Macbeth: A Novel

By: A. J. Hartley, David Hewson

Narrated by: Alan Cumming

Length: 9 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's summary

Macbeth: A Novel brings the intricacy and grit of the historical thriller to Shakespeare’s tale of political intrigue, treachery, and murder. In this full-length novel written exclusively for audio, authors A. J. Hartley and David Hewson rethink literature’s most infamous married couple, grounding them in a medieval Scotland whose military and political upheavals are as stark and dramatic as the landscape on which they are played.

Macbeth is a war hero and a patriot, doing everything in his power to hold together Duncan’s crumbling kingdom, which is beset by sedition from within and with threats from overseas. But when Duncan, contrary to ancient Scottish tradition, turns to building a family dynasty instead of rewarding those who have borne the brunt of the fighting, Macbeth and his powerful wife, Skena, make plans of their own, plans designed to hold both the nation and their strained relationship together. Sinister figures who claim supernatural knowledge spur them on, but the terrible outcome is as much about accident and failure as it is malevolence. Soon Macbeth and his wife find themselves preeminent in all the land, but struggling to hold themselves and their country together as former friends turn into bitter and deadly enemies.

This is Macbeth as you have not heard it before: fresh, edgy, and vital. It is a story of valor in battle, whispering in shadows, witchcraft in the hollows of an ancient landscape, and the desperate struggle of flawed people to do what they think is right.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

A. J. Hartley, a professor of Shakespeare at the Univ. of North Carolina-Charlotte, is the author of the “Will Hawthorne” fantasy series as well as several thrillers.
David Hewson is the best-selling author of 16 novels, including the Rome-based “Nic Costa” crime series.

ABOUT THE NARRATOR

Alan Cumming stars in CBS's The Good Wife, for which he received an Emmy nomination, and is the host of PBS’s Masterpiece Mystery. He was honored with the 2011 Audie Award for Best Male Narrator.

The Irish folk song “She Moved Through the Fair” is performed by Heather O'Neil of the Irish Repertory Theater.

©2011 A.J. Hartley, David Hewson (P)2011 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Not only is the novel an amplification of Shakespeare's famous tragedy, but it also fills in many of the gaps and gives a new perspective on Macbeth….Alan Cumming reads in a luscious Scottish brogue, which adds authenticity to the narration. His subtle changes of voice for different characters provide a full cast for this story of ambition and hubris. This is a wonderful novel of the human condition, read with ardor and enthusiasm.” ( AudioFile)

Start with Hamlet: Prince of Denmark

I pretty much enjoyed the sympathetic portrayal of one of history's most maligned couples--an interesting perspective. I'm glad, however, that I started Hartley and Hewson's Shakespeare retellings with Hamlet: Prince of Denmark, as I don't think I would have been led so eagerly to their other works had I started with this novel. As opposed to the rich collection of troubled-but-relatable characters, the thoughtful dialogues they shared, and the quick pacing of many gripping scenes I read in Hamlet, Macbeth seemed to be full of characters I didn't care about (and who all pretty much seemed to deserve to be killed), and who were stuck in lengthy, kind of boring scenes. Hartley and Hewson make a creative team--I just don't have a lot of innate interest in this play, I guess.

Alan Cumming was a wonderful narrator--it was a treat to hear his true accent and he did a good job differentiating the characters.

Brutus Lives On

If you could sum up Macbeth: A Novel in three words, what would they be?

Ambitious, politically expedient.

What other book might you compare Macbeth: A Novel to and why?

julius Caesar . Because the people you trust most shall be the ones to stab you dead.

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

voice

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

not a moment. Just a pattern. Women love power and shall hide behind men to become first ladies at all cost.

Unbelievably Exciting

I love this play but when I saw the promo and heard a snippet of Alan Cumming's narration, I knew I had to hear it all. Never would I have imagined it a good idea to novelize Macbeth but this story is a triumph. It fills in details and adds such richness. I absolutely loved it. Alan Cumming reading as a native Scot is the icing on the cake. The language is so beautiful and he brings it out in full glory.

Fantastic

Oh, the deep, brooding tempest of Macbeth and the twisted consequences of free will.....amazing. I thoroughly enjoyed the author's take on the witches three. They were not the harbingers of doom, merely "innocent " bystanders observing the characters choose their paths and unfortunately their destruction. The narration was incredible. Definitely worth the listen. Enjoy.

Brilliant

I love this new work and Alan Cumming is brilliant! I highly recommend this title.

A Superb way to Enjoy Shakespeare

What did you love best about Macbeth: A Novel?

It was a very palatable way to truly understand Macbeth

Any additional comments?

Shakespeare is not always easy to appreciate. I thoroughly enjoyed this approach.

What a great story

This book does a great job of telling the story and filling in the blanks. I really enjoyed how the authors approached such a historic work. Congratulations

Good, but short.

I enjoyed this retelling of Macbeth. I like the angle that the authors put on the story and point out that every wo/man has their own ambitions and that murder isn't the purpose, it's the steps that lead to the goal that originally started out being a righteous one. Not often is it that a person is just terrible... and this re-telling points out that Macbeth and his wife were not just cruel schemers... they were people who thought they could do something good for others but made the wrong first step, which became a catalyst toward murder and never ending guilt and suffering.

Alan Cumming did a great job narrating this book. I read his autobiography, Not My Father's Son, so I already had a bit of a connection to him as a narrator which made his reading of Macbeth even more meaningful.

Excellent story and narration

I studied Macbeth only briefly in high school so will make no comments about the novel in that way. The novel held my attention every minute. If you are a fan of Gabaldon's Outlander book/tv you will very much enjoy listening to this tale!

great spin on original w excellent narration

I really enjoyed this. I'm a big Shakespeare fan and I also love things like "wicked" where you get the same story from a different vantage point; in this case a story sympathetic towards Macbeth. the narration was amazing, I'm going to find more books read by the same guy, his voice is beautiful