-
A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man
- Narrated by: Colin Farrell
- Length: 8 hrs and 17 mins
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Buy for $24.95
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Publisher's Summary
Golden Globe winning actor and Dublin native Colin Farrell revisits his home country with a moving, authentic performance of one of Irish icon James Joyce’s masterworks, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man.
The quintessential coming-of-age story follows Stephen Dedalus as he matures in an era marked by budding Irish nationalism and intensely conservative Catholicism. From infancy to adulthood, Stephen struggles to find his place, flitting between periods of guilt-ridden fanatical religious obsession and hedonistic exploration. But even as he is pulled in every direction by family, flesh, faith, and nation, Stephen longs for something seemingly forbidden–the life of an artist.
Joyce’s first work to experiment with stream of consciousness style—a technique that he and his contemporaries developed—A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man evokes both the pains and complexities of growing up and the furious optimism that accompanies youth. Pulling from events from his own past, Joyce weaves a semi-autobiographical recount of life in nineteenth century Ireland, crafting a narrative that is at once tender and sharply satirical. When combined with Farrell’s gentle brogue, Joyce’s tale soars, as much a portrait of the artist as it is a portrait of Ireland itself.
Listeners also enjoyed...
-
Dubliners
- By: James Joyce
- Narrated by: Donal Donnelly
- Length: 8 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
These vivid portraits of the author's native city weave a tapestry of Dublin and its people, yet also poignantly mourn the decline of Irish culture and civilization. Published in 1914, the collection was decried by some as obscene, but Joyce saw the work as "a chapter in the moral history" of Ireland. The stories present a vision of Dublin's claustrophobia and psychological paralysis, but the work's heaviness is balanced by an eccentric assortment of characters and the author's dry, often unexpected humor.
-
-
Donal Donnelly is THE Voice for Joyce
- By Derek Hunter on 03-19-22
By: James Joyce
-
Dubliners
- Penguin Classics
- By: James Joyce
- Narrated by: Andrew Scott
- Length: 8 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Joyce's first major work, written when he was only 25, brought his city to the world for the first time. His stories are rooted in the rich detail of Dublin life, portraying ordinary, often defeated lives with unflinching realism. He writes of social decline, sexual desire and exploitation, corruption and personal failure, yet creates a brilliantly compelling, unique vision of the world and of human experience.
-
-
Well Acted and Interpreted
- By MHR on 02-02-20
By: James Joyce
-
Dubliners (Naxos Edition)
- By: James Joyce
- Narrated by: Jim Norton
- Length: 6 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
James Joyce's Dubliners is a collection of short stories about the lives of the people of Dublin around the turn of the century. Each story describes a small but significant moment of crisis or revelation in the life of a particular Dubliner, sympathetically but always with stark honesty. Many of the characters are desperate to escape the confines of their humdrum lives, though those that have the opportunity to do so seem unable to take it.
-
-
An approachable Joyce
- By Robert on 12-16-10
By: James Joyce
-
Finnegans Wake
- By: James Joyce
- Narrated by: Barry McGovern, Marcella Riordan
- Length: 29 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Finnegans Wake is the greatest challenge in 20th-century literature. Who is Humphrey Chimpden Earwicker? And what did he get up to in Phoenix Park? And what did Anna Livia Plurabelle have to say about it? In the rich nighttime and the language of dreams, here are history, anecdote, myth, folk tale and, above all, a wondrous sense of humor, colored by a clear sense of humanity. In this exceptional reading by the Irish actor Barry McGovern, with Marcella Riordan, the world of the Wake is more accessible than ever before.
-
-
The keys to. Given!
- By hyand on 06-16-21
By: James Joyce
-
Mrs. Dalloway
- By: Virginia Woolf
- Narrated by: Juliet Stevenson
- Length: 7 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
It is a June day in London in 1923, and the lovely Clarissa Dalloway is having a party. Whom will she see? Her friend Peter, back from India, who has never really stopped loving her? What about Sally, with whom Clarissa had her life’s happiest moment? Meanwhile, the shell-shocked Septimus Smith is struggling with his life on the same London day.
