Silas Marner

By: George Eliot

Narrated by: Andrew Sachs

Exclusively from Audible

For 15 years the weaver Silas Marner has plied his loom near the village of Raveloe, alone and unjustly in exile, cut off from faith and human love, he cares only for his hoard of golden guineas. But two events occur that will change his life forever; his gold disappears and a golden-haired baby girl appears. But where did she come from and who really stole the gold? This moving tale sees Silas eventually redeemed and restored to life by the unlikely means of his love for the orphan child Eppie.

One of Eliot's most admired and loved works, Silas Marner is a tender and moving tale of betrayal, greed, loss, and redemption, with a finely drawn picture of early 19th-century England before the loss of the simple rural way of life. This moral tale shows the importance of valuing what really matters in life and that the hand we are dealt may ultimately lead to our happiness. Though it is Eliot's shortest book it still retains all the elements which are most recognisable and admirable about her work.

George Eliot was one of the leading writers of the Victorian era. Her novels, largely set in provincial England, are well known for their realism and psychological insight.

Narrator Biography

Beginning his career in repertory theatre, Andrew Sachs made his screen debut in 1959 in the film The Night We Dropped a Clanger. After numerous television appearances, he finally made his name in the 1970s with his role as Spanish waiter Manuel in Fawlty Towers, for which he was BAFTA nominated. A long career in acting and voiceover work followed, including narrating all five series of the BBC's BAFTA award winning series Troubleshooter (1990-1993), ITV's ...from Hell series (1997-2010) and the spoof documentary series That Peter Kay Thing (2000).

Andrew Sachs radio work includes playing Dr John Watson in four series of The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (2002-2010) for BBC Radio 4 as well as appearing in their adaptation of Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency in 2007. In 2009 he starred as Norris' brother, Ramsay Clegg, in Coronation Street. Andrew Sachs audiobook career is extensive and includes many children's titles, such as Judith Kerr's Mog series.

Public Domain (P)2008 Audible, Ltd

amazing

Would you listen to Silas Marner again? Why?

The story is simply beautiful. Andrew Sachs is perfect, not only in reading it, but in actual playing the different characters, with different voices and even accents.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Silas Marner?

With no doubt, the moment Silas finds the child in the very spot where he had last seen his stolen money.

What does Andrew Sachs bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

the subtle ironies in many of the villagers tones, which, English not being my mother tongue, I would not have guessed by reading it myself.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Not quite, but It made me think a lot about human relations. Or rather, about how relations make us human. Silas the weaver is a total stranger in Raveloe (despite having been there for a good fifteen years) until the moment he weaves himself into the community thanks to the child he has adopted, his daughter.

Easy-listening, upbeat story; excellent narration

The story itself was enjoyable. It follows the old formula of creating ambiance by adding in lots of seemingly extraneous dialogue (though not nearly as much as you'd find in some other old stories, like "Les Miserables"). If you know that in advance, and don't expect a perfectly streamlined, a-b-c plotline, you'll be able to relax and enjoy that ambiance. Raveloe will start to feel like a town you know. And you'll be glad you took the time, because it's a pleasant, feel-good story.

As for the narrator, he's even better than the story. I'd happily listen to him again.

An excellent version of a classic

While I enjoy great Victorian literature, I can't say this book is on the level of Jane Austen, Elizabeth Gaskell or Charles Dickens. It is definitely worth a listen however, if for no other reason than that it is a classic and well done. I do not think I would have enjoyed reading it as much as in the city. Andrew Sachs could not have been a better narrator. I got this on a deal of the day and for that reason it was well worth the money. If you're at all interested I still think it will be worth it to you.

Somewhat rote Victorian moral drama of grace

Great reading, not a bad yarn of personal transformation really, fair good about class exploitation, if too gentle.

Excellent

A simple story, yet very touching. The narration, as others have remarked, was excellent. I recommend this audiobook.