• Gulliver's Travels: A Signature Performance by David Hyde Pierce

  • By: Jonathan Swift
  • Narrated by: David Hyde Pierce
  • Length: 9 hrs and 52 mins
  • 4.1 out of 5 stars (3,602 ratings)

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Gulliver's Travels: A Signature Performance by David Hyde Pierce

By: Jonathan Swift
Narrated by: David Hyde Pierce
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Editorial reviews

Gulliver’s encounters with fantastic peoples and creatures - from the small-statured Lilliputians to the stargazing Liputians - reach to the far corners of the world. As narrator, David Hyde Pierce wonderfully captures the wit and irony of this much-loved classic. Despite Gulliver’s detailed, and sometimes cumbersome, descriptions of strange lands and their inhabitants, Pierce doesn’t miss a beat. His melodic voice wraps perfectly around Swift’s eighteenth-century language. His pronunciations of the imaginative languages are delightful, especially the neighing expressions of the Houyhnhnms, a utopian society of horses. Pierce’s consistently matter-of-fact tone fits Swift’s own. His reading highlights the author’s humor and sarcasm, pulling the listener into this fantastic journey.

Publisher's summary

Four-time Emmy Award winner David Hyde Pierce is famous for playing the lovably self-important Dr. Niles Crane in the hit TV series Frasier. Now, he brings the same wit and charming arrogance to his Signature Classics performance of Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels.

More than just a mock travel book and fabulous adventure, Gulliver’s Travels is a character study and social satire that skewers politics, science, religion, philosophy, and pretentiousness with a bite and resonance that remains as fresh today as the day it was published. Maybe that’s why it hasn’t been out of print in nearly 300 years.

Set sail with David Hyde Pierce for a smart, fun, new Gulliver’s Travels experience that’s unlike any other. And stay tuned for more one-of-a-kind performances from actors Leelee Sobiesky, Casey Affleck, Tim Curry, and more, only from Audible Signature Classics.

Public Domain (P)2010 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Despite Gulliver’s detailed, and sometimes cumbersome, descriptions of strange lands and their inhabitants, Pierce doesn’t miss a beat. His melodic voice wraps perfectly around Swift’s eighteenth-century language. His pronunciations of the imaginative languages are delightful, especially the neighing expressions of the Houyhnhnms, a utopian society of horses. In a book in which the author’s voice comes through on every page, Pierce’s consistently matter-of-fact tone fits Swift’s own. His reading highlights the author’s humor and sarcasm, pulling the listener into this fantastic journey." ( AudioFile)

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What listeners say about Gulliver's Travels: A Signature Performance by David Hyde Pierce

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Hilarious Satire; Outstanding Narration!

Any additional comments?

I thoroughly enjoyed the artful use of language to express, with color and flare, the story's comments on the social morays and prejudices of Jonathan Swift's time (1667 - 1745). I especially enjoyed David Hyde Pierce's narration. It made this satirists' humorous and poignant social comments a classic a page turner. What a ride! I would dearly love to hear David Hyde Pierce read from any of Mark Twain and/or Will Rogers works.

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Excellent

Any additional comments?

A great book for anyone. Younger audiences can enjoy the fantastic journey's while older audiences can appreciate the political satire.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Easy Listen; Enjoyable for All Ages

This book was written in the early 1700's but is really easy to listen to and can be enjoyed by all ages. The satirical parts are still relevant today and the narrator, David Hyde Pierce, fits the part well. If you enjoyed The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, then you will probably also enjoy this book.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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You can get it for cheaper

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You can actually get this audiobook for less than a dollar, by purchasing the kindle version from amazon first.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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A classic

A classic read with much more depth than a ever thought there was before I read it. #Tagsgiving #Sweepstakes

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Great Newer Production Of Swift’s Masterpiece

Definitely not for kids, although they did create many versions that were geared towards a young audience. This newer production is amazing and really brings the story to life. All of the characters are portrayed well.

Travels is a social satire that roasts everything that Swift had issues with. And, he had issues with quite a bit. For full understanding, it’s helpful to research his society during the time of his life. It really is a history lesson or should I say many history lessons. Because of its’ length and subject matter, it gets dry occasionally. But, the payoff is definitely worth it.

Highly recommended.

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Marvelous Classic Adventure with cultured reading.

A marvelous reading of this literary classic. Insight into civilization & our brutishness. Adventures read eloquently for young or old. Highly recommended.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Elegant performance.

Though written some two centuries ago Gulliver's tales bring fresh insights concerning our modern age.

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David Hyde Pierce is perfect for this book

Glad I listened to this. Not only is Pierce’s performance excellent, but this iconic book turned out to be unexpectedly quite funny in spots.

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  • 12-29-22

Great adventure story

David Hyde Pierce expertly narrates a tall tale of adventure. Worth the time to take in Swift’s social commentary of his day and its relevance today. Enjoy.

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