-
-
One Tough Read Perfectly Delivered
- By Chris on 06-11-12
By: Virginia Woolf
-
To the Lighthouse
- By: Virginia Woolf
- Narrated by: Nicole Kidman
- Length: 6 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
To the Lighthouse is Virginia Woolf’s arresting analysis of domestic family life, centering on the Ramseys and their visits to the Isle of Skye in Scotland in the early 1900s. Nicole Kidman (Moulin Rouge, Eyes Wide Shut), who won an Oscar for her portrayal of Woolf in the film adaptation of Michael Cunningham’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel
The Hours, brings the impressionistic prose of this classic to vibrant life.
-
-
A book that will challenge you to think.
- By Kelly on 04-23-17
By: Virginia Woolf
-
Dubliners
- By: James Joyce
- Narrated by: Donal Donnelly
- Length: 8 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
These vivid portraits of the author's native city weave a tapestry of Dublin and its people, yet also poignantly mourn the decline of Irish culture and civilization. Published in 1914, the collection was decried by some as obscene, but Joyce saw the work as "a chapter in the moral history" of Ireland. The stories present a vision of Dublin's claustrophobia and psychological paralysis, but the work's heaviness is balanced by an eccentric assortment of characters and the author's dry, often unexpected humor.
-
-
Donal Donnelly is THE Voice for Joyce
- By Derek Hunter on 03-19-22
By: James Joyce
-
Dubliners
- Penguin Classics
- By: James Joyce
- Narrated by: Andrew Scott
- Length: 8 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Joyce's first major work, written when he was only 25, brought his city to the world for the first time. His stories are rooted in the rich detail of Dublin life, portraying ordinary, often defeated lives with unflinching realism. He writes of social decline, sexual desire and exploitation, corruption and personal failure, yet creates a brilliantly compelling, unique vision of the world and of human experience.
-
-
Well Acted and Interpreted
- By MHR on 02-02-20
By: James Joyce
-
Dubliners (Naxos Edition)
- By: James Joyce
- Narrated by: Jim Norton
- Length: 6 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
James Joyce's Dubliners is a collection of short stories about the lives of the people of Dublin around the turn of the century. Each story describes a small but significant moment of crisis or revelation in the life of a particular Dubliner, sympathetically but always with stark honesty. Many of the characters are desperate to escape the confines of their humdrum lives, though those that have the opportunity to do so seem unable to take it.
-
-
An approachable Joyce
- By Robert on 12-16-10
By: James Joyce
-
Finnegans Wake
- By: James Joyce
- Narrated by: Barry McGovern, Marcella Riordan
- Length: 29 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Finnegans Wake is the greatest challenge in 20th-century literature. Who is Humphrey Chimpden Earwicker? And what did he get up to in Phoenix Park? And what did Anna Livia Plurabelle have to say about it? In the rich nighttime and the language of dreams, here are history, anecdote, myth, folk tale and, above all, a wondrous sense of humor, colored by a clear sense of humanity. In this exceptional reading by the Irish actor Barry McGovern, with Marcella Riordan, the world of the Wake is more accessible than ever before.
-
-
The keys to. Given!
- By hyand on 06-16-21
By: James Joyce
-
Mrs. Dalloway
- By: Virginia Woolf
- Narrated by: Juliet Stevenson
- Length: 7 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
It is a June day in London in 1923, and the lovely Clarissa Dalloway is having a party. Whom will she see? Her friend Peter, back from India, who has never really stopped loving her? What about Sally, with whom Clarissa had her life’s happiest moment? Meanwhile, the shell-shocked Septimus Smith is struggling with his life on the same London day.
-
-
One Tough Read Perfectly Delivered
- By Chris on 06-11-12
By: Virginia Woolf
-
To the Lighthouse
- By: Virginia Woolf
- Narrated by: Nicole Kidman
- Length: 6 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
To the Lighthouse is Virginia Woolf’s arresting analysis of domestic family life, centering on the Ramseys and their visits to the Isle of Skye in Scotland in the early 1900s. Nicole Kidman (Moulin Rouge, Eyes Wide Shut), who won an Oscar for her portrayal of Woolf in the film adaptation of Michael Cunningham’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel
The Hours, brings the impressionistic prose of this classic to vibrant life.
-
-
A book that will challenge you to think.
