Journey to the Center of the Earth

By: Jules Verne

Narrated by: Simon Prebble

Length: 7 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's Summary

Geologist Otto Lidenbrock is perusing an ancient Icelandic manuscript when he discovers a mysterious encrypted note. The message reveals the account of a sixteenth-century explorer who claims to have found a passageway to the center of the earth.

In his quest to penetrate the planet's primordial secrets, the impetuous professor, together with his quaking nephew, Axel, and their devoted guide, Hans, sets off immediately for Iceland. Descending through the belly of a volcano into the bowels of the earth, they discover an astonishing subterranean world of prehistoric proportions.

A classic of science fiction that helped give birth to the genre, this imaginative speculation on the earth's nature is both a rousing adventure story and an apt portrait of the psychology of the questing scientist.

Public Domain (P)2008 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Spirited reading by Simon PREBBLE

This is an excellent reading of Verne's novel, maybe a shade less effective than Tim Curry's performance, but only a shade. Audible has had some trouble getting the recording straightened out. At the time of this writing, the audiobook is being credited to Simon Vance. It's actually read by Simon Prebble: both excellent narrators, but very different in style. For a long time, the preview was a selection from Prebble's version but the version that downloaded was by Frederick Davidson. Now the preview and download are right - both are Prebble - but the credits are wrong. In any case, Prebble reads this outstanding adventure with his usual charm and spirit.

7 of 7 people found this review helpful

Great book, wrong narrator

I have always loved Journey to the Center of the Earth. Even though I understand as an adult that the center of the earth is a rotating core of molten metal, Verne's novel still captures my imagination.

Be aware though that Audible is offering Blackstone Audiobooks's edition of Journal to the Center of the Earth with Simon Prebble as the narrator. In fact, the preview audio is indeed Prebble's narration. However, when I purchased and downloaded the audiobook, to my great surprise, I discovered that it is a version narrated by Frederick Davidson. I have nothing personal again Davidson, but I find his narration style to be supercilious and effeminate.

I've contacted Audible support twice about this mix up, but no quick solution appears forthcoming.

Unfortunately, Audible does not always give its older audiobook editions close scrutiny when it comes to accuracy and quality. For this reason, I have rated an audiobook that deserves 4 stars as 1 star.

12 of 14 people found this review helpful

Amazing reading of an otherwise wordsome story

Would you consider the audio edition of Journey to the Center of the Earth to be better than the print version?

Very much so. While I do not wish to judge the story as it is a classic and has some very good parts to it, I find that the story tends to drag in places and focus on the science and geology of the setting, not on the more fantastic nature of the story.While I understand that this is a style of writing some enjoy, I cannot but feel that it makes the story feel longer and dwells on things that most readers wouldn't care for. However, the reading itself by Simon Prebble is first rate and really carries the story.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

I found the ending to be a bit abrupt, we were at one place then suddenly were in another and everything worked out.

Which character – as performed by Simon Prebble – was your favorite?

Since this was told in the first person, this is a bit harder to decide. I will say that each of the characters was distinct and well defined, you wouldn't mix them up.

Any additional comments?

The narration of Simon Prebble was very good. The story itself is slow at times, but I can't give less than five stars overall for this narration.

There was some mention by others that there was an error in which recording was being offered, however as of this review this has been rectified.

I had previously purchased the Tim Curry reading of the same book and found it immensely dull. The pronunciation was careful and measured, but rather slow and didn't seem to have much excitement. I found that there were odd pauses in his speech and it threw me.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Great classic

What did you love best about Journey to the Center of the Earth?

The story was pretty engrosing; however, I do feel that it ends rather abruptly.

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

Great voice inflection and believeable alternative voices for the different characters.

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

no

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

A Wonderful Journey

A classic that takes you alongside three companions to the very bowles of the earth and beyond.

Good... if you can stand the accent

I love Jules Verne. A few weeks ago, I had just finished listening to 20,000 leagues under the see read by Harlan Ellison. Mr. Ellison made the experience of listening to this well known classic fresh and immediate. I was therefore anxious to listen to this other Verne classic, Journey to the center of the earth.

Though I was positively disposed to the material and the style of the author, I found the narration unbearable between the extremely well done dialog accents.

The narrator affects a pompous, arrogant English accent that puts me off. He did not sound at all excited about the material. Indeed, the reading was rather perfunctory. Try as I might to adapt to the accent, hoping that it would become 'invisible' with enough habituation, I am still in pain as I listen even after several hours.

My image of an excited young nephew going on an an adventure of a lifetime is not met in this work. Instead, the narrator sounds like a middle aged man giving an account of his latest polo match over afternoon tea.

3 of 8 people found this review helpful

totally amazing super cool I love axl !!!!!

amazing I wonder if an underground sea really does exist if so cool otherwise sad

Awful

Why did this go missing for so long?!, 1 star all round for that.

For those wondering, this is a five star product!

Annoyed I was unable to listen to this for over two months! And not even an update that it was back!

an excellent fantasy story

an excellent fantasy story clad in as much "fact" as to ease the reader into the impossible world that Verne describes with great sensitivity.

Great classic - don't believe the cover

What made the experience of listening to Journey to the Centre of the Earth the most enjoyable?

It's an excellent classic that doesn't need the mugshot of Brendan Fraser to sell it as I guess the movie version has far more added to it. It is simply a journey of adventure without the hype or constant technicolour explosions.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Journey to the Centre of the Earth?

The first encounter with life below the earth

Which scene did you most enjoy?

don't want to give the game away!!!!

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Nothing like the film :)

center to hard work

Not one of your best, hard going and the narration made it hard work

won't even download!!! overall I'm pissed off.

if you can help me download it that would be great. thanks for you help

0 of 1 people found this review helpful

Guerning to the centre of the earth!

Good old romp in true Jules Verne style. Beware Fredrick Davidson, who narrates. He is a some what acquired taste and his camp, arrogant drawl will set some people's teeth on edge. Recommend the story but avoid this narrator!

0 of 2 people found this review helpful