Three Hearts and Three Lions

By: Poul Anderson

Narrated by: Bronson Pinchot

Length: 7 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's summary

The gathering forces of the Dark Powers threaten the world of man. The legions of Faery, aided by trolls, demons, and the Wild Hunt itself, are poised to overthrow the Realms of Light. Holger Carlsen, a bemused and puzzled twentieth-century man mysteriously snatched out of time, finds himself the key figure in the conflict. Arrayed against him are the dragons, giants, and elfin warriors of the armies of Chaos and the beautiful sorceress Morgan le Fay. On his side are a vague prophecy, a quarrelsome dwarf, and a beautiful woman who can turn herself into a swan, not to mention Papillon, the magnificent battle horse, and a full set of perfectly fitting armor, both of which were waiting for him when he entered the magical realm. The shield bears three hearts and three lions—the only clue to Holger Carlsen’s true identity. Could Carlsen really be a legendary hero, the only man who can save the world?

©1953 Fantasy House, Inc. 1961 by Poul Anderson (P)2011 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Fantastic audio book

This book has been one of my favorites since I was a teenager and has been a constant re-read over the years. I've always liked the story line and the fast-paced action. When I first saw this book, I was hesitant to buy because of the reader. I was unsure of Mr. Pinchot's ability and I know how bad readers can really destroy a good book. All I can say after listening is: Oh My Goodness! I have moved Mr. Pinchot into my top readers group. The only one ahead of him is Jim Dale, and it's a close race. His characterizations are spot on, and greatly enhance the story line. This book, read as it is, makes fabulous entertainment. This will be in my short list of re-listens. If you're new to Poul Anderson definitely listen to a great author. If you're new to Mr. Pinchot as a reader, definitely listen to this.

oldie but goody

enjoyed "reading" poul's book again 40 years later. it stood the test of time fairly well. the reader was very good, though to my ears the dwarf accent was so thick it was very difficult to understand. as he was a secondary but important character, this issue came up time and again. overall, highly recommended!

Well, I'll be.

Firstly, great story. They don't make em like they used to. Short, sweet, epic, touching, funny, and tense at the end. Secondly, Bronson Pinchot was fantastic. Usually the narrator is my least favorite part of a story. This time I was happily surprised. Great voices/accents/acting.

The Perfect Pairing of Story and Storyteller

“Three Hearts and Three Lions” was my first experience of Poul Anderson as well as of Bronson Pinchot. I was astonished. The book itself is unashamedly fantastical, filled to the brim with tropes, though they work out to the benefit of the story. The characters aren’t shallow but aren’t too fleshed-out either.
Pinchot’s narration blew beyond what I thought was possible! Many narrators read through books in a plain, calm, perhaps dull, manner. Pinchot dives in with enthusiasm, giving distinct personality to each character’s voice and making every detail feel exciting.

Good Story, Well Read

Enjoyable story. Pinchot's reading excellent even with the occasional difficulty understanding his accent-which was heavy but authentic and consistent. Loved it.

Best. Narrator. Ever.

Bronson Pinchot does a fantastic job on this one. It's so good, I would have listened even if the story had been bad.

Classic fantasy

I love that this story is bracketed by modern times and that the hero -though a classic knight -is a man with all the fallibility of a man.

Amazing Story

This is an excellent novel about a man transported to alternate world to battle the forces of chaos. It's an underrated classic.

Great story, exceptional voice performance

This was a really good story truly made better by one of the best voice performances I've ever heard. Bronson Pinchot really brought the story to life.

excellent story, but the ending was too abrupt

I really enjoyed the story, had a hard time understanding some of the accents used, but overall it was good, just too abrupt of an ending