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)

Mind blowing

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

Very grim tragedy

Who was your favorite character and why?

Well, it is a tie between Macbeth and the witches (in a sense the weird sisters are a single character, though the youngest one is the primary one). The weird sisters are wise and repulsive, cunning and honest at the same time. And Macbeth, it is hard not to feel sorry for his poor soul - he had the heart, but not the stomach of a monarch.

Which character – as performed by Alan Cumming – was your favorite?

Again, the weird sisters. I can imagine how tempting it must have been to deliver them in an over-the-top way, but his performance was spot on, never striking a false note.

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

The last words of the weird sisters to Lady Macbeth gave me goosebumps. It is not very often that you can honestly say this, but I really did not see that coming.

Any additional comments?

As the authors stress, it is an adaptation, not a slavish translation. I have not read the original, but I would love to, after reading this adaptation. Kudos to everyone involved. It was brilliant all around.

A story for every Scotsman

We were in the areas of Scotland where the story takes place. It was great fun listening to the stories of where we were. What was more fun is that I'm a second generation Scot and listening to the Scottish accent.

The reader of this book brought me through the Grampians, into the towns of Fores and Inverness and all over nothern Scotland.

If you're of Scottish descent I highly recommend this book. I really enjoyed it.

Not Bard at All

A well thought out expansion and update of an old story. Some purists might take offence and should stay away because once you've read this you'll never watch the play the same way again. The gaps are filled or at least bridged in a "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead" manner but far more so and seamlessly. The supernatural is expanded on, given a malevolent grey face and made all the more disturbing as learn far more about the witches than we should care to. They lurk over the whole story like demented vultures.

You know how it starts, you know how it ends, (If not, spoiler everyone dies) but if you read this you'll know why and care that much more.

Fantastic whether you like Shakespeare or not

What made the experience of listening to Macbeth: A Novel the most enjoyable?

This brought the story to life, far better than the play. This story filled in the gaps left to the imagination in a stage play. The characters' actions made sense. The performance and the story itself were great. Even if you're bored by Shakespeare and by plays, you'll love this.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Macbeth: A Novel?

Sorry, no spoilers. But from the opening scenes, these guys will have your attention.

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

I felt I was there. I've read Macbeth, seen it, seen it in movies, taught it, and listened to it on audiobook. This was the first time it was a genuine pleasure and not "work."

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

ditto.

Any additional comments?

This makes me want to beg the guys who did it to do more of Shakespeare's plays this way. I think the bard would be honored by this adaptation.

How in love with Macbeth am I now?

Narrator David Hewson s the real hero of this audiobook. He swallows your heart up whole with his beautiful voice. You are drawn into the events that unfold as unstoppable as Macbeth himself. Macbeth is lost to us us now...but on the way you fall a little in love with him.

Fun and entertaining

Would you consider the audio edition of Macbeth: A Novel to be better than the print version?

YES

What did you like best about this story?

The Betrayels

What about the narrators’s performance did you like?

The change of voice for each charactor.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I laughed and Felt sad.

Any additional comments?

It is Macbeth a Novel not the play, for those losey critics .

Great narration of a pretty good story

I loved the narration -- I just enjoyed listening to the accent throughout.
The book was pretty good, but a bit heavy handed in its characters


*** Spoiler alert ***
The authors wanted to make Macbeth a more sympathetic character than Shakespeare did and somewhat justify the regicide. However, they went about this with a club. It seemed that the only way they felt they could make Macbeth's actions somewhat justifiable was to make Duncan the embodiment of evil. They portray Duncan, and to a lesser degree Malcolm, as having almost every vice known to man -- greed, lust, laciviousness, cowardice, lack of patriotism, brutality, lack of generosity, lack of loyalty, etc, etc, etc. I understand their motivation, but it was too extremely done. Their depiction of Malcolm was only slightly less severe.

Their depiction of Duncan has no basis in history, nor Shakespeare, and didn't need to be nearly so "over-the-top."

Also, the scene near the end where the weird sisters are talking with Skeena, it looks like a misplaced scene from the Joy Luck Club -- a group of women lamenting their woes at the hands of men. It's a strong, but unbelievable, moment of sisterhood.

breathtaking

This novel is so beautifully written, and with remarkable poetic skill, putting flesh on the bones and life to the soul of the characters in the story. Alan Cumming's narration is breathtaking. I found myself anxious to get back in the car to hear the next chapter that I would read. I cannot help but think that Shakespeare would be impressed.

excellent modern re-telling of Macbeth

Disturbing, suspenseful, well-written.

The choice of narrator was inspired.

For my money I'll take this "book format" version of Macbeth over the "King's English and part-by-part Play" version any day of the week (and twice on Sundays)!

fresh new look

What made the experience of listening to Macbeth: A Novel the most enjoyable?

Enjoyed this novel. Keep my interest and thinking about what it would be like to be there

What was one of the most memorable moments of Macbeth: A Novel?

When they killed the king.

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

The sounds and accents. I have never been good with them myself

Who was the most memorable character of Macbeth: A Novel and why?

The witches they keep telling them what was going to happen but like so many of us we do not listen until it is to late

Any additional comments?

Well done