A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man
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.
People who bought this also bought...
-
Crime and Punishment
- By: Fyodor Dostoevsky, Constance Garnett (translator)
- Narrated by: Anthony Heald
- Length: 20 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 3,547
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 3,155
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 3,147
In this intense detective thriller instilled with philosophical, religious, and social commentary, Dostoevsky studies the psychological impact upon a desperate and impoverished student when he murders a despicable pawnbroker, transgressing moral law to ultimately "benefit humanity".
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Joining my "Greatest Books" list
- By Ruthanne Davis on 01-24-14
-
David Copperfield
- By: Charles Dickens
- Narrated by: Richard Armitage
- Length: 36 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 3,222
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 3,009
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 2,987
Between his work on the 2014 Audible Audiobook of the Year, Hamlet, Prince of Denmark: A Novel, and his performance of Classic Love Poems, narrator Richard Armitage ( The Hobbit, Hannibal) has quickly become a listener favorite. Now, in this defining performance of Charles Dickens' classic David Copperfield, Armitage lends his unique voice and interpretation, truly inhabiting each character and bringing real energy to the life of one of Dickens' most famous characters.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Surprisingly Superior
- By donna lupton on 12-07-18
-
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court
- By: Mark Twain
- Narrated by: Nick Offerman
- Length: 13 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 5,381
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 5,063
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 5,051
With his trademark mirth and boundless charisma, actor Nick Offerman brought the loveable shenanigans of Twain's adolescent hero to life in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Now, in yet another virtuosic performance, the actor proves that despite being separated by a span of over a century, his connection to the author and his work is undeniable and that theirs is a timeless collaboration that should not be missed.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Mark Twain and Nick Offerman are a perfect match
- By Philip M. Chute on 10-23-17
-
The Plague
- By: Albert Camus
- Narrated by: James Jenner
- Length: 10 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 1,117
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 906
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 914
In the small coastal city of Oran, Algeria, rats begin rising up from the filth, only to die as bloody heaps in the streets. Shortly after, an outbreak of the bubonic plague erupts and envelops the human population. Albert Camus' The Plague is a brilliant and haunting rendering of human perseverance and futility in the face of a relentless terror born of nature.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Translator Please!
- By Plain English on 06-04-11
-
Jane Eyre
- By: Charlotte Bronte
- Narrated by: Thandie Newton
- Length: 19 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 8,573
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 7,951
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 7,931
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.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Thandie Newton is INCREDIBLE!
- By Andrea Frazee on 10-31-16
-
The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde
- By: Robert Louis Stevenson
- Narrated by: Richard Armitage
- Length: 3 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,767
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 1,640
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,633
Audible presents a special edition of The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde narrated by Richard Armitage. With Robert Louis Stevenson's The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Richard Armitage tells the story of a conflicted man who seeks a remedy to free the monster inside him from the clutches of his conscience. Following his celebrated performance of David Copperfield, Armitage delivers another powerhouse performance as the narrator of this Gothic tale.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Changed my understanding of processing literature
- By Brent W on 11-02-17
-
Crime and Punishment
- By: Fyodor Dostoevsky, Constance Garnett (translator)
- Narrated by: Anthony Heald
- Length: 20 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 3,547
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 3,155
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 3,147
In this intense detective thriller instilled with philosophical, religious, and social commentary, Dostoevsky studies the psychological impact upon a desperate and impoverished student when he murders a despicable pawnbroker, transgressing moral law to ultimately "benefit humanity".
