The Bad Seed

De: William March

Narrado por: Elizabeth Wiley

The best-selling novel that inspired Mervyn LeRoy's classic horror film about the little girl who can get away with anything - even murder.

There's something special about eight-year-old Rhoda Penmark. With her carefully plaited hair and her sweet cotton dresses, she's the very picture of old-fashioned innocence. But when their neighborhood suffers a series of terrible accidents, her mother begins to wonder: Why do bad things seem to happen when little Rhoda is around?

Originally published in 1954, William March's final novel was an instant best seller and National Book Award finalist before it was adapted for the stage and made into a 1956 film. The Bad Seed is an indelible portrait of an evil that wears an innocent face, one which still resonates in popular culture today.

©1954 W. E. Campbell LLC; copyright renewed 1982 by W. E. Campbell LLC (P)2018 Tantor

A Classic

I have seen the movie a couple of times over the years, and wanted to also read the book. Enjoyed both equally. A chilling story!

Great story & Performance

Great story with complex & interesting characters. If you're an Agatha Christie fan, you'll like this book. The voice actor was excellent!

the interactions between the female characters

I did enjoy the 1950's setting of the novel. The story reads very much as from that period.

Took me back!

I remember watching the movie this story was based on... but this was waaay better! The narrator is a little overwhelming, but once you put yourself back in time to the days of overly melodramatic acting, she becomes quite enjoyable. I found myself wondering what could possibly happen next... who's going to get hurt?... why do people like this creepy little girl so much? I've been thoroughly disturbed.

Not bad

This is a compelling book. I found it very interesting and thrilling. The narrator did a good job reading the story.

Not what I expected based on reviews

I think this was a more impactful story back when it was written. It was just ok for me. Kinda strange story about an even stranger little girl. Talk about tantrums....don't make her mad!

Suspenseful!!

This was a great read. It kept me on the edge of my seat. This little girl is something else!!! I loved it!!

Good to know creepy stories existed in the 1950s

A great story about a murderous little kid and the fallout of her actions. I was pleasantly surprised by how good the book turned out.

Great book ruined by horrible narration

I first read The Bad Seed during my second year of college in 1969. I love this book. I own the 1954 hard copy. I worked on a stage production of the play and watched all three movie versions. I thought I would enjoy listening to the Audible version. The story takes place in a small southern town in the 1950s. In the book, the atmosphere is one of quiet southern gentility, where something tragic happens to a child, followed by a growing dread that something is dreadfully wrong in the Penmark household. The narrator for the Audible version rushes through the text like the script is on fire and she has to finish reading before her hands get burnt. Listening to the Audible version is just downright irritating.

ENTERTAINING STORY

IT WAS HARD TO GET USED TO THEIS NARATOR BUT AFTER A WHILE I FOUND I FELT THE NARATOR WAS GOOD FOR THIS BOOK. THE STORY IS NOT A NEW ONE BUT IT IS ENJOYABLE. THEY MADE A MOVIE OF THIS BOOK.