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King Lear
- Argo Classics
- Narrated by: William Devlin, Ian Lang, John Tracy-Phillips, William Squire, Prunella Scales, full cast
- Length: 3 hrs and 4 mins
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King Lear
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Publisher's Summary
William Collins Books and Decca Records are proud to present Argo Classics, a historic catalogue of classic prose and verse read by some of the world’s most renowned voices. Originally released as vinyl records, these expertly remastered stories are now available to download for the first time.
‘When we are born, we cry that we are come to this great stage of fools.’
Depicting a once-great ruler's descent into madness, King Lear is one of the most powerful tragedies ever staged.
King Lear divides his kingdom among the two daughters who flatter him and banishes the third one who loves him. His eldest daughters both then reject him at their homes, so Lear goes mad and wanders through a storm. His banished daughter returns with an army, but they lose the battle and Lear, all his daughters and more, die.
All of the Shakespeare plays within the Argo Classics catalogue are performed by the Marlowe Dramatic Society and Professional Players. The Marlowe was founded in 1907 with a mission to focus on effective delivery of verse, respect the integrity of texts and rescue neglected plays by Shakespeare’s contemporaries and the less performed plays of Shakespeare himself. The Marlowe has performed annually at Cambridge Arts Theatre since its opening in 1936 and continues to produce some of the finest actors of their generations.
Thurston Dart, professor of music at London University and a fellow of Jesus College Cambridge, directed the music for this production.
The full cast includes: William Devlin; Ian Lang; John Tracy-Phillips; Patrick Creean; Gary Watson; William Squire; Donald Beves; Frank Duncan; Peter Orr; Michael Burrell; Peter Foster; Terrence Hardiman; Roger Hammond; Michael Bakewell; Jill Balcon; Prunella Scales; Margaret Rawlings.
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What listeners say about King Lear
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Georgia_Baxter
- 08-14-21
Loud Horns
The actors did an amazing job at portraying the characters, however, the horns they used in the play were so incredibly loud that it literally would hurt my ears until I muted it. Other than that, it was a good listen.
1 person found this helpful
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5 out of 5 stars
-
Nam Et Doctis Hisce Erroribus Versatus Sum
- By Darwin8u on 05-26-20
By: Robert Burton
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Don Quixote (Adapted for Modern Listeners)
- By: Miguel de Cervantes
- Narrated by: Johnny Heller
- Length: 4 hrs and 39 mins
- Abridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 182
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 142
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 142
Quixotic is a word that the dictionary defines as "extravagantly chivalrous or romantic; visionary...." and that is a fitting definition, indeed, for this charming retelling of Don Quixote, the 17t- century Spanish classic by Miguel de Cervantes, now updated for the modern listener. The gallant and fragile Quixote will touch listeners, as will his faithful squire Sancho Panza and the tragically beautiful heroine of the gentle Don’s chivalries, the fair Dulcinea.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Great way in
- By pxriver on 07-12-18
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Don Quixote
- By: John Ormsby - translator, Miguel de Cervantes
- Narrated by: Roy McMillan
- Length: 36 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,051
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 901
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 896
The most influential work of the entire Spanish literary canon and a founding work of modern Western literature, Don Quixote is also one of the greatest works ever written. Hugely entertaining but also moving at times, this episodic novel is built on the fantasy life of one Alonso Quixano, who lives with his niece and housekeeper in La Mancha. Quixano, obsessed by tales of knight errantry, renames himself ‘Don Quixote’ and with his faithful servant Sancho Panza, goes on a series of quests.
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4 out of 5 stars
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More than funny
- By Colin on 08-21-11
By: John Ormsby - translator, and others
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Mary Stuart
- By: Friedrich Schiller
- Narrated by: Alex Kingston, Jill Gascione
- Length: 2 hrs and 1 min
- Original Recording
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 48
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 40
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 40
"Elizabeth I of England is threatened by the survival of her Catholic cousin, Mary Stuart. Wrestling with her own conscience, the queen agonizes over Mary's fate, amidst fears for her own life. Court intrigue has never been more gripping than in this 'acute study in the art of double-dealing politics'.” (The New York Times)
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4 out of 5 stars
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Fully dramatic
- By Timoteo on 03-07-18
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Waverley
- By: Sir Walter Scott
- Narrated by: David Rintoul
- Length: 17 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 130
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 112
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Story4 out of 5 stars 111
Waverley by Sir Walter Scott is an enthralling tale of love, war and divided loyalties. Taking place during the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745, the novel tells the story of proud English officer Edward Waverley. After being posted to Dundee, Edward eventually befriends chieftain of the Highland Clan Mac-Ivor and falls in love with his beautiful sister Flora. He then renounces his former loyalties in order actively to support Scotland in open rebellion against the Union with England. The book depicts stunning, romantic panoramas of the Highlands.
