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Trapped!  By  cover art

Trapped!

By: Robert K. Murray, Roger W. Brucker
Narrated by: Joe Barrett
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Publisher's summary

The sensationalism and hysteria of the rescue attempt in early 1925 of caver Floyd Collins generated America's first true media spectacle and one of the seminal events of the century.

The crowds that gathered outside Sand Cave in Kentucky turned the rescue site into a carnival. Collins's situation was front-page news throughout the country, hourly bulletins interrupted radio programs, and Congress recessed to hear the latest word.

With a new epilogue revealing additional information about the Floyd Collins story that has come to light since the book was first published, Trapped! is both a tense adventure and a brilliant historical recreation of the past.

©1979 Robert K. Murray and Roger W. Brucker (P)2009 Blackstone Audio, Inc.
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

Critic reviews

"This gripping account of the 1925 entrapment of Floyd Collins in Sand Cave simultaneously thrills and terrifies any reader." (Kentucky Living)
"The story of Floyd Collins' entrapment in a Kentucky cave makes for chilling and exciting reading." (Library Journal)
"The tension and confusion of the days of rescue attempts are made real." (Augusta Chronicle)

What listeners say about Trapped!

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

A real gem of an audio

This is one terrific audiobook. I was looking for something different, and being a native of Kentucky, I was pleased to find the story of Floyd Collins in audio book form. The writing is excellent, and even though I knew the outcome, it keeps you on the edge of your seat. Also, the narration is excellent and very entertaining. I have read about 70 audio books in the last 2 years, and this one is in my top 10. I would highly recommend this audio book. It will keep you listening....

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9 people found this helpful

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

At Last!

When very young, I found an old "78" record with the ballad of Floyd Collins (can be found with a Google search). Of course, I fell in love with it. Over the years, I found very little information about the man in the song - usually just a short "cave explorer, died trapped during a cave exploration". At last, an informative book about someone I have been curious about all my life. I enjoy doing cave tours and really enjoyed how some of the caves were originally explored and set up for tourists that are still popular today. I found that the ballad was a very accurate recounting of the tragedy of a young man who died doing what he loved - cave exploring.

Very interesting look at the country and the people during the 20's.

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5 people found this helpful

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

Better than expected

Any additional comments?

Less about caves, and more about the people and the media frenzy. Still, it made an entertaining read.

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4 people found this helpful

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

PalmSpringsPerry

Read Trapped nearly 40 years ago for the first time. I visited Sand Cave many times over the years, it is an eerie quiet place. If you listen hard enough you can still hear Floyd breathing and hoping Johnny Gerald frees him.

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4 people found this helpful

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

Very well written book about the tragedy of Floyd.

What did you love best about Trapped!?

I am Floyd's First cousin twice removed and have owned the book since I was a child. However, I've never read it and had heard much about the ordeal growing up but never thought a lot of it. I was thrilled when I saw the audiobook of it. I was able to read it over a weekend and wow, it was very engaging. I didn't want to turn it off even though I already knew what the final outcome would be. I would have read the book years ago had I known how thrilling it was.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Floyd was my favorite character. I can just imagine him in that dark, cold cave waiting to die. I kept hoping it would turn out different even though I already knew it wouldn't.

What does Joe Barrett bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The narration was fantastic! Even though the story was great, the narrater made it even better for me. His clear, well spoken style made it a pleasure to listen to and allowed me to fly right through it in a couple of days.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It definitely made me sad. I've since gone to Sand Cave a few times to view the entrance of the cave and think about all the commotion that once filled the area. I've also visited the Floyd Collins home place where crystal cave was. I think of Floyd every time I go to the Mammoth Cave area.

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2 people found this helpful

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

Extremely interesting!

I knew nothing about this chapter of history. Well read. The authors do a great job of explaining caving, this incident, and it’s context.

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

Excellent

Incredible story and an excellent narrator, easy to follow along. One thing learned is how misinformation takes place easily even in 1925 and reading or watching the news is a waste of time.

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

Claustrophobia off the charts

After u look up the actual cave sight. Along with the great description from the authors. You feel like ur there. Glad i know this true story.

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

Outstanding Performer

Performance was exemplary and greatly added to my enjoyment of the book. I want to get more books by this performer.

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

For an explorer!

Unless you are somebody who is trying to do a history writing it is not really worth the time. Way too many details for the average reader just wanting to know about some thing that happened.

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