- By Kelly on 04-23-17
By: Virginia Woolf
-
Joyce's Ulysses
- By: James A. W. Heffernan, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: James A. W. Heffernan
- Length: 12 hrs and 16 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Ulysses depicts a world that is as fully conceived and vibrant as anything in Homer or Shakespeare. It has been delighting and puzzling readers since it was first published on Joyce's 40th birthday in 1922. And here, Professor Heffernan maps the brilliance, passion, humanity, and humor of Joyce's modern Odyssey in these 24 lectures that finally make a beguiling literary masterpiece accessible for anyone willing to give it a chance.
-
-
Good to Begin With
- By Elisa on 06-21-16
By: James A. W. Heffernan, and others
-
Jane Eyre
- By: Charlotte Brontë
- Narrated by: Thandiwe Newton
- Length: 19 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Following Jane from her childhood as an orphan in Northern England through her experience as a governess at Thornfield Hall, Charlotte Brontë's Gothic classic is an early exploration of women's independence in the mid-19th century and the pervasive societal challenges women had to endure. At Thornfield, Jane meets the complex and mysterious Mr. Rochester, with whom she shares a complicated relationship that ultimately forces her to reconcile the conflicting passions of romantic love and religious piety.
-
-
Thandie Newton is INCREDIBLE!
- By Andrea Frazee on 10-31-16
By: Charlotte Brontë
-
The James Joyce BBC Radio Collection
- Ulysses, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man & Dubliners
- By: James Joyce, Gordon Bowker
- Narrated by: Andrew Scott, Frances Barber, full cast, and others
- Length: 13 hrs and 12 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Three BBC radio productions of major works by James Joyce - plus Gordon Bowker’s fascinating biographical account of his life.
By: James Joyce, and others
-
The Magic Mountain
- By: Thomas Mann
- Narrated by: David Rintoul
- Length: 37 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Hans Castorp is, on the face of it, an ordinary man in his early 20s, on course to start a career in ship engineering in his home town of Hamburg, when he decides to travel to the Berghof Santatorium in Davos. The year is 1912 and an oblivious world is on the brink of war. Castorp’s friend Joachim Ziemssen is taking the cure and a three-week visit seems a perfect break before work begins. But when Castorp arrives he is surprised to find an established community of patients, and little by little, he gets drawn into the closeted life and the individual personalities of the residents.
-
-
worth the wait
- By L. Kerr on 06-01-20
By: Thomas Mann
-
Great Expectations
- By: Charles Dickens
- Narrated by: Simon Prebble
- Length: 18 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
One of the most revered works in English literature, Great Expectations traces the coming of age of a young orphan, Pip, from a boy of shallow aspirations into a man of maturity. From the chilling opening confrontation with an escaped convict to the grand but eerily disheveled estate of bitter old Miss Havisham, all is not what it seems in Dickens’ dark tale of false illusions and thwarted desire.
-
-
Great Performance of a classic!
- By Steven on 08-18-13
By: Charles Dickens
-
Swann's Way
- By: Marcel Proust
- Narrated by: Neville Jason
- Length: 21 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Swann’s Way is the first of seven volumes in Remembrance of Things Past. It sets the scene with the narrator’s memories being famously provoked by the taste of that little cake, the madeleine, accompanied by a cup of lime-flowered tea. It is an unmatched portrait of fin-de-siècle France.
-
-
Not a book one reads but inhabits & floats through
- By Darwin8u on 02-24-13
By: Marcel Proust
-
The Dead
- By: James Joyce
- Narrated by: Michael Orenstein
- Length: 1 hr and 25 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Often cited as the best work of short fiction ever written, Joyce's elegant story details a New Year's Eve gathering in Dublin that is so evocative and beautiful that it prompts the protagonist's wife to make a shocking revelation to her husband - closing the story with an emotionally powerful epiphany that is unsurpassed in modern literature."The Dead" is the final short story in Joyce's 1914 collection Dubliners. It is the longest story in the collection and widely considered to be one of the greatest short stories in the English language.
-
-
Great short listen - tension builds at the end!
