Hamlet, Prince of Denmark: A Novel

By: A. J. Hartley, David Hewson

Narrated by: Richard Armitage

It is a tale of ghosts, of madness, of revenge - of old alliances giving way to new intrigues. Denmark is changing, shaking off its medieval past. War with Norway is on the horizon. And Hamlet - son of the old king, nephew of the new - becomes increasingly entangled in a web of deception - and murder.

Struggling to find his place in this strange new order Hamlet tries to rekindle his relationship with Ophelia - the daughter of Elsinore’s cunning spy master, a man with plots of his own. Hamlet turns for advice and support to the one person he can trust -- Young Yorick, the slippery, unruly jester, whose father helped Hamlet through a difficult childhood. And all the while the armed forces of Fortinbras, prince of Norway, start to assemble, threatening to bring down Elsinore forever.

Beautifully performed by actor Richard Armitage ("Thorin Oakenshield" in the Hobbit films), Hamlet, Prince of Denmark takes Shakespeare’s original into unexpected realms, reinventing a story we thought we knew.

A. J. Hartley is the New York Times best-selling author of the Will Hawthorne fantasy series and several thrillers, as well as the Darwen Arkwright books for younger readers. He is the Russell Robinson Distinguished Professor of Shakespeare at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

David Hewson is the best-selling author of more than 20 novels, including the Nic Costa crime series and a trilogy of books based on the hit Danish television show The Killing. His most-recent novel, The House of Dolls, begins a new series set in Amsterdam.

Richard Armitage is known to movie audiences around the world as "Thorin Oakenshield" in the trilogy of films based on The Hobbit. Born in Leicester, England, and trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, Armitage has performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company, and created memorable roles on Robin Hood, North & South, and other British TV series.

©2014 A.J. Hartley, David Hewson (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"It's a fresh, contemporary take on Shakespeare's tragedy, one not afraid to create new characters or cut long soliloquies. We get a noirish Hamlet, who, when asked by Laertes if he's ready to fence, blurts out: 'I've been ready all my life.'" ( Associated Press)

"English literature teachers worried about getting pupils entranced by Shakespeare should plug them in to this imaginative gloss on Hamlet before starting on the real thing. Hobbit-fanciers will rejoice to find that Richard “Thorin Oakenshield” Armitage is an outstandingly versatile narrator. This is the one of the most powerful listening experiences that I’ve had." ( The Times London)

"Armitage is amazing. He's more than a simple reader, showing himself as a gifted actor. He gives distinct life to each of the many characters in the tragedy, making it easy to follow the story. You can actually close your eyes and listen to the work and imagine the scenes unfolding, thanks to Armitage's acting skills." ( AudioFile)

Hartley and Hewson have done it again!

Any additional comments?

A. J. Harley has once again masterfully added flesh and sinew to a Shakespeare tragedy, this time bringing the story of Hamlet to life. Those who have succeeded in reading the original may not appreciate Hartley's work. But for those of us who, despite our desire, have been unable to overcome the difficulty inherent in reading Shakespeare's Hamlet, Hartley and Hewson have given us a wonderful gift. And Richard Armitage was an awesome pick for narration.

I am a novice of "The Bard"

Where does Hamlet, Prince of Denmark: A Novel rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I must admit, initially I purchased this book due narrator and the first chapter, I enjoyed "The Voice" more than the novel. I stopped listening until I felt I could listen to the story. I began listening from the beginning once again and I quickly got over "The Voice" and pretty much listened straight through. Now I want to read or listen to the original version of Hamlet. Mr. Armitage gave a wonderful performance but in the end I truly enjoyed the novel more. Having the authors explain how and why they came up with the idea of the novel, was icing on the extraordinary cake.

What other book might you compare Hamlet, Prince of Denmark: A Novel to and why?

In the past I have read or listened to David Baldacci, John Sanford, J. D. Robb, Lee Child and a great deal of non fiction. This novel has all the elements of a great suspense/thriller novel and I would and will recommend to all my friends that have similar taste in reading/listening choices.

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

No, this my first, only because I wasn't sure of female voices and "The Voice". I am pleasantly surprised.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Once I began listening to the story and not the narrator, that's pretty much what I did. Our daughter is an adult and she visits often, but I am no longer a full time, hands on Mom. My time is my own!

Any additional comments?

Now I have to listen to these authors interpretation of Macbeth!

Exceptional

It's not Shakespeare and it's not Hamlet, but it has all the great plots, subplots, and tragedy of Shakespeare in the prose of a novel with all the characters of Hamlet in a parallelish story. When it started I was not sure, but then I shortly found myself all caught up in it. The narration is amazing and really makes it an exceptional listen.

An Entertaining Take On An Enduring Classic

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, it gives additional depth to a centuries old classic tale.

What did you like best about this story?

I enjoyed the Yorick character.

Which scene was your favorite?

Hard to say, the encounter with the pirates perhaps.

Any additional comments?

First class performance by Richard Armitage.

Loved it.

Never could get through much Shakespeare, but knew I should. This novelization was easy to listen to and compelling end to end.