Spellbinder

By: Harold Robbins

Narrated by: Peter Berkrot

Length: 11 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

From the author of The New York Times number one best-selling novel The Carpetbaggers comes a hard-edged look at the seductive, high-stakes and often hypocritical world of religious revivalism and televangelists.

Spellbinder is the story of a genuine and charismatic believer simply known as "Preacher", who returns from the foxholes and horrors of Vietnam with a simple goal: to spread the word of peace, love, and charity. He immediately attracts a following as he moves from California communes to small surfing towns. "The Church", as his mobile flock is now known, is a culture that centers as much on sex and drugs as prayers, sacraments, and salvation. Despite a growing following, The Church is bordering on broke. As they reach what is surely the end of the line in Texas, a powerful billionaire witnesses Preacher and likes what he sees.

Promising a platform where Preacher can reach millions at once - not dozens - Preacher takes the leap into the new world of mass broadcasting the gospel. Before long, Preacher becomes one of the most powerful televangelists in the country, making influential friends and building a vast empire as the newest religious superstar. He finds his new success and status as "the" rock star entertainer of big-top religion intoxicating. Deep inside, however, he realizes that he's become just another "over-the-airwaves" televangelist selling everlasting salvation for an earthly price. With a burning conscience, he knows that he must make a gut-wrenching decision: preserve his empire to continue to spread the word or make the ultimate sacrifice to expose the hypocrisy that surrounds him.

With five weeks on The New York Times best-sellers list, this groundbreaking Harold Robbins novel tackles the culture of televangelism and big-money churches head-on.

©2014 RosettaBooks LLC (P)2014 Audible Inc.

Spellbinder

The story is great but reader is awful . His voice wears on you to the point of wanting to stop listening

A Masterpiece

Wow, A masterpiece. Became a Robbins’ fan about 3 years ago and I am slowly going through his work.

Robbins can be criticized for time hopping too much but in this one he kept it linear. Very clear and coherent.

Loved the protagonist, very strong character. I also think this book was ahead of its time and is still relevant today but probably was most retable in the 1990s and early to mid 2000s.

As a fan I assumed his best writing was in the 60s but after reading this two of my faves are in the 80s. The other is Goodbye Jeanette.

If you are a Robbin’s fan it is worth the read. This one has a couple quotable moments lines, too.