Rob Roy

I love a good classic, well-read. Frederick Davidson is one of my favorite readers - he gets every accent just perfect. That is exactly the downfall of this audiobook - lots and lots of totally unintelligible Scottish accent-REALLY unintelligible. I have never read this book, was not familiar with the story at all. After six hours, I quit in frustration because I had lost so much of the plot. IF you know the story, IF you are good at deciphering Scottish accent (and I mean HEAVY, not Star Trek Scotty) then go for it. Otherwise, pass on this version of Rob Roy.

Starts slowly and becomes a fascinating tale of adventure and love. It captures the feeling of Scottish history and the social tensions of the time. Listened to it on a trip to Scotland and the understanding of the social stresses of the 18th century and the pleasure of listening to a darn good yarn added immensely to the trip. Heartily recommend this audiobook.

Frederick Davidson is a reliable narrator but this is hard work to listen to. There are large sections of it that appear to be written in a foreign language and the sometimes heavy handed characterisation makes them even harder to follow. The actual writing is of its period. Overly wordy and convoluted in the story telling and with large sections of background and build up with very little actual meat of the strory. Pretty sure that this won't make it to the regular relistening list.

I endured the entire book and couldn't wait to get it finished...awful! This is the WORST book I have yet downloaded. Rambling and at times incomprehensible, the development is weak and incosequential and the characters poorly developed. Robin McGregor/Campbell plays a "bit-role" in the story line. I personally find the narrator's style affected, laborious and irritating; his presentation drawling and monotonous, as in all the other readings that I have heard of his thus far. His Scottish accent is on the contrary suprisingly unaffected and authentic.