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Joining my "Greatest Books" list
- By Ruthanne Davis on 01-24-14
-
David Copperfield
- By: Charles Dickens
- Narrated by: Richard Armitage
- Length: 36 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 3,222
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 3,009
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 2,987
Between his work on the 2014 Audible Audiobook of the Year, Hamlet, Prince of Denmark: A Novel, and his performance of Classic Love Poems, narrator Richard Armitage ( The Hobbit, Hannibal) has quickly become a listener favorite. Now, in this defining performance of Charles Dickens' classic David Copperfield, Armitage lends his unique voice and interpretation, truly inhabiting each character and bringing real energy to the life of one of Dickens' most famous characters.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Surprisingly Superior
- By donna lupton on 12-07-18
-
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court
- By: Mark Twain
- Narrated by: Nick Offerman
- Length: 13 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 5,381
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 5,063
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 5,051
With his trademark mirth and boundless charisma, actor Nick Offerman brought the loveable shenanigans of Twain's adolescent hero to life in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Now, in yet another virtuosic performance, the actor proves that despite being separated by a span of over a century, his connection to the author and his work is undeniable and that theirs is a timeless collaboration that should not be missed.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Mark Twain and Nick Offerman are a perfect match
- By Philip M. Chute on 10-23-17
-
The Plague
- By: Albert Camus
- Narrated by: James Jenner
- Length: 10 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 1,117
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 906
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 914
In the small coastal city of Oran, Algeria, rats begin rising up from the filth, only to die as bloody heaps in the streets. Shortly after, an outbreak of the bubonic plague erupts and envelops the human population. Albert Camus' The Plague is a brilliant and haunting rendering of human perseverance and futility in the face of a relentless terror born of nature.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Translator Please!
- By Plain English on 06-04-11
-
Jane Eyre
- By: Charlotte Bronte
- Narrated by: Thandie Newton
- Length: 19 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 8,573
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 7,951
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 7,931
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.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Thandie Newton is INCREDIBLE!
- By Andrea Frazee on 10-31-16
-
The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde
- By: Robert Louis Stevenson
- Narrated by: Richard Armitage
- Length: 3 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,767
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 1,640
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,633
Audible presents a special edition of The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde narrated by Richard Armitage. With Robert Louis Stevenson's The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Richard Armitage tells the story of a conflicted man who seeks a remedy to free the monster inside him from the clutches of his conscience. Following his celebrated performance of David Copperfield, Armitage delivers another powerhouse performance as the narrator of this Gothic tale.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Changed my understanding of processing literature
- By Brent W on 11-02-17
-
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: A Signature Performance by Elijah Wood
- By: Mark Twain
- Narrated by: Elijah Wood
- Length: 10 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 8,199
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 7,205
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 7,173
A Signature Performance: Elijah Wood becomes the first narrator to bring a youthful voice and energy to the story, perhaps making it the closest interpretation to Twain’s original intent.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Masterful Narration
- By Michael Balzoa on 03-11-11
-
The Penelopiad
- The Myth of Penelope and Odysseus
- By: Margaret Atwood
- Narrated by: Laural Merlington
- Length: 3 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 460
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 355
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 357
In Homer's account in The Odyssey, Penelope - wife of Odysseus and cousin of the beautiful Helen of Troy - is portrayed as the quintessential faithful wife, her story a salutary lesson through the ages. Left alone for 20 years when Odysseus goes off to fight in the Trojan war after the abduction of Helen, Penelope manages, in the face of scandalous rumours, to maintain the kingdom of Ithaca.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
An Intriguing Perspective on Greek Mythology
- By Brittnee on 10-21-11
-
Dubliners
- Penguin Classics
- By: James Joyce
- Narrated by: Andrew Scott
- Length: 8 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 30
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 27
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 27
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.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Well Acted and Interpreted
- By MHR on 02-02-20
-
Born a Crime
- Stories from a South African Childhood
- By: Trevor Noah
- Narrated by: Trevor Noah
- Length: 8 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 157,156
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 144,712
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 144,002
In this award-winning Audible Studios production, Trevor Noah tells his wild coming-of-age tale during the twilight of apartheid in South Africa. It’s a story that begins with his mother throwing him from a moving van to save him from a potentially fatal dispute with gangsters, then follows the budding comedian’s path to self-discovery through episodes both poignant and comical.
-
1 out of 5 stars
-
Nonchalant comments about animal abuse
- By Liesel Wallace on 06-11-19
-
The Silk Roads
- A New History of the World
- By: Peter Frankopan
- Narrated by: Laurence Kennedy
- Length: 24 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 2,506
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 2,236
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 2,234
It was on the Silk Roads that East and West first encountered each other through trade and conquest, leading to the spread of ideas, cultures, and religions, and it was the appetites for foreign goods that drove economies and the growth of nations. From the first cities in Mesopotamia to the emergence of Greece and Rome to the depredations by the Mongols, the transmission of the Black Death, the struggles of the Great Game, and the fall of Communism - the fate of the West has always been inextricably linked to the East.
