Gone with the Wind

By: Margaret Mitchell

Narrated by: Linda Stephens

Length: 49 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Literature, Margaret Mitchell's great novel of the South is one of the most popular books ever written. Within six months of its publication in 1936, Gone With the Wind had sold a million copies. To date, it has been translated into 25 languages, and more than 28 million copies have been sold.

Here are the characters that have become symbols of passion and desire: darkly handsome Rhett Butler and flirtatious Scarlett O'Hara. Behind them stand their gentler counterparts: Ashley Wilkes and Melanie Hamilton. As the lives and affairs of these absorbing characters play out against the tumult of the Civil War, Gone With the Wind reaches dramatic heights that have swept generations of fans off their feet.

Having lived in Atlanta for many years, narrator Linda Stephens has an authentic ear for the dialects of that region. Get ready to hear Gone With the Wind exactly as it was written: every word beautifully captured in a spectacular unabridged audio production.

©1964 Stephens Mitchell (P)2001 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"Beyond a doubt one of the most remarkable first novels produced by an American writer. It is also one of the best." ( The New York Times)
"The best novel to have ever come out of the South...it is unsurpassed in the whole of American writing." ( The Washington Post)

Gone With The Wind is a wonderful novel!

I always wanted to read Gone With The Wind, but could never get far
with the wonderful narration, I was finally able to hear the entire, unabridged novel. hearing this novel allowed me to see what life was like in the south before, during and after the Civil War. All Americans should read this book.

Such a luxurious read - your ears will thank you

I am so surprised by how much I loved this book. Never have I read something so beautifully enriched in detail. I felt enveloped into the scenery each moment I put my head phones on. The 49 hours went by toooo quickly in my mind.

I'll think about it tomorrow.

This story was long and hit a high quality note for me. The characters were realistic and well-developed. The reader was absolutely the best. Just from slight intonations I could always tell who was speaking. It seemed that the reader maintained this quality throughout the entire book. This was also a valuable piece of history. Margaret Mitchell is brilliant!

I love this book!

This is not my first time reading this book. It's one of my favorites

Better than the movie

I have always loved the movie but the book is far better. When you realize Margret Mitchells grandparents and their generation lived through the war and reconstruction you really get engulfed in the story. It is an excellent account of the old South, how the war affected everyone, and how difficult the reconstruction period was. There is no defense of the Old South, just a great story of what it was like, the culture, the beliefs, etc. The attack on Atlanta must have been harrowing to live through and Mitchell's relatives did and have clearly passed on their experiences to her. The story of course is excellent but you can better understand the story though the characters and the experience which cannot be separated. Ashley Wilkes is clearly the Old South and totally unable to adapt to any other life style. He is failed and weak as was the old culture...it was doomed to fail eventually. An enjoyable but tragic love story and an excellent education.

Overall, a wonderful book.

Would you consider the audio edition of Gone with the Wind to be better than the print version?

Truthfully, they are equally outstanding. Linda Stephens is amazing as the narrator. Having read the book as well, she perfectly fit exactly what I would have imagined. I felt like I was living the story and she really nailed her portrayal of Scarlett.

Which scene was your favorite?

The scene where Rhett asks Scarlett to be his mistress. Really any scene that includes the wonderful banter with Scarlett and Rhett, especially in the beginning of their relationship.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The death scene of Melanie and Scarlett's revelation of love for her as well as her realization that she is not in love with Ashley and even compares in to a child.

Any additional comments?

I do struggle with this book. It may have been ahead of it's time but it is still hard to get through at points. For example, the heroes are actually a part of the Ku Klux Klan.

Oh, the angst of it!

I am in physical turmoil: I feel as if I am there and want to shout "No, no, you can't do this!"
I have read this book before and seen the movie countless times, but listening is a whole new experience. I am living the book, the characters even populating my dreams at night.
The narrator is fantastic, making the many humorous scenes laugh-out-loud good and the pathos gripping. At this moment I can only feel sorry for those who have somehow lived like I had, never having listened to this book!

GWTW!

The lady who read this book was wonderful!! Great job!! Throughly enjoyed the story, the reader and the presentation!! Amazing!

loved

I have loved the movie for so long and never read the book, after "reading" the book it gives a new understanding to the movie. I love both now and highly recommend them. It also helps me understand the Ole South, the one my great grandmother and grandma use to tell me about. The story is fiction, but the manners and way of thinking are real, both in the grace of the time and horror of the way a race of people were treated.

The best ever

If you could sum up Gone with the Wind in three words, what would they be?

My best listening experience!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Gone with the Wind?

I couldn't wait to get in my car to listen to the next segment. The unsettling times of war and the challenge both races - white and black had to deal with in a changing world.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The struggle and hardships that people went through. How people just did what they had to do in spite of circumstances or what was the "norm" or what was expected.

Any additional comments?

How devastating for the women of that time period