a near miracle. The reader of this title is amazing, breathing life into every character. Last reason that I enjoyed this book is Rhett Butler. He is a handsome, wordly, irreverent man's man. He is the ultimate bad boy with a heart of gold. yes, I know that he is a borderline misogynist and also a murdering racist just like so many others in the book but thats just why this story is so great. There were so many at that time with this mindset and GWTW transports you to that world and to relateable characters. Read/listen to this book

Oh. My. Gosh!

I avoided this book for YEARS. It was too thick and it seemed stuffy. All I knew was the “not today. Maybe tomorrow. Fiddle dee dee!”
I was wrong.

This book is rich with so many parts. Every character is filled with depth. Even the places—Tara and Atlanta are more than just places. They are characters in their own right. The emotions are complex. There is so much growth. In a time where women were timid, this book features so many strong characters from Scarlett to Mammy to even Melly.

These characters are flawed. The story is beautiful. It is perfect.

Wonderful Narration!!

I read this book for the first time in Middle School and have read it several times since. I also love the movie. Now that I'm 40 and DO NOT like romance novels, I wasn't sure that I wanted to listen to it. Linda Stephens is remarkable! She does an amazing job narrating this book! Sometimes you do want to slap the characters upside their heads. But you have to remember the time and how young Scarlet is. The use of the "N Word" is also part of the time. A really great listen and interesting book.

Great Performance

Loved the narrator. This is one of those books I never would have read in written form. Glad I listened to it so that I could get through it. It's really 3-4 books in one!

fabulous historical novel

What made the experience of listening to Gone with the Wind the most enjoyable?

Loved this book and all the history it taught me. I highly recommend this book, even though it is long it goes by too quickly. Like most books, it was so much better than the movie.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Gone with the Wind?

Scarlet's recovery from the decimation of the Civil War

Who was the most memorable character of Gone with the Wind and why?

Scarlet and her determination and selfishness

so good

this is one of the best books ive ever read. the speaker was so pleasant to listen to.

So Amazing!

I really loved it! If you like the movie, this even better! You got to know Scarlett and her struggles!