-
2 out of 5 stars
-
Poorly Executed Thesis
- By Michael Jennings on 12-20-18
-
True Grit
- By: Charles Portis
- Narrated by: Donna Tartt
- Length: 6 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 5,655
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 4,561
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 4,560
Mattie Ross, a 14-year-old girl from Dardanelle, Arkansas, sets out to avenge her Daddy who was shot to death by a no-good outlaw. Mattie convinces one-eyed "Rooster" Cogburn, the meanest U.S. marshal in the land, to ride along with her. In True Grit, we have a true American classic, as young Mattie, as vital as she is innocent, outdickers and outmaneuvers the hard-bitten men of the trail in a legend that will last through the ages.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Nothing I like to do pays well.
- By Darwin8u on 05-21-18
-
Ulysses
- By: James Joyce
- Narrated by: Jim Norton
- Length: 27 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 1,796
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 1,424
-
Story3.5 out of 5 stars 1,397
Ulysses is regarded by many as the single most important novel of the 20th century. It tells the story of one day in Dublin, June 16th 1904, largely through the eyes of Stephen Dedalus (Joyce's alter ego from Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man) and Leopold Bloom, an advertising salesman. Both begin a normal day, and both set off on a journey around the streets of Dublin, which eventually brings them into contact with one another.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Ulysses (Unabridged)
- By Peter Deane on 01-22-09
-
Great Expectations
- By: Charles Dickens
- Narrated by: Frank Muller
- Length: 16 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,224
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 841
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 846
When the young orphan called Pip encounters the escaped convict Magwitch, the child's life is altered forever - in ways he cannot even imagine. In the course of his story, Pip encounters such memorable characters as the eccentric Miss Havisham and her beautiful ward Estella - and a mysterious benefactor. This recording includes both of the endings Dickens wrote for this classic novel.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Great wrting, perfect reader
- By Kindle Customer on 11-09-07
-
The Jungle
- By: Upton Sinclair
- Narrated by: George Guidall
- Length: 15 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 514
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 458
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 460
Few books have so affected radical social changes as The Jungle, first published serially in 1906. Exposing unsanitary conditions in the meat-packing industry in Chicago, Sinclair's novel gripped Americans by the stomach, contributing to the passage of the first Food and Drug Act. If you’ve never read this classic novel, don't be put off by its gruesome reputation. Upton Sinclair was a Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist who could turn even an exposé into a tender and moving novel.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Life in the stock yards of Chicago in late 1800s
- By Cheryl on 12-17-15
-
The Rise and Fall of Ancient Egypt
- By: Toby Wilkinson
- Narrated by: Michael Page
- Length: 18 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 496
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 454
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 455
In this landmark work, one of the world's most renowned Egyptologists tells the epic story of this great civilization, from its birth as the first nation-state to its final absorption into the Roman Empire - 3,000 years of wild drama, bold spectacle, and unforgettable characters. Award-winning scholar Toby Wilkinson captures not only the lavish pomp and artistic grandeur of this land of pyramids and pharaohs but for the first time reveals the constant propaganda and repression that were its foundations.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Well Written and Detailed
- By Matthew G. on 01-26-18
-
Orphan Train
- A Novel
- By: Christina Baker Kline
- Narrated by: Jessica Almasy, Suzanne Toren
- Length: 8 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 23,347
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 20,833
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 20,840
Penobscot Indian Molly Ayer is close to "aging out" out of the foster care system. A community-service position helping an elderly woman clean out her home is the only thing keeping Molly out of juvie and worse.... As she helps Vivian sort through her possessions and memories, Molly learns that she and Vivian aren’t as different as they seem to be. A young Irish immigrant orphaned in New York City, Vivian was put on a train to the Midwest with hundreds of other children whose destinies would be determined by luck and chance.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Moving story of sharing and transformation.
