Four Fires

By: Bryce Courtenay

Narrated by: Humphrey Bower

Length: 29 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's summary

The four fires in this story are passion, religion, warfare, and fire itself. While there are many more fires that drive the human spirit, love being perhaps the brightest flame of all, it is these four that have moulded us most as Australian people. The four fires give us our sense of place and, for better or for worse, shape our national character.

©2013 Christine Courtenay; 2010 Bryce Courtenay (P)2008 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd

Critic reviews

"Humphrey Bower, speaking as Mole, delivers every possible nuance and emotion of his character’s story, and shows a startling aptitude for other dialects as well. Close family friends and enemies include surviving Polish Jews, an East Indian healer, an Irish Catholic priest, Japanese prison camp soldiers, and many others. All of them, young and old, male and female, spring to vivid life in Bower’s versatile voice. Narrative passages and dialogue elicit tears and laughter by turns, without a minute of boredom in the 30-hour production." ( AudioFile magazine)

One of many best reads by Bryce and Humphrey!

I love the depth of the story, characters and building of individual, family, community and worldly factual based events.

Always A Pleasure

I've said it before and I'll say it again, Bryce Courtenay can tell a good story. Four Fires weaves the story of the Maloney family (of Australia, of course) with historical facts of WWII Japanese prison camps, brush fires, Auschwitz, the Australian garment industry and women's rights...among other things!

I don't gravitate to historical fiction...but I have always enjoyed the combination of Bryce Courtenay and Humphrey Bower and will continue to turn to this pair if I want to be sure I'm getting a book I'll enjoy!

Absolutely wonderful

an unbelievably detailed story counting the lives of an Aussi family going from rags to riches. Read it, you'll not be sorry.

Truly great

This guy is amazing. I have never enjoyed so many books from one author than I have from Courtenay. His characters are so lifelike I find myself telling my wife about them as if they were real. I had never heard of him before and stumbled upon The Power of One and then Tandia. Now Four Fires and nexy the Potato factory. I have found a favorite author and the narration is perfect. You can trust the ratings, this is quality stuff. Enjoy!

I give it 11 out of 10!

By the time I was done with this book I felt I had lived in Australia for at least 19 years. I could easily say I felt at home but I was merely a transplant who watched it all fade away at the last word. I always enjoy Bryce's books, well, except Sylvia. This one is a close second to the Power Of One, which is the BEST.
He writes characters that you wish you really could meet and lives you wish you lived. Do take the chance on this book, I truly believe you'll enjoy it -as I did.

Intense

Trigger warning - this book is about PTSD. Be prepared. That being said. I loved it. He always makes me laugh and cry.

Very enjoyable

Any additional comments?

The reading of this was excellent, and certainly enhanced the experience. I came to realize what people meant when they criticized the book for everything always working out just right. The characters were extremely likable, and they weren't without their share of sometimes intense problems, but I actually found myself a few times wishing the author didn't have to make everything so neat and sweet.

The range of experiences covered and the fact that everyone was indeed so likable made this a great read in itself, but also a good antidote to the experience I feel I often have where I'm like, "Does everything have to always NOT work out?"

Courtney & Bower- a winning combination

I just finished Four Fires. I loved it from start to finish. I read it following Laura Hillenbrand's Unbroken and it was the perfect match. Everything I have ever read about WWII has been about the Holocaust. Both of these novels give an entirely different perspective - that of what it was like in the Japanese POW camps.
Bryce Courtney and Humphrey Bower have once again proved to be a fantastic combination.

Amazing Story Teller

This is the second book by this author that I have listened to. Bryce Courtenay writes with consistent brilliance. I am so glad Audible had a two for one sale, so that I gave this author a try. His books are filled with facts and his characters are so well rounded, all wrapped in a captivating story. Any history and or nature buff should give these books a try. Humphrey Bower is a phenomenal reader!

Great book

A great epic family drama, mixed with history and natural science. The characters will live on in my mind.