• The Black Cauldron

  • The Prydain Chronicles, Book 2
  • By: Lloyd Alexander
  • Narrated by: James Langton
  • Length: 5 hrs and 27 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (644 ratings)

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The Black Cauldron  By  cover art

The Black Cauldron

By: Lloyd Alexander
Narrated by: James Langton
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Publisher's summary

Peace reigns in Caer Dallben, where Taran works as Assistant Pig-Keeper, but evil threatens the rest of Prydain. The diabolical Arawn's army grows every day, and his terrible warriors never die. They are born in the Black Cauldron from the stolen bodies of slain soldiers. If evil is to be defeated, the cauldron must be destroyed. Taran volunteers to travel to Arawn's stronghold and assist in the destruction of the dreaded cauldron. With his faithful friends reassembled, Taran marches off to face great danger with a courageous heart.
Don't miss the rest of Lloyd Alexander's Prydain Chronicles.
©1965 Lloyd Alexander (P)2004 Random House, Inc, Listening Library, a division of Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

"A wise and wondrous tale written in epic fashion." (Booklist)

What listeners say about The Black Cauldron

Average customer ratings
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic Sequel!

The Black Cauldron (or The Black Crockin) is a more darker sequel to the Book of Three, but it makes the story all the more interesting and makes you really feel these characters progress more.

At first, I was afraid it would head towards familar tropes in many popular fantasy books, but then throws a curveball and makes the story more human then fantasy. That is this books strongest point.. humanity.

Can't wait to read Castle of Lyrr.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Just as good as the first book.

The Black Cauldron is just as good as the first book, the book of three. And it is also a book with even deeper meanings and more lessons to be learned.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Loved it

An incredible story that’s full of magic and mystery, an amazing plot and bittersweet ending.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Well-written classic

A well-performed classic work that delights and teaches. We re-listen to this one often!

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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Compelling story!

I was very pleased with the overall telling of the story and the narrator’s performance. During chapter 8, though, the recording became choppy and one of the lines was garbled so bad that I couldn’t understand what was said. But that was the only blemish.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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great narrator and excellent story, of course!

been meaning to give this series a listen for a bit minute... wonderful! didn't disappoint at all!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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Great Book

My only complaint is the voice actors depiction of Morgant. He sounds like a snake, which cheapens his betrayal by foreshadowing it in a way the author never intended and robbing him of honor earned prior to it.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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A Classic Story Unbearably Performed

This is a great story and one that can be reread and enjoyed throughout life. But the voices used for several characters are overwrought to the point of distraction or just plain bad. I'm skipping entire chapters to get around them. You can also hear it in the 200% volume increase for character speech compared to narrative text.

I'm surprised because the Reader nails the subtlety of various English accents perfectly for the human characters; they're thoroughly enjoyable. But the book needs to be re-recorded to be worth buying, or at least the offending voices and remastering the volume.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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geektastic!

loved it! had different voices for each character. voice cadence is on point. really great read. have some crunchins and munchens while listening

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Excellent coming of age story for boys

An epic fantasy that follows the struggles of a boy on the brink of manhood and his discovery of the cost of honor.

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