Hannibal Rising

By: Thomas Harris

Narrated by: Thomas Harris

Length: 7 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

He is one of the most haunting characters in all of literature. At last the evolution of his evil is revealed.

Hannibal Lecter emerges from the nightmare of the Eastern Front, a boy in the snow, mute, with a chain around his neck. He seems utterly alone, but he has brought his demons with him. Hannibal’s uncle, a noted painter, finds him in a Soviet orphanage and brings him to France, where Hannibal will live with his uncle and his uncle’s beautiful and exotic wife, Lady Murasaki. Lady Murasaki helps Hannibal to heal. With her help he flourishes, becoming the youngest person ever admitted to medical school in France. But Hannibal’s demons visit him and torment him. When he is old enough, he visits them in turn. He discovers he has gifts beyond the academic, and in that epiphany, Hannibal Lecter becomes death’s prodigy.

Serial thriller: don't miss more from Thomas Harris.

©2006 Yazoo Fabrications, Inc. (P)2006 Random House, Inc. Random House Audio, a division of Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

“There are images of morbid beauty here.... Harris' handling of the wartime violence is also impressive, as swift and vicious as the blitzkrieg itself.” (Los Angeles Times)

“Gripping detail.... [Harris] moves the story along at an impressively fast clip.” (Boston Globe)

Harris is great but why no accent for Hannibal?

So up front the book was great, the overall presentation was great but something struck me as odd - out of place.

Harris (author and narrator) has a southern US accent. He speaks with his (I assume) natural accent for Hannibal and other generic characters throughout the story. The only problem is that Hannibal is from Lithuania. For other characters Harris takes on very well done accents from France, the Baltic, Sweden, and Russia. This presentation would've been perfect if Harris also gave Hannibal an authentic Eastern European accent. It shouldn't sway anyone from purchasing this title though. Very well done overall.

A fascinating look into an infamous monster

I thoroughly enjoyed this title. I love Silence of the Lambs, so learning about what made Hannible the monster he is was really cool. it gives depth to the character and allows the reader empathy for the beast.

Hannible Rising is the kind of book that demands your full attention, so I was unable to listen to it very well at work or while on runs as my work made it hard to follow along with the story and my mind tends to wander when I run. It was interesting and deliciously dark, but it was also slow and dry at times, but not in a bad way, if that makes any sense. If you aren't giving your full attention, you'll miss things. That isn't really even a negative trait in a book.

I thought the dynamic between Lady Murisaki and Hannible was pretty odd, but it gave an extra layer of humanity to Hannible.

Overall, I have nothing negative to say about this book. It was a credit well spent.

Use a pro to do the job

What a beautifully written book. I am sorry that the same cannot be said about the reader. Why a pro like Mr. Harris is at writing would not use a pro reading his book is a mystery. He wouldn't use his gardner to cut his hair or his publisher to write his book, so why does he think he is an expert out of his field? If this book is reread by a really good reader, I would listen to it again.

A little slow at first, but rapidly grew taught

I thought this story started a little slow. I had a difficult time gettibg to like Hannibal, but suddenly I found myself listening more and more.

Very good but recommend an abridged version.

Since there was so much commentary about the narration I have to say first, it wasn't bad. The german accents were a little heavy handed for a narrated story but having heard many germans speak english, it could have been a lot harsher [I know that doesn't sound very p.c., to say but it's kinda true]. Harris' southern accent I thought was charming and not in the least bit detracting. It's a lot more mild than I've heard from my own southern family!

A wonderfully researched and well developed backstory and character psychology to where suspension of disbelief was virtually unnecessary.

I think the abridged version of this story would have worked for me better. With the pacing, which suited Hannibal's personality as we know it - calculated and deliberate - was far too sleepy for me and I struggled to stay with it. By the time we find out what really happened to Mischka and Hannibal's exacting revenge, I was past ready to be done. That said, it is a terrific story.

Wasn't interesting!

I tried to get through the audiobook, but it was too much to listen to. Not even interested in finishing the book.

This is probably my favourite of the series.

This series of books is one of my favorites of all time. Red Dragon and Hannibal Rising are the best of this series.

Another great Lecter story

Well read by the author with great accents. listen to this book 4th or 1st

This book explains so much.

Being the daughter-in-law of people who survived the blitzkrieg of eastern Europe in 1939, I can understand much of what became the character of Hannibal Lecter. I cannot conceive of what it felt like to experience it in person.

I feel thankful that this and its descendants are works of mostly fiction. Thomas Harris's magic gift for storytelling makes it feel real enough as it is.

Curse of The Hobbit Trilogy

How did Jackson get three movies out of such a short book? Self indulgence and the lure of financial gain (and lots of fluff). Hannibal Rising is not book 0.5 in the Hannibal SERIES, it should be part of Hannibal book 3 of the TRILOGY. It should be properly read (listened to) after Hannibal escapes from Mason Verger with an unconscious Clarice Starling. At the end of that chapter, listen to this book, then go back to book three. Why, instead, is it a fourth book, and separate purchase? Meh, it is well written and performed. Throws money at favored author.