- By Anna on 10-19-16
By: James Joyce
-
The Most Dangerous Book
- The Battle for James Joyce's Ulysses
- By: Kevin Birmingham
- Narrated by: John Keating
- Length: 14 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Literary historian Kevin Birmingham follows Joyce's years as a young writer, his feverish work on his literary masterpiece, and his ardent love affair with Nora Barnacle, the model for Molly Bloom. Joyce and Nora socialized with literary greats like Ezra Pound, Ernest Hemingway, T. S. Eliot and Sylvia Beach. Their support helped Joyce fight an array of anti-vice crusaders while his book was disguised and smuggled, pirated and burned in the United States and Britain.
-
-
Excellent and Informative
- By Chris Reich on 06-23-14
By: Kevin Birmingham
-
As I Lay Dying
- By: William Faulkner
- Narrated by: Marc Cashman, Robertson Dean, Lina Patel, and others
- Length: 6 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
At the heart of this 1930 novel is the Bundren family's bizarre journey to Jefferson to bury Addie, their wife and mother. Faulkner lets each family member, including Addie, and others along the way tell their private responses to Addie's life.
-
-
Faulkner's As I Lay Dying review
- By Kristina on 11-12-08
By: William Faulkner
-
The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter
- By: Carson McCullers
- Narrated by: Cherry Jones
- Length: 12 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Carson McCullers was all of 23 when she published her first novel, The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter. She became an overnight literary sensation, and soon such authors as Tennessee Williams were calling her "the greatest prose writer that the South [has] produced." The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter tells an unforgettable tale of moral isolation in a small southern mill town in the 1930s.
-
-
Beautiful Prose and Perfect Narration
- By Michael on 03-15-15
By: Carson McCullers
-
The Pillars of the Earth
- By: Ken Follett
- Narrated by: John Lee
- Length: 40 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Pillars of the Earth tells the story of Philip, prior of Kingsbridge, a devout and resourceful monk driven to build the greatest Gothic cathedral the world has known...of Tom, the mason who becomes his architect - a man divided in his soul...of the beautiful, elusive Lady Aliena, haunted by a secret shame...and of a struggle between good and evil that will turn church against state, and brother against brother.
-
-
It was very hard to get through this one
- By Leslie on 03-12-13
By: Ken Follett
-
Light in August
- By: William Faulkner
- Narrated by: Will Patton
- Length: 15 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
An Oprah's Book Club Selection regarded as one of Faulkner's greatest and most accessible novels, Light in August is a timeless and riveting story of determination, tragedy, and hope. In Faulkner's iconic Yoknapatawpha County, race, sex, and religion collide around three memorable characters searching desperately for human connection and their own identities.
-
-
so large, so powerful, so conflicted
- By Darwin8u on 09-17-17
By: William Faulkner
Go Behind the Scenes with Colin Farrell
Publisher's Summary
Golden Globe winning actor and Dublin native Colin Farrell revisits his home country with a moving, authentic performance of one of Irish icon James Joyce’s masterworks, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man.
The quintessential coming-of-age story follows Stephen Dedalus as he matures in an era marked by budding Irish nationalism and intensely conservative Catholicism. From infancy to adulthood, Stephen struggles to find his place, flitting between periods of guilt-ridden fanatical religious obsession and hedonistic exploration. But even as he is pulled in every direction by family, flesh, faith, and nation, Stephen longs for something seemingly forbidden–the life of an artist.
Joyce’s first work to experiment with stream of consciousness style—a technique that he and his contemporaries developed—A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man evokes both the pains and complexities of growing up and the furious optimism that accompanies youth. Pulling from events from his own past, Joyce weaves a semi-autobiographical recount of life in nineteenth century Ireland, crafting a narrative that is at once tender and sharply satirical. When combined with Farrell’s gentle brogue, Joyce’s tale soars, as much a portrait of the artist as it is a portrait of Ireland itself.
Our favorite moments from A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man

About the Performer
Born and raised in Castleknock, Dublin in the Republic of Ireland, actor Colin Farrell began his schooling at the Gaiety School of Acting—but before he even completed his studies, he’d already landed starring roles in the miniseries Falling for a Dancer and the beloved BBC drama Ballykissangel. In 1999, Farrell made his film debut, in Tim Roth’s The War Zone. Shortly thereafter, his career took off, boasting early credits on films including Tigerland, Phone Booth, Minority Report, Daredevil, and Alexander. But it was his 2008 performance as troubled hitman Ray in Martin McDonough’s black comedy In Bruges that first brought him award season acclaim including a Golden Globe for Best Actor. After that incredible success, Farrell went on to star in Seven Psychopaths, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Saving Mr. Banks, Total Recall, Fright Night, Horrible Bosses, and The Lobster—the latter of which earned him nominations for Best Actor at the 2017 Golden Globes, 2015 British Independent Film Awards, and the 2015 European Film Awards. He currently lives in Los Angeles where he continues to hone his craft.

