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Fortune's Favorite
- Narrated by: Michael York
- Length: 5 hrs and 59 mins
- Abridged Audiobook
- Release date: 03-08-10
- Language: English
- Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Regular price: $19.93
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Publisher's Summary
Return to ancient Rome, where politics, ambition, and greed collide in the fortunes of two fiercely powerful men: Lucius Cornelius Sulla, the great general who returns from exile to be installed as dictator, and then stuns Rome with his startling self-imposed retirement; and Pompey, the young scion of an enormously powerful rural family, who determines to leapfrog over the traditional milestones to Roman political pre-eminence by any means necessary.
Passionate, ambitious, and larger than life, these men play out their fortunes against rebellious elements in Spain, dangerous rumblings in the East and the doomed slave revolt of the tragic figure Spartacus. But a greater threat to their place in history awaits - the fiery young warrior Julius Caesar, exploding now into manhood, his priest's robe shed in a most surprising manner. A newcomer to military glory and the Senate, he earns a formidable reputation as diplomat, lawyer and politician.
In fascinating and unrivaled grandeur, Fortune's Favorites sows the seeds of Caesar's terrible rivalry with Pompey, and sets into motion the events which will finally enable him to tower over history for all time.
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- Thinker
- 01-08-18
Narration a little lacking
A lively reading, but not very flexible - 90% of the people in this book have a nasal "upper class twit" voicing, to the point where during conversations I couldn't tell who I was listening to. There simply isn't an adequate vocal library. This makes this book, the abridged version of which at times sounds like a recitation, a little tedious to listen to.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- jparroni
- 04-22-16
Fantastic Story, abridged again...
If you could sum up Fortune's Favorite in three words, what would they be?
Historical power plays.
What did you like best about this story?
I like the opportunity to follow the development of these events and characters of Republican Rome through several books.
Have you listened to any of Michael York’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
Now, I have. He has narrated the subsequent books in this series and I find him the best. Though he uses regional British accents for some of the characters, one gets the intention even if the geography is misplaced.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
No
Any additional comments?
Abridgement, no good.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 11-16-18
Michael York Masters the Medium!😎
You could say, I enjoyed F. Murray Abraham's presentation of The Grass Crown, since I marathoned it, but I (hyperbole) Michael York's performance here.
While F. Murray Abraham made me smile in appreciation at times and his classically trained voice (right?) is somewhat akin to ear candy YORK made me laugh out loud many times at his supple presentation of the sometimes ribald humor of the story... Sulla's final triumph comes to mind.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- beverly
- 01-28-18
great book<br />
Love the book but so much better as an audible book. The performance was awesome
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Dotty
- Cumming, GA
- 02-22-16
READ the Book Do Not Listen to Abridged Version
Would you try another book from Colleen McCullough and/or Michael York?
Yes
Would you ever listen to anything by Colleen McCullough again?
Yes
Would you be willing to try another one of Michael York’s performances?
Unsure - If he learned to pronounce the characters in the books correctly (Kickero rather than Cicero).
What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?
Disappointment. Having read the book, I was looking forward to listening to the series. However, The Grass Crown, Fortune's Favorites, Caesar and Caesar's Women were in abridged version rather than unabridged. The abridged Grass Crown was OK since I knew the story. Fortune's Favorite Was AWFUL. The abridgment was horrible and the narrator didn't know Latin or was unwilling to pronounce people and places correctly.
Any additional comments?
The books and story are fantastic. The unabridged audio books are great, but Forget the abridged versions.