Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
The Tempest  By  cover art

The Tempest

By: William Shakespeare
Narrated by: Jennifer Ehle,Adrian Lester,Bob Peck,Simon Russell Beale,Jamie Glover,Richard McCabe
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $11.66

Buy for $11.66

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

This haunting drama of vengeance and forgiveness crowns the group of tragicomic romances that Shakespeare composed at the end of his career. Sometimes read as his farewell to the stage, the play contains some of Shakespeare's most lyrical verse.

Prospero, wise Duke of Milan, has been deposed by Antonio, his wicked brother, and exiled with his daughter Miranda to a mysterious island. But Prospero possesses supernatural powers. Aided by the spirit Ariel, Prospero uses his magical art to bring his enemies under his control.

Prospero is played by Bob Peck, Ariel by Adrian Lester, Jennifer Ehle is Miranda, Simon Russell Beale is Antonio, Jamie Glover is Ferdinand, and Richard McCabe plays Caliban.

Public Domain (P)2014 Blackstone Audio

Featured Article: 50+ Undying Quotes About Life from Acclaimed Authors


Though it's hard to argue with Merriam-Webster, we all know that life means something more than the standard dictionary definition—or, at least, we want it to. If you're searching for insights into the meaning of life, or words of inspiration to make your life more meaningful, there's no better source than authors of great works of literature. From Shakespeare to Alice Walker, from Jane Austen to Saul Bellow, iconic authors have a lot to say about life.

What listeners say about The Tempest

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    89
  • 4 Stars
    29
  • 3 Stars
    8
  • 2 Stars
    3
  • 1 Stars
    3
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    89
  • 4 Stars
    14
  • 3 Stars
    3
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    79
  • 4 Stars
    17
  • 3 Stars
    9
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    2

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Love ArkAngel's interpretation of Shakespeare

What made the experience of listening to The Tempest the most enjoyable?

The actors and the production always make ArkAngel top notch!

What other book might you compare The Tempest to and why?

Any ArkAngel production of Shakespeare... I particularly enjoy Macbeth, Hamlet, Othello, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Antony and Cleopatra, Taming of the Shrew, King Lear and Romeo and Juliet.

Have you listened to any of the narrators’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

The casting of actors is completely appropriate for the characters.

Any additional comments?

The ArkAngel productions are a wonderful supplemental component when teaching with Shakespeare. Having students listen while they follow along with the play, brings the words to life for them and allows them to see and hear the play, creating a more dynamic learning experience.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Arkangel kills it again

Fantastic rendition of a gorgeous play. Arkangel’s unabridged renditions are always the best. The music and sound design are especially beautiful and really convey the island’s magic.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Well done audio version of the classic

This audio version was excellent. The voice acting was amazing and audio effects were good but not too much. I need to see the play live. I think I would get more out of this seeing actors perform it. Hopefully a theater in the Twin Cities will perform it sometime in the near future.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

one of my favorites of all the Bard's plays

It's hard not to love a well-acted and produced production of any of Shakespeare's plays. I've always been fond of The Tempest, in particular. Thus my above stars.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Acts & Scenes

Why no table of contents, acts, scenes…it’s not music always flowing left to right.
IT’s Shakespeare!
Amazon you should not sell Shakespeare. You are too Ignorant and Greedy.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Another excellent play by Arkangel

An excellent play, great actors. Would recommend. Originally used this for a university class, but its so entertaining that its easy to listen to again and again.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderfully entertaining!

We listened to this version for our AmblesideOnline Shakespeare reading of The Tempest. They kids loved the music and drama, and I appreciated the meaning that was brought out by the excellent reading by the cast.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Womderful

The presentation was awesome and the actors did a great job with how they portrayed what Shakspeare wanted

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Not as good as Folger Theatre

I enjoyed the story, but was a little disappointed with the ending. I think I would like it better if I saw it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!