About the Author
One of the most inventive, influential, and important authors of the 20th Century, James Joyce left an indelible mark on literary tradition with a staggering canon of novels, short stories, and poems that span genres and decades. Born and raised in Dublin, Ireland as the eldest of ten children in an impoverished and unstable household, Joyce spent his childhood engulfed in the works of Dante, Aristotle, and Aquinas. By 22, he had published his first short story and was working diligently on producing longer works while toiling part-time as an English teacher to support his family. His first book, a collection of short stories entitled Dubliners, was published in 1914 followed shortly thereafter by the semi-autobiographical A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. But it was his 1922 landmark novel Ulysses, a feat of modernist literature, that earned Joyce tremendous fame. A highly experimental, deftly structured novel ripe with humor and rich characterization, the novel is one of the most hotly discussed literary works in the world. By his death in 1941, Joyce had already long cemented himself as what he is recognized as today—a legendary author whose mastery of language is matched only by his earnest portrayal of humanity.
Star-Powered Listens
From literary classics to celebrity memoirs, there's a star-studded listen for everyone in this handpicked collection.



Editor's Select
Whether it's a favorite author, genre, or narrator, there are some things we'll drop everything to start listening to.



Conquer the Classics
With so many incredible performances to choose from, check some of these top-notch listens off your literary bucket list.



What listeners say about A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Lynn A. D.
- 09-14-19
very well performed
This story was very well performed in wonderful Irish accents, and captured the mood and emotions of the characters. A young man struggles with his faith and purpose in life, struggling with sin, and yet speaking with his friends in philosophical and thought-provoking conversations.
9 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- James
- 01-29-19
Bitterly disappointed
I'm a huge fan of Joyce and when I saw this version by Colin Farrell I thought "well done Audible for matching this great book with an Irish reader". Unfortunately it didn't turn out as well as it should have. The reading was very one dimensional and with very little attention given to characterization. For example, Stephens father, who is a larger than life bombastic Cork man was portrayed as a very flat man with a Dublin accent. Time after time the text was misinterpreted giving the impression that the reader didn't understand what he was reading.
I can't help thinking that if Joyce was around today then this version wounldn't meet with his approval.
113 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Joanie
- 02-25-19
Thank Goodness for Mr Farrell
I honestly can't say that I enjoyed this book, I found it very drawn out and monotonous to say the least.
I'm sure that James Joyce was a brilliant writer, and if anything his attention to detail is astonishing!
But this particular book was just not for me, I listened to the end more out of respect and with a small flicker of hope that maybe, just maybe it will end better than it began, but alas it did not.....the only thing or I should I say the only one that kept me listening was Colin....Well done Mr Farrell, well done in deed, maybe try something a little lighter next time though, maybe something along the lines of Joy Ellis or Patricia Gibney?
56 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- M. Michaud
- 02-21-19
Loved it.
The native accent made this performance especially enjoyable. Chapter 3 made me laugh out loud. This audiobook makes Joyce more accessible...at least for me.
18 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Raffenblad
- 01-29-19
Finally
Colin Farrell is the perfect reader for this book. Much easier to follow the weavings of the story with his voice guiding the way.
26 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Etzkorn Family
- 06-29-19
A superb listen
Colin Farrell is excellent. Daedalus jumps alive in Farrell's rendition of the Joyce classic. I couldn't press pause.
26 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Anonymous User
- 05-23-19
The performance let me experience more
An incredible book that touched me closely, but I am amazed at how good the performance was. Truly raised it to a new level!
9 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Andre L. Gray
- 06-05-20
I JUST CAN'T FINISH IT....GAVE UP AFTER 2 HOURS!
