Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
Murder in the Cathedral  By  cover art

Murder in the Cathedral

By: T. S. Eliot
Narrated by: Robert Donat, Alan Dobie, Wolfe Morris, Patrick Wymark, Bruce Sharman
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $13.00

Buy for $13.00

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Editorial reviews

This rerelease of the 1953 recording of Eliot's poetic drama is a real treasure. Robert Donat plays the pious Archbishop Thomas Becket as he struggles with his instinctive knowledge that King Henry II's loose tongue will make Thomas a martyr. Donat's Thomas is sensitive and resigned, without being annoyingly sanctimonious. Also of note are the excellent performances of Thomas's tempters and of the Chorus. A knowledge of the history is essential to understanding the story as Eliot's playwriting is a bit demanding for the casual listener. Attentive listeners will be rewarded by a smooth, clean production and performance.

Publisher's summary

T.S. Eliot’s Murder in the Cathedral is both a fascinating retelling of the 12th-century assassination of Archbishop Thomas Becket and a compelling call for resistance in the face of intimidation. Written against the backdrop of rising Fascism in 20th-century Europe, Eliot’s classic verse play is as relevant now as it ever was.

This re-release of the original 1953 recording stars Robert Donat, whose commanding performance as the Archbishop, alongside a full cast, is widely celebrated.

Public Domain (P)2009 Naxos AudioBooks

What listeners say about Murder in the Cathedral

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    5
  • 4 Stars
    1
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    6
  • 4 Stars
    0
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    4
  • 4 Stars
    1
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great work of a Great poet

the play is the best of the plays of the writer and charcters are lively, one can visualize the acts while listening.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Murder in the Cathedral

Would you consider the audio edition of Murder in the Cathedral to be better than the print version?

Could really get a picture of the reasons why Beckett was assassinated and the guilt of the King..

What was one of the most memorable moments of Murder in the Cathedral?

The point where Henry II curses about the archbishop and asks why nobody would kill him.. I can feel that moment..

What about the narrators’s performance did you like?

Very clearly spoken throughout, fantastic work..

Any additional comments?

Enjoyed it very much, a favourite in my collection..

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!