Typhoon

By: Joseph Conrad

Narrated by: Roger Allam

Length: 3 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's summary

Typhoon is the story of a steamship and her crew beset by a tempest and of the captain whose dogged courage is tested to the limit.

Captain MacWhirr was an ordinary man. However, when his steamer Nan-Shan blunders into a hurricane, he and his crew must pull together to survive. The steadfast courage of an undemonstrative captain and the imaginative readiness of his young first mate becomes a partnership vital to human survival as they are challenged from without by the elements, and from within by human doubts and fears.

©2010 BBC Audiobooks Ltd (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

Astonishingly eloquent!

I thought this would be a fun sea yarn, and it was definitely that, but I was not prepared for the astonishing eloquence of the writing. In the descriptive passages, Conrad's prose swells with an almost rhythmic poetical cadence that makes it deeply satisfying. But there is nothing pretentious or abstract about the story: the characters are all vividly portrayed, their interactions lively and often amusing. The captain comes across as a wonderfully stolid, literal sort of fellow, like Drax the Destroyer from Guardians of the Galaxy (to draw an analogy from a somewhat different genre).

One thing that makes an enjoyable story even better is good narration, and Roger Allam gives a top-notch performance!

Excellent - all

Brilliantly written and read. I loved listening to every word of this exciting, fascinating book.

A great classic, very well narrated

I have wanted to read this book for a long time and finally downloaded it. I loved it and had a hard time putting this story aside. The outcome of the ship and crew are never certain and the captain is an interesting character with depth. The assortment of characters that are on this ship adds to the drama and seems to be well picked from experience the author had at sea. The description of the storm is as good as it gets bringing the reader into the horrible situation of the ship and her crew. The narration is stupendous and earned the already great story an extra star. There is no reason not to listen to this classic, highly recommended.

A wonderful story, well told.

A Joseph Conrad masterpiece, its only fault is its briefness. Roger Allam's reading was impeccable and left me curious if there were other classics read by him (unfortunately there isn't much)

Incredible experience, masterful performance.

After listening to this book narrated by Roger Allam my body and mind feel like I had actually been there. I'm still wrung out and stunned. What an experience! ...And I am still alive to tell the tale.

Phenomenal story

I loved this story, such great detail and storyline. Conrad is someone I will continue to read. So good.

Excellent

Brilliant performance of a fantastic book.
Conrad’s masterpiece of description comes alive in Allam’s voice.

A whale of a surprize

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

I would deffinately recommend this audiobook to friends -- in fact I have done so, several times over.

There are parts in this unabridged version that I never suspected to find. I was especially happy to discover the author's kinowledge of whaling. Also his kinowloedge of sailing and sailing vessels.

I would love tod go back 50 years and visit that dumb little Lit. 101 teacher I had my first year of college. She had no idea what this book was really about, she also had very little knowledge of the characters.

Instead of requiring students read that pittyful little paper back -- This version should be

What did you like best about this story?

The depth of information about whaling and the life of seamen in that eara. Even though I hate the killing of marine mamalls........ this story hightened my understanding of marine mamals.

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

no

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

no - it was all very moving.

Any additional comments?

Buy this audiobook - you will listen to it many times over.

Classic Conrad

I love Joseph Conrad's stories. The detail he goes to in describing his characters and setting. His subject matter also.

Great sea story

Roger Allam’s narration is perfection itself, and the story is classic Conrad. A great short listen.