Remember Ben Clayton

By: Stephen Harrigan

Narrated by: George Guidall

Length: 13 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's Summary

Audie Award Nominee, Literary Fiction, 2013

New York Times best-selling author Stephen Harrigan lit up the publishing world with his Spur Award-winning The Gates of the Alamo. The remarkable follow-up to that acclaimed hit, Remember Ben Clayton further cements Harrigan’s place as a premier voice in American fiction.

Exiled to Texas with his grown daughter, sculptor Francis “Gil” Gilheaney is commissioned to create a statue for a man who recently lost his son in World War I. But as work on the statue progresses, secrets slowly reveal themselves and Gil’s fragile family threads begin to fray.

©2011 Stephen Harrigan (P)2011 Recorded Books, LLC

Guidall Reads Another Winner

A few years ago, I heard the book's narrator, George Guidall, speak at a conference where he mentioned recording this title and enjoying it a great deal. I finally got around to listening to it and just as he said, I loved it.

Surprisingly, the author somehow succeeds in combining the seemingly unrelated topics of World War I, the Wild West, the art of sculpting, and the role of women after the turn of the century into a wonderful novel.

Guidall, has long been one of my very favorites, and this book was no exception.

Beautifully Written - Beautifully Narrated

I absolutely loved this book. There are so many layers to the relationships between fathers and daughters, fathers and sons & living in the present by understanding the past. Harrigan delves into these remarkable characters until you care deeply about each of them. Fantastic combination of history, art and the wild west woven into a beautiful tapestry.
5 stars*****

Wonderful Beginning

Would you consider the audio edition of Remember Ben Clayton to be better than the print version?

Yes. Guidall is spellbinding as a crusty Texas rancher, and his French accent is equally compelling.

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

The ending was too long coming. I felt like there were too many little stories and that better editing would have contributed to a stronger novel.

Which character – as performed by George Guidall – was your favorite?

Rancher Clayton

If you could take any character from Remember Ben Clayton out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Mostly I would have enjoyed attending the cattlemen's convention and listening to all their stories. That was an especially strong part of the book.

Great! Amazing, Complex Story Superbly Performed

Wow! This story is so much more than you might expect. There is a strong thread of world history behind the story that takes listeners from Texas to France and back circa 1918-1929. The author weaves war in Europe, American art culture, and early century ranching into a compelling story with amazing characters. George Guidall's performance adds immensely to a very good story. Very enjoyable and memorable.

Great story

What made the experience of listening to Remember Ben Clayton the most enjoyable?

Great Texas story.

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

Loved the narrators voice.

Any additional comments?

I heard Stephen Harrigan talk about writing this book and was drawn to the story. Loved hearing him talk about the characters as they developed throughout the story.

Perfect

This is a perfectly molded story, written patiently by a masterful author and performed brilliantly by a gifted narrator. Mr. Harrigan has grafted his characters seamlessly into the medium of Texas history, and Mr. Guidall has given them unforgettable voice. Had I not read other works by this author, I would say this is his masterpiece.

Masterpiece!!!

My first Stephen Harrigan book. Beautifully written historical fiction featuring my favorite narrator, George Guidall. I learned about early 20th century Texas and WW1. Sensitive and nuanced character development. My highest recommendation! I loved listening to this story!!!

Excellent

I can’t say enough about this book, and George Guidell made a great book spectacular.