I love classic novels but this is nearly impossible to follow! The writer is just all over place. You don't know where you are in the narrative! For example, Stephen is sick in bed in his school's infirmary then he is home with his family eating Christmas dinner then he is back at school with broken glasses. I'm trying to figure out how he got from A to B to C! I just cannot follow the story nor can I finished this book!! Colin Farrell's narration is really awesome!! But this book is too artsy for me...and boring!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Brett kroncke
- 05-12-19
Colin Farrell is perfect for this.
pleasant and clever and well narrated. another precocious brooding youth story, Irish style. highly recommended
11 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Henderson
- 02-18-19
Tough Read but I enjoyed this very much
It takes awhile to get used to Joyce's particular style, but the reading by Colin Farrell was exceptional and I very much enjoyed the book.
10 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Hannah
- 03-11-19
tantalising, tickling all of the senses
I really enjoyed this audio. An articulated dance with words so poetic and profound. I did think that the description of hell and damnation a bit full on, left echoes in my mind for a few days. Beautiful tone from Colin. With charm and clarity He really added to the stories capability to provoke and activate the awakened imagination, visualising nicely the presentation of this clever journey. Story Tellers at there best. thank you. x
7 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- John Tracey
- 07-21-19
If Only Colin Farrell had time to narrate Ulysses
A great book, fascinating following a young boy through his early education and reaching adolescence and making his own choices and decisions. The early part of the book reads as a child wrote it and becomes more eloquent as he ages and goes through change.
Colin Farrell is a natural narrator of Joyce's works and hopefully some day he has time to take on the bigger ones, very clear spoken, soothing and harsh when needs be but always at the perfect speed
6 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- MR
- 02-11-20
Perfect performance by Colin Farrell
I have several versions of Portrait of the Artist and they are all very good but I found this one by Colin Farrell the best.
4 people found this helpful
-
Overall

- Linde Schaafsma
- 03-09-19
Beautifully narrated
I have read the book before and loved it then. The narration adds an extra layer to it, especially as it is done by an Irishman. The female voices did make me chuckle.
4 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- pennie carroll
- 03-30-21
VERY BADLY READ
JAMES JOYCE would turn in his grave if he heard the dull and monotonous way Colin Farrell has read this wonderful work. Someone has to know Joyce and be able to love the way he uses words so poetically and musicall to appreciate his genius I could not get past the first chapter I felt so depressed and bored having done an MA on Joyce at Trinity College Dubln.
A total waste of money
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Declan Hannaway
- 03-04-20
Struggled through it.
I never got into this audiobook at all. The story was boring from the start and it didn't get any better as it progressed.
The positive was that Colin Farrell was great at narrating this audiobook and his voice is very easy to listen to.
Perhaps the story was wasted on me, but it just wasn't my type of audiobook.
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- ROSS JENKIN
- 09-12-19
A Masterpiece
Collin Farrell's performance was peerless, the story, the feeling and context of the times, and Stephen's searching was brought to life in a realistic and unpretentious manner.
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Stephen reid
- 07-21-19
Stunning performance by Farrell.
This a very challenging book but Farrell's performance brings it to life. The obvious struggle with his religion is the driver of all that he is . Ireland only onto recently has broken the suffocating shackles of the church ch ...
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Amazon Customer
- 08-13-20
The anguish of youth.
A joy to hear this wonderful story read by a true native Irishman, as if I am hearing it for the first time.
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Meggie
- 06-13-20
Narration at it's best.
Early into the audiobook are some background sounds, such as pages being turned. Truly wonderfull voice to listen to. and I will be more than happy to listen to any other narration by Colin Farrell. I am not too sure about the story.
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Anonymous User
- 02-18-22
Excellent Narration for a Titan of Modernism
This is a wonderful reading by Colin Farrel that captures the complex language of the scholarly and Irish vernacular with vigour and aplomb.
There are sections of this novel that require intense and focused reading (particularly the philosophical ideas of the aesthetic in the first half of chapter 5) and offer a powerful discourse into the nature of art, beauty and how we relate to them. Overall, Stephen Dardalus’ character arc is a rewarding coming of age story but personally, I found the spiritual tussle in Ch.3-4 to be a grind.
A book that I am glad that I have read but not one that I would revisit for fun. Although, I will revisit the first half of chapter 5 entry be say with a more critical eye.