Four Fires

By: Bryce Courtenay

Narrated by: Humphrey Bower

Length: 29 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's summary

The four fires in this story are passion, religion, warfare, and fire itself. While there are many more fires that drive the human spirit, love being perhaps the brightest flame of all, it is these four that have moulded us most as Australian people. The four fires give us our sense of place and, for better or for worse, shape our national character.

©2013 Christine Courtenay; 2010 Bryce Courtenay (P)2008 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd

Critic reviews

"Humphrey Bower, speaking as Mole, delivers every possible nuance and emotion of his character’s story, and shows a startling aptitude for other dialects as well. Close family friends and enemies include surviving Polish Jews, an East Indian healer, an Irish Catholic priest, Japanese prison camp soldiers, and many others. All of them, young and old, male and female, spring to vivid life in Bower’s versatile voice. Narrative passages and dialogue elicit tears and laughter by turns, without a minute of boredom in the 30-hour production." ( AudioFile magazine)

Oh my stars! Great book!

Would you listen to Four Fires again? Why?

I almost never listen or read twice. But this narrator is my absolute favorite! He's a genious at every character; both male and female, Australian, Polish, Indian, Brit, American (black and white). Also, this author is one of my favorites (I love historical fiction) and always learn something new about Australia and more from Bryce Courtenay while being tremendously entertained by the humor and real characters.

What other book might you compare Four Fires to and why?

It's like Angela's Ashes- poor family makes good of their situation, but with more detail, history, and the best narrator ever.

Which character – as performed by Humphrey Bower – was your favorite?

Who can pick? He's a genius at EVERYONE!! All the Maloney's- male and female- as well as Murray and Sophie (Polish Jews), Mrs. Rika Ray (Indian) the Americans in Vietnam (Black and White!) the Brits in London.

Who was the most memorable character of Four Fires and why?

The story is told from the point of view of Mole Maloney, so I have to choose him. But Sarah and Nancy Maloney hit home because I'm female. Each character in EVERY Bryce Courtenay book is always amazingly rendered that it's very hard to pick a favorite. They each INSPIRE in their own way.

Any additional comments?

Bryce, I hope you live a LONG time and continue to write more and more incredible books like this. Thank you to all who worked on this important book. Thanks Humphrey for your brilliant work at bringing these characters to life.

Probably my all-time favorite.

Any additional comments?

Although the book is long, it never drags. Beautifully written and beautifully performed. Loved Power of One, but this was even better.

Another Love Letter to Australia

The authors "Australia Trilogy" is celebrated as his "love letter to Australia," but I found this book to be at least as much so. Like every Courtenay book I have read, it is populated with interesting and charming characters.Courtenay's love of language and dialect comes out in the dialog, and is masterfully conveyed by Humphrey Bower as narrator, whose performance ranks with Jim Dale in the Harry Potter books. The book does not have the epic sweep, however, of some of Courtenay's other books. I thought the story was good but not great and the story and narrative devices did not hang together enough for a 5 star rating.

Great once again!

What did you love best about Four Fires?

This follows the story of an Aussie family just after WWII. Classic Bryce Courtenay and brilliant narration. From the town garbage collectors to university graduates this family shows that you can be what you want.

What other book might you compare Four Fires to and why?

Any other Bryce Courtenay

What about Humphrey Bower’s performance did you like?

His accents are spot on and I get lost in the story because it sounds like he is talking to me directly.

Any additional comments?

I highly reccomend The persimmon Tree and the Astrailian Triology. All are so good!

Great Story

What made the experience of listening to Four Fires the most enjoyable?

Accurate to time, know the area, brings back a lot of good memories.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Four Fires?

Vision of the bushfire at it was raging into the town of Yankolilly

Have you listened to any of Humphrey Bower’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Listened to many audible books and found Humphrey Bower to be by far the best narrator I have heard to date.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, if time allowed

Any additional comments?

Love the the combination of the late Bryce Courtenay and Humphrey Bower.

An outstanding book by an outstanding author

I don't normally write reviews for books that I have read/listened to on audible. But this book was a true joy. Rarely am I so inspired by an author and performer team, but Bryce Courtenay and Humphrey Bower are a touch of class. If you haven't listened to one of Bower's performance of Courtenay's books please do so. Now.

You've done it again Bryce

Where does Four Fires rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Up there with the best of them I've listen to this 3 times and read the book love it

What was one of the most memorable moments of Four Fires?

Several but that would be giving away the story and it's better to be surprised rather than in the know

Have you listened to any of Humphrey Bower’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No , at first I didn't like the Aussie accent and I am a Aussie then the Jewish and Irish accent were believable so I guess it depends on how Aussie you want your character to be

Who was the most memorable character of Four Fires and why?

Gotta love Nancy

Any additional comments?

This book returned a lot of memories for me Flinders Lane, the dunny man, Fires and there awful outcomes, and yet how they also bring life back, How many soliders who fought in all wars are never truly appreciated and often forgotten. How small communities can by working together can achieve so much. The fact I read it four times tells you it's worth it.!

A masterpiece!

I have yet to read or listen to a Bryce Courtenay book I haven’t loved and know I’ll read/listen again.
It’s hard to answer the question, “what is it about?”Well about a family, or a boy or a girl who’s wonderful. They are ordinary people in the books yet they are extraordinary at the same time. I read once, in reference to PK in the Power Of One, a hero in a story must be larger than life. Of course I don’t have that exactly as he said it but have said it to myself many times. Bryce Courtenay makes us love the “heroes” in his books as they come to life, for me, I’m never disappointed.
Humphrey Bower is the King Of Narrators, there is none better. He brings to life the characters Bryce writes about. He is a man of a thousand voices! Bryce knew what he was doing having Humphrey be his sole narrator. Excuse the use of their first names but I feel like I know them.
Thank you both for bringing this amazing story to life.

Just love love love this book

Where does Four Fires rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

One of my all time favs. This audio book would be equivalent to the worn out paperback copy that is almost like a security blanket. I love listening to this book and have done so many times.

What other book might you compare Four Fires to and why?

The Bryce Courtney, Humphrey Bower combination is just magic! So any of those I guess but among the best would have to be power of one and Whitethorn. also ones I have listened to over and over!

Have you listened to any of Humphrey Bower’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes. Amazing as always!! A truly gifted individual.

I love Bryce Courtenay's books

This author had me since the Power of One. His books are always a tour de force. The characters are ALWAYS well developed and generally complex (meaning they are worth having a story told about them). Courtenay's books teaches about history, social systems and cultures in a way that the reader does not mind at all. His books are always a fantastic ride. The stories are always interesting, the dialogue believable - never cliched, preachy or overly verbose unless necessary to the plot. The only thing I do not like with many of Courtenay's books are the details about war and/or boxing when those elements are a part of the story. That of course does not mean anything is wrong with those subjects, just that I do not particularly like endless details on these subjects. The pairing of narrator Humphrey Bower with Courtenay is a marriage made in heaven. Bower is exceptionally talented and is a master at different accents and dialects. It would be awkward for me to listen to Courtenay's work narrated by anyone else. Courtenay is the #1 author in his country, Australia. He is extremely prolific and has written many books. He has indicated in his interviews that he has many more books to write before he dies and he therefore maintains a very disciplined writing schedule. This tells you that this man oozes with writing gift and story ideas.