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)

Gripping tale

What a story and the narration by Alan Cumming was spell binding. Being a transported Scot, the images of the highlands was so magical despite all the murder and mayhem. Great story.

Fascinating, riveting, tragic

I enjoyed this narrative very much, an interpretation of the play that gives greater humanity to the Macbeths, but does not excuse them. Alan Cummings is a wonderful narrator, skillfully moving among many diverse characters.

imaginative retelling of the classic

just a wonderful take on the play that is true to Shakespeare but also manages to expand it.

This is pretty much Alan Cumming's natural voice.

this was actually a really good at apptation of the Scottish play you get to really follow along with it and you get more of an understanding of what is happening. Alan (Up and) Cummings gives a fantastic performance in what is from my understanding pretty much his natural accent he is such an amazing actor in performer that you get a real sense that you're listening to Scotsman.

if your Shakespeare fan like I am this is really something to add to your collection.

What if Macbeth were the good guy?

Don’t mistake this book for just a more modern-sounding version (translation) of Shakespeare’s play. In the title, it tells you clearly that it is a novel, not a play. But, it’s also not the same story. It is close, but with a different twist. In this book, Macbeth is less of an ambitious schemer and more of a patriot. No one likes King Duncan, but they serve him as their lord and respect him as their king, and none more than Macbeth. Macbeth is a hero who has many times saved the kingdom for various invaders and internal plots. In Scotland, the King was not a hereditary ruler. He was chosen by the lords on the death of the previous king. But, Duncan has another idea and proclaims that he should have the right to choose his successor, and his choice is his son. Macbeth, with his wife, decides to kill King Duncan in order to preserve the Scottish tradition which he, and the other nobles, believe is the foundation on which the strength of Scotland lies. The king should be one who has already proven himself as the best and not just the one accidentally born to the current king. But, like the play, everything deteriorates from there. Macbeth has no trouble killing in battle, but he struggles with committing murder, especially the murder of a king. If you know how Shakespeare’s play goes, you’ll enjoy the different twists that occur in this book. It’s not genius, but still good reading.

Medieval thriller

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. It's a fun, fast paced thriller.

Would you be willing to try another book from A. J. Hartley and David Hewson ? Why or why not?

I have. I listened to Hamlet which I liked a lot.

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

No

Any additional comments?

This is a fast paced but gory thriller about curmudgeonly people killing other curmudgeons in early Scotland. The witches are fun. The story is straightforward and easy to follow but just a wee bit formulaic. Overall a good listen but not Dostoevsky.

Filling in the blanks

Somewhat along the lines of "Rosencranz & Guildenstern are Dead," this fleshes out Shakespeare's tale, putting it in the context of medieval Scotland. Macbeth gets an inner voice, Lady Macbeth gets a persona. The performance is in pitch-perfect Scottish-inflected English. Great fun.

Great take on the play!

I like Shakespeare, but I'll admit to avoiding the work and being intimated by the language. This book made it accessible; the language is not a barrier to understanding. Thank!

Entirely engaging

This is a superbly narrated creative novel built on the bones of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, providing depth and enriched storylines to possibilities only suggested by the play. It is very well written, with the inclusion of details that place the listener “in” the scene, dark wet stone walls of drafty hallways and all. For all of the romantic heroic ideals that the enchanting Scottish landscapes with fife and bagpipes may evoke, this version of Macbeth exposes the gritty truth that emerges from a study of actual history: centuries of gang warfare marked by infidelity, treachery and cruelty, but here told through the minds eye of rather ordinary people. Thus the novel is engaging because it exposes that maybe the listener, too, would be capable of such bad choices as made by the Macbeths. The Afterword is especially appreciated, giving insight into the creative collaboration of the coauthors. I’m all, it was throughly enjoyable!

An interesting experiment

You always remember your first--and way back in 5th grade, Macbeth was my first venture into Shakespeare. Miss Weil loved Shakespeare and she introduced her class to the magic. Macbeth--in iambic pentameter-- was our 5th grade play. It is still my favorite Shakespeare. That said, I was just not sure how I would react to a novelization of the story.

Surprisingly, I stuck it out to the end-- and surprisingly, I didn't hate it. I didn't love it entirely either but that was because there were places where I just didn't agree with Hartley and Hewson's interpretation of events and motivations. However, I learned a lot about the historical background of the play and perhaps got a better idea of what life was like in those times. In short, it gave me a better understanding of the play.

Nonetheless, the novel stands on its own; its a good read. You don't need to know Shakespeare's play to get through the story. You don't have to be a Lit. major to enjoy it. In fact, you might even be better off not arriving with so much baggage.

Finally, kudos to the narrator Alan Cummings--and to the person who chose him. The book may have been written in prose but it read like poetry. Not since I heard Lisette Lescat read the 'No.1 Ladies' Detective' series have I heard such a perfect pairing of material and reader.