Castle Richmond

By: Anthony Trollope

Narrated by: David Beed

Length: 19 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

"Castle Richmond" (1860) is a novel by Anthony Trollope. It is set in southwestern Ireland at beginning of the Irish famine. Castle Richmond is situated on the banks of the Blackwater River in County Cork. The plot features the competition of two Protestant cousins of English origin, Owen and Herbert Fitzgerald, for the hand of Clara Desmond, the noble but impoverished daughter of the widowed Countess of Desmond, providing the novel’s principal dramatic interest.

"Castle Richmond" was the first of several novels by Trollope in which bigamy played an important role. The Irish famine and efforts by authorities to mitigate its effects are the subject of many scenes and the object of abundant commentary throughout. The famine also occasions more explicit religious commentary than is typical in novels by Trollope.

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An Excellent Reading of one of Trollope’s Irish Novels

I enjoyed this reading a great deal. This is a very interesting novel, though Trollope was trying to do two things at once, and I am not sure he could really do both in the same book. He is both writing a first-hand account of the Irish famine and, well, a Trollope novel.

The performance is very good, but I am sure I heard birdsong in the background at times, and that was distracting.

Distracting background noise in recording

This recording is peppered with distracting background noise and poor editing. Try playing at 1.1x speed for a more natural-sounding pace.

Great Story, Poorly read

Another great story, but the performance left alot to be desired. There ws background noise, mistakes in reading, the reader stumbled in his lines several times.

Background noise throughout

I enjoyed the story but was distracted at times by background noise. Well written story about love and parental ambitions for their children.

Always love anything by Trollope

Great performance, wonderful story. What’s not to like? Narrator has a gorgeous British accent and is easily understood by this CT Yankee.

Strange Wonderful Recording

Maybe i've entirely romanticized this recording but I was completely charmed by its lack of polish. I got the impression that the narrator did his work at home, perhaps for no or little money, and sometimes near an open window. Seagulls can be heard. A song bird can be heard. A cat mews. I loved it all.

The novel itself I found not as satisfying as the dozens of other Trollope novels I've listened to. The love story is great but it sits uncomfortably next to material about the Irish potato famine. I was glad I read it, though. And my hat's off to the narrator who did a great job seemingly without a producer.

Recording is mediocre

There is audible background noise-from birds chirping to a cat meowing. This is also one of the few trollope books that leave a lot left to be desired.

A charming listen

In a time of rancor and villains, this Trollope story is an absolute tonic. More and more I worry that society tries to cast people who's motives we don't understand as outright villains; this story defies that inclination. Trollope's gentle storytelling gives us all the information we need, often tongue-in-cheek, without ever telling us how to judge. The story is quietly absorbing, I learned a bit about the Famine, and I have to say I really enjoyed the reader as well. The occasional bird chirps or gulls had me imagining the bucolic Irish countryside, a really enjoyable experience throughout!

Another Great Anthony Trollope story

Typical of all his books, this one winds and weaves through the Irish country side during the time of the great potato famine. Didn't care much for the narrator, I found his voice annoying and it kept changing from one chapter to the next - sometimes in mid-paragraph....strange. Any you could hear sea gulls and children's conversations in the background. But the story is wonderful. I just wish they could have gotten Simon Vance to read it.

Spotty Narration but not bad

I enjoy Anthony Trollope, and since I recently went to Ireland, this one was especially interesting.

The narration has some background noise and seemed to not have been recorded all in the same place. Some of it sounded more hollow than other parts. But it was still okay. I could understand the narrator and it was fairly well fine. Not as good as the very best narrators though.