King of the Vagabonds

Book Two of The Baroque Cycle

By: Neal Stephenson

Narrated by: Neal Stephenson (introduction), Simon Prebble, Kevin Pariseau

Length: 11 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

A chronicle of the breathtaking exploits of “Half-Cocked Jack” Shaftoe – London street urchin turned legendary swashbuckling adventurer – risking life and limb for fortune and love while slowly maddening from the pox – and Eliza, rescued by Jack from a Turkish harem to become spy, confidante, and pawn of royals in order to reinvent a contentious continent through the newborn power of finance.

The Baroque Cycle, Neal Stephenson’s award-winning series, spans the late 17th and early 18th centuries, combining history, adventure, science, invention, piracy, and alchemy into one sweeping tale. It is a gloriously rich, entertaining, and endlessly inventive historical epic populated by the likes of Isaac Newton, William of Orange, Benjamin Franklin, and King Louis XIV, along with some of the most inventive literary characters in modern fiction.

Audible’s complete and unabridged presentation of The Baroque Cycle was produced in cooperation with Neal Stephenson. Each volume includes an exclusive introduction read by the author.

Listen to more titles in the Baroque Cycle.

©2003 Neal Stephenson (P)2010 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Bawdy, learned, hilarious, and utterly compelling, [it] is sprawling to the point of insanity and resoundingly, joyously good.” ( Times of London)

“Thrillingly clever, suspenseful, and amusing.” ( New York Times Book Review)

"Most tales of 'olde' times are replete with castles, robed lords and ladies, and handsome men on horseback. But what about the wretches they pass on the side of the road as they go off to a lively joust? is about those men, the poor, the grifters, whose names are lost to history—the vagabonds. Stephenson's novel tells their story, with the able help of storyteller Simon Prebble. Prebble's witty banter is perfect as the voice of Jack, a knave who is out to prove that even a lowborn can succeed in seventeenth- and eighteenth-century Europe. Prebble even does a great job with the historical characters such as Isaac Newton, Ben Franklin, and others. Equal parts action and adventure, along with a healthy dose of humor, make this a great listen." ( AudioFile)

Where he rowed until he died

What an anticlimactic end is there a second book because now I’m pissed and Eliza felt like besides being witty she just used her body to get what she wanted

As always Stephenson delivers a Big Bang.

I listening to the series - this time in the order the books were written - two years after the first listen. I don't do this often and never with a gap of only two years. But the content of Stephenson's books is so dense and some of his best lines so subtle that the material feels fresh and worth paying attention to.

Awesome book

One of the greatest series ever written. A masterpiece. It's even better as an audio book than as a paper book.

Beautiful and bleak and has the ring of truth

This is the second of Neal Stephenson's Baroque Cycle books that I have listened to, and they just keep getting better. They have the feel of Umberto Eco's work, but without trying to overwhelm the reader. Stephenson presents a realistic view of the world in 17th century Europe. Its accordingly dark, bleak, and savage, but also very beautiful. Also, do not expect a happy ending-instead, look forward to a real one. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

pretty good

Great writing. Kinda slow. I'm hoping it will have a payoff further in the series.

One of my favorite books from the best series.

Gets better with every listen. Great characters and the best pacing of the series. So glad I'm less than half way through.

6th Times a Charm!!!

I’ve read and listened at least once every two years, Crypto first then Baroque Cycle!!!

the finest audiobook ever

as good the third time as the first, I very much enjoyed the prose, the story and the readers.

Have Nots

In "Quicksilver" it was all about learning the elitist and the upper class, but in "King of the Vagabonds" it's all about understanding the have nots. I will keep this review short just because I cannot wait to continue with the series. In this book there is a lot more action than intellectual conversation between the classes. The best way to describe the Baroque Cycle series so far, think Ken Folliet and historical fiction, but from a cyber punk, Neal Stephenson.

great story

Where does King of the Vagabonds rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

near the top

What did you like best about this story?

the characters, more of a story than the first installment.

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

yes, Simon Preble was great reading 1984.

If you could rename King of the Vagabonds, what would you call it?

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Any additional comments?

no