The Napoleon of Notting Hill

By: G. K. Chesterton

Narrated by: Frederick Davidson

In 1904, Great Britain was at the height of its prosperity; but G. K. Chesterton saw the drudgery of capitalism and bureaucracy eating away at the eccentricity and spontaneity of the human spirit. In The Napoleon of Notting Hill, his first novel, Chesterton creates a witty satire of staid government, set in a London of the future.

Auberon Quin, a common clerk who looks like a cross between a baby and an owl and is often seen standing on his head, is one day told that he has been randomly selected to be His Majesty the King. He decides to turn London into a medieval carnival for his own amusement—with delightful results.

(P)1988 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Every page contains some delightful and pregnant phrase: the vitality, energy, and exuberant delight in his own handiwork it would be difficult to over-praise.”

(Daily News)

Pretty good

It was a fun story, full of interesting ideas and lovable characters. It got a little philosophical, but overall it is just a good story. Also the narrator was great.

Interesting

To say the least. A tangled web and definitely a piece of the times. GK has quite the way with words and spinning of tales. Who or what are the two different sides in this tale? An allegory for life or maybe mankind or something else? What you make of it is what it probably is.

Good ol' Chesterton

Don't forget to read/listen to Chesterton with a good sense of humor. Narrator is a bit shrill at times but does a good job differentiating the various characters.

Funny and Unique

This was a fun well written story. Inside there’s lots of subtle discussion of concepts like imperialism, romanticism and the root of joy but it never gets preachy.

The Napoleon of Notting Hill

It has been hard to follow the story and difficult to keep track of the characters