Martin Eden

By: Jack London

Narrated by: Andrew Garman

Length: 14 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's summary

Martin Eden, Jack London’s semiautobiographical novel, is about a struggling young writer. It is considered by many to be the author’s most mature work. Personifying London’s own dreams of education and literary fame as a young man in San Francisco, Martin Eden’s impassioned but ultimately ineffective battle to overcome his bleak circumstances makes him one of the most memorable and poignant characters Jack London ever created.

Public Domain (P)2012 Recorded Books

Brilliant

Amazing use of language and vocabulary, something different and special. Descriptions of life that create blazing images in the mind.

Amazing

English is my 3rd language. Even though I consider myself trilingual, I had never ever read more than some fragments of literature in English here and there, I did not feel comfortable enough, breaking systematically the flow of the narration because of my insecurity and overthinking. So I never got to read more than 30 pages before abandoning a book.
But what a magnificent story, and especially, what a wonderful narrator. If it wasn’t so clearly and well read, I would have abandoned it -being the pickiest reader and having a background in theater, radio and writing. It took me only 2 days, I couldn’t stop listening. Bravo. Thank you for helping me to lose my fear.

Really Enjoyable

great to be able to listen to such writings as Jack London...I don't have the time to read but being able to listen to some of the legendary works is a privilege.

Fantastic

Jack London's MARTIN EDEN is one of the most fascinating novels I have ever listened to. It is also one of those rare novels where I can identify closely with the main character. It is also one of those books where the reader is hooked from page one and entirely swept up in the world London Creates. Also, Andrew Garman's performance it fantastic.

Amazing

A masterpiece. Happy. Sad. Inspiring. Dooming. A man lives by purpose and what is to happen once purpose is realized? A book you will never forget. Plumbing the depths and heights of a life.

The ultimate end of all secular materialism

As an eccentric career artist, and also having an MLA in Philosophy, I identified greatly with the character of Martin Eden.

So often, the dogma of the cynic, pretending to his integrity, but unable to bring its own end about, and shrinking under the potency thereof, will undulate upon convictions; ever learning, but never actually learning.

Martin is the fruit of philosophy--- which, has never once, given a single man the smallest part of what it dissimulated in its offerings.

I see a deep Truth in this story.

Splendid!

Must read book for the people from all ways of life, compels one to think and act, shows protagonist's straggles that makes your own just trifles, teaches not to be a "self-deluded pretender".

profoundly insightful!

I never know how brilliant Jack London was. Exploring the meaning of life, pushing the confines of reality and unreality like no one I've ever read. This book is life changing and illuminating.

Great novel, somewhat irritating performance

This is a wonderful story especially for Jack London fans interested in his perspective as a young writer. The narrator does an okay job overall, however his voice for Martin, and especially for Ruth are quite distracting. By the time I was a quarter way through I found his voice of Ruth to be insulting; it makes her sound nothing but shrill and immature.

Not your typical Jack London

Any additional comments?

I found this book very interesting, partly because of my curiosity about London, himself. It is a loosely autobiographical novel that gives a real insight into the mind of London concerning his writing. The book is entirely about a young struggling author and all the obstacles and frustration in trying to get published and to be successful.
The book also gives an historical and fascinating look into the harshness and class stratification of the turn of the 20th Century.
This is not at all a typical London adventure story and might disappoint someone looking for that genre. It is however an excellent and memorable book as would be expected by a writer of London's stature.