Robinson Crusoe

The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe

By: Daniel Defoe

Narrated by: Alan Munro

Length: 13 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's summary

Who has not dreamed of life on an exotic isle, far away from civilization? Here is the novel that has inspired countless imitations by lesser writers, none of which equal the power and originality of Defoe's famous book. Robinson Crusoe, set ashore on an island after a terrible storm at sea, is forced to make do with only a knife, some tobacco, and a pipe.

He learns how to build a canoe, make bread, and endure endless solitude. That is, until, 24 years later, when he confronts another human being. First published in 1719, Robinson Crusoe has been praised by such writers as James Joyce, Virginia Woolf, and Samuel Johnson as one of the greatest novels in the English language.

Public Domain (P)2013 Trout Lake Media

the narrators voice could cure insomnia

ive read the book a few times in the past its a great story but this narrator can talk you to sleep if i didnt love the book so much i wouldn't have finnished it

Fine story, poor narration.

Story, is read, with many pauses. It takes, one could say, some, getting use to.

Fun story

Going into it, I was of course familiar with the story. I enjoyed many episodes of Gilligan's Island and the Castaway movie. It was a really fun listen. I enjoyed the adventure and Robin's metaphysical musings on his plight. My favorite bit was his evolving estates. It did get tedious towards the end. The narrator's cadence made me worried at first, but I got over it quickly.

Surprising Spiritual Lessons

Great classic I had not read since Jr. Hi. Some excellent thoughts for our relationship with God.

A Classic

I would probably recommend getting a different version with a better narrator, but I still enjoyed the story.

A great adventure

I have figured out to listen to Munro read at 1.35 makes a great story.

A classic tale

As a young boy of 8 years old I began to read in earnest, it was 1962. I played outside like the rest of the kids but there were hundreds of days I would go into my bedroom, close the door, pull out a book and read for hours. I escaped into books and I loved reading the classics, my dad had a book case full of old classics which I devoured. The books were all in these old brown covers and they smelled old and musty and I loved that. I've read Robinson Crusoe, Robin Hood, Swiss Family Robinson, Kidnapped, and so many other classics repeatedly over the years, re-reading them I think helps me relive my childhood, they take me back to my bedroom as a child where I escaped the world and was drawn into these wonderful tales.
I think I enjoyed Robinson Crusoe the most because like myself, this man had escaped the hustle and bustle of everyday life and lived alone on a desert island, living off the land, building himself a home, a farm, and the tools he needed. It wasn't by choice that he was marooned on this island but reading between the lines I think when he was older he appreciated the time he had spent on the island and realized how it was special and not the solitary, lonely prison he so often mentioned during the story. I was escaping life in my bedroom, reading these books and totally immersed into these novels, teleported to another time and place.
I enjoyed how Robinson Crusoe was able to retrieve so many of the necessary provisions from the wreck to use to build his home, how he cataloged his findings, the weapons he recovered which allowed him to hunt and thrive on this secluded island in the middle of nowhere. It was funny how often he exclaimed how miserable the island was yet other times he marveled at the beauty of the island, he was conflicted.
The narrator did a great job but I did notice at times he seemed to become tired and almost sleepy, his voice became deeper and quieter at the end of the chapters. It was quite noticeable at the beginning of a new chapter he sounded more alert, more awake and as the chapter went on he became tired. I would suggest he take more breaks during the recordings. Please don't take my observations of the narrator as a negative, I very much enjoyed his voice and inflections, on a 1 to 5 scale I'd rate him at 4.5. Interestingly this audible version of Robinson Crusoe went beyond the book I've read all these years and onto his later life after being rescued from the island, that was quite a treat. I won't give the story away but all the additional details of his later life was quite enjoyable and parts were very exciting.
I totally recommend this audible tape, the narrator did a great job and just like the movies I've purchased I come back occasionally and re-listen to this book to escape back to the 1500's and Robinson's adventures at sea and on the island. A fantastic story!!

Poor narration

Excellent novel, but poor narration. The narration is so bad it makes the story difficult to follow. Just opt for a different reading of the novel, this one is cheap for a reason.

Wonderful

The pauses annoyed me but I liked the overall narration. I thought the slow speech emphasized the solitary aspect of the story.

Poor narration

Good story but the narrator's manner of reading is very annoying with odd halting throughout the reading that keeps the story from flowing.