- By Kathi on 04-03-13
-
The New Jim Crow
- Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness, 10th Anniversary Edition
- By: Michelle Alexander
- Narrated by: Karen Chilton
- Length: 16 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 8,022
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 7,152
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 7,111
Seldom does a book have the impact of Michelle Alexander’s The New Jim Crow. Since it was first published in 2010, it has been cited in judicial decisions and has been adopted in campus-wide and community-wide reads; it helped inspire the creation of the Marshall Project and the new $100 million Art for Justice Fund; it has been the winner of numerous prizes, including the prestigious NAACP Image Award; and it has spent nearly 250 weeks on the New York Times best seller list.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Justice denied
- By Sam Motes on 09-24-14
Go Behind the Scenes with Colin Farrell
"In Farrell's reading...the great set pieces of the book—the violently argumentative Christmas dinner scene, the harrowing sermon on hell…are delivered with admirable coolness and restraint."
—The New York Times Book ReviewOur favorite moments from A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man
- A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man
- By: James Joyce
- Narrated by: Colin Farrell
- A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man
- By: James Joyce
- Narrated by: Colin Farrell
- A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man
- By: James Joyce
- Narrated by: Colin Farrell
- A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man
- By: James Joyce
- Narrated by: Colin Farrell
- A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man
- By: James Joyce
- Narrated by: Colin Farrell
- A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man
- Only God could do that
- A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man
- Athy tells Stephen a riddle
- A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man
- A Dedalus Christmas dinner debate
- A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man
- A poet? He’s only a rhymester!
- A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man
- Stephen reflects on the Virgin Mary
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 members say
Average Customer Ratings
Overall
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
5 Stars309
-
4 Stars161
-
3 Stars118
-
2 Stars45
-
1 Stars16
Performance
-
4.5 out of 5 stars
-
5 Stars450
-
4 Stars102
-
3 Stars28
-
2 Stars14
-
1 Stars8
Story
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
5 Stars271
-
4 Stars141
-
3 Stars102
-
2 Stars60
-
1 Stars23
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall1 out of 5 stars
-
Performance1 out of 5 stars
-
Story1 out of 5 stars
- 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.
96 people found this helpful
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- 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.
5 people found this helpful
-
Overall2 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story2 out of 5 stars
- 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?
52 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Linda
- 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.
22 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- 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.
14 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- 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.
24 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- 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!
8 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- 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
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- Broncofan
- 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
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- William
- 06-16-19
Amazing performance
One of my favorite performances in an audiobook! The story can be dense at times, but Colin Farrell absolutely brought it to life. This is an excellent way to enjoy a classic.
8 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- 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
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
- 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.
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- 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.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- 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 ...
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall2 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
-
Story2 out of 5 stars
- 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.
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- 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.
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- 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
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- dr shaun p griffin
- 07-04-19
Lovely
Beautiful. It comes together at the end to create a true enchantment of the heart. I've never been so moved by anyone's writing. And the performance by Farrell was brilliant.
-
Overall3 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
-
Story3 out of 5 stars
- Annie
- 02-23-19
Read When You Want To, Not When You’re Told To!
I read this for a course & that is not always the best way to read a book. I only continued, because I had to do so. I think I will enjoy it more when & if I revisit it. I do, however, think that this is only a portrait of a single young man, as opposed to young men!
-
Overall1 out of 5 stars
-
Performance1 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- John
- 11-04-19
Narrator Colin Farrell inappropriate choice
Farrell is a very successful film actor. But his particular Dublin accent is inappropriate to convey the atmosphere and accents of Stephen Dedalus and his Cork born father. The Dedalus family were an middle/upper class Irish family and would have spoken without a pronounced Dublin accent. Stephen’s father came from Cork and would have retained traces of his Cork accent. Also, Jesuits were particularly clear in their diction (they are trained to give clearly delivered sermons )and at ease with Latin. Farrell’s delivery is plain and lacks variety. There are a few unusual pronunciations.,Farrell’s stellar film career unfortunately is not a preparation for this reading challenge. I gave up after persisting for three chapters.,