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4 out of 5 stars
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Loved it
- By Tad Davis on 04-12-18
By: Sir Walter Scott
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Samson Agonistes
- By: John Milton
- Narrated by: David de Keyser, Philip Madoc, Matthew Morgan, and others
- Length: 1 hr and 51 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 59
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 54
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 54
Samson Agonistes, the 'dramatic poem' by John Milton, was published in 1671, three years before the poet's death. Written in the form of a Greek tragedy, with the Chorus commenting on the action, it follows the biblical story of the blind Samson as he wreaks his revenge on the Philistines who have imprisoned him. A powerful subject, with a personal resonance for the blind Milton, it is a perfect work for the medium of audiobook where poetry and drama can be balanced equally.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Unbelievable
- By Anonymous User on 11-06-20
By: John Milton
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Don Quixote
- By: Tobias Smollett - translator, Miguel de Cervantes
- Narrated by: Robert Whitfield
- Length: 36 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 1,069
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 641
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Story4 out of 5 stars 637
Don Quixote, the world's first novel and by far the best-known book in Spanish literature, was originally intended by Cervantes as a satire on traditional popular ballads, yet he also parodied the romances of chivalry. By happy coincidence he produced one of the most entertaining adventure stories of all time and, in Don Quixote and his faithful squire, Sancho Panza, two of the greatest characters in fiction.
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5 out of 5 stars
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A MUST READ CLASSIC
- By Randall on 04-25-09
By: Tobias Smollett - translator, and others
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Two Gentlemen of Lebowski
- A Most Excellent Comedie and Tragical Romance
- By: Adam Bertocci
- Narrated by: Bernard Setaro Clark
- Length: 2 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 46
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 43
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 43
Join "The Knave" and Sir Walter on a wild tale of mistaken identity, kidnapping, bowling, and a rug that, in faith, really tied the room together - in a sidesplitting Shakespearean comedy of errors and ninepins, told in five glorious acts of iambic pentameter and impeccable period prose.
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4 out of 5 stars
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A classic redone
- By J. Grablowski on 10-16-21
By: Adam Bertocci
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Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare
- By: Edith Nesbit
- Narrated by: David Thorn, Bobbie Frohman, Laurallee Westaway
- Length: 5 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 107
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Performance4 out of 5 stars 79
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Story4 out of 5 stars 82
Edith Nesbit re-tells the stories of William Shakespeare's plays, making them accessible to children, while evoking the drama and excitement of the originals.
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3 out of 5 stars
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Frustrating
- By Michele Elliott on 10-08-10
By: Edith Nesbit
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Don Juan
- By: Lord Byron
- Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble
- Length: 15 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 53
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 50
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 51
Lord Byron's satirical take on the legend of Don Juan is a moving and witty poem that sees the young hero in a reversal of roles. Juan sheds his image as a womanizer and instead becomes the victim of circumstance as he is relentlessly pursued by every woman he meets. Comprising 17 cantos of rhyming iambic pentameter, the poem is a crisp and accessible meditation on the madness of the world.
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4 out of 5 stars
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The Impertinence of Being Earnest
- By Jabba on 03-20-16
By: Lord Byron
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Don Quixote
- By: Miguel de Cervantes, Gerald J. Davis - translator
- Narrated by: John Hanks
- Length: 20 hrs
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 173
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 146
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 147
Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes, follows the adventures of Alonso Quijano, a hidalgo who reads so many chivalric novels that he decides to set out to revive chivalry, under the name Don Quixote. This is the story that a Nobel Prize Committee survey of one hundred of the world's best writers named "the greatest book of all time."
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5 out of 5 stars
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A wonderful, magical listen
- By K on 12-01-13
By: Miguel de Cervantes, and others
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Troilus and Criseyde
- By: Geoffrey Chaucer, Nevill Coghill - translator
- Narrated by: Charlton Griffin
- Length: 8 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 42
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 35
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 34
Set during the fierce Trojan War, Troilus and Criseyde is the poignant tale of love won and lost. The beautiful Criseyde becomes the object of desire for Troilus, the son of King Priam, and he is able to win her affection through the machinations of his uncle, Pandarus. They experience a brief time of bliss together, but despite their vows of faithfulness, they are soon separated by the fortunes of war.
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4 out of 5 stars
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Love Won and Lost, in Rhyme Royal
- By Bruce Herr on 03-26-15
By: Geoffrey Chaucer, and others
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The Plays of Sophocles
- Oedipus the King, Oedipus at Colonus, and Antigone
- By: Sophocles
- Narrated by: David McCallion
- Length: 5 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 53
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Performance4 out of 5 stars 47
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 45
Sophocles was born at Colonus, near Athens in about 496 BC and is considered to be one of the premier playwrights of Greek tragedy. His stories may have been filled with strife, but Sophocles himself was prosperous and came from a good family. It is said that he was handsome, wealthy, and a highly respected citizen of Athens. During his life, he wrote over 120 plays and was instrumental in how plays would eventually be performed, including the addition of stage props.
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1 out of 5 stars
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Bad Dialogue
- By Zoe Olvera on 08-12-18
By: Sophocles
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The Decameron
- By: Giovanni Boccaccio
- Narrated by: Simon Russell Beale, Gunnar Cauthery, Alison Pettitt, and others
- Length: 28 hrs and 5 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 212
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 187
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 188
The Decameron is one of the greatest literary works of the Middle Ages. Ten young people have fled the terrible effects of the Black Death in Florence and, in an idyllic setting, tell a series of brilliant stories, by turns humorous, bawdy, tragic and provocative. This celebration of physical and sexual vitality is Boccaccio's answer to the sublime other-worldliness of Dante's Divine Comedy.
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3 out of 5 stars
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Not Up to the Usual Naxos Standard
- By John on 11-15-17