The Croxley Master

A Great Tale of the Prize Ring

By: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Narrated by: Jill Dopp, John Sadoway, Adam McLaughlin

Length: 1 hr and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

Step into the gritty world of late 19th-century Yorkshire and meet Robert Montgomery, a young doctor's assistant and medical student. Montgomery needs £60 to complete his medical degree and fulfill his dream of becoming a doctor. But he has no way of raising the funds with his scanty wage. Fate takes a surprising turn when a violent encounter with a part-time boxer offers a glimmer of hope—the opportunity to enter a boxing match with a tantalizing £100 prize. But can Montgomery persuade his authoritative employer, Dr. Oldacre, to grant him a leave of absence? And if he does, can he defeat the reigning champion, Silas Craggs, the Master of Croxley, a titan from the neighbouring ironworks?

Will his courage and determination be enough to triumph and alter Montgomery's destiny forever?

Immerse yourself in the spellbinding world of 1897 Yorkshire, as masterfully depicted by the legendary Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. This riveting narrative is brought to life by the captivating narration by Jill Dopp and dynamic character voices by John Sadoway and Adam McLaughlin, aided by a rich tapestry of music and sound effects, artfully woven together to transport you directly into 1897 Yorkshire. Prepare to enter the ring, and experience the story of courage and resilience in this unforgettable auditory journey.

©2023 MTMorrow LTD (P)2023 MTMorrow LTD

An excellent adventure

This audio version of The Croxley Master is a faithful and unabridged adaptation with superb production values, fine acting and excellent sound/sound effects that takes the reader on an engaging adventure full of the atmosphere and excitement of the ring. Arthur Conan Doyle was himself an amateur boxer and a medical trainee working in the north of England as is the protagonist and this personal detail brings the story to life focusing not so much on the fierce aspects of the game but on the shared camaraderie and excitement of the audience - including the miners’ dogs who get in for half-price!

The story is populated with a range of memorable and well-developed characters and one of the major strengths of this audio version is how three actors (Jill Dopp, John Sadoway and Adam McLaughlin) so convincingly represent the personalities and accents of a good dozen or so individuals. I especially like the choice of a female narrator and Ms Dopp does an excellent job of it.

There is a lot of tongue-in cheek humour in this yarn but also a serious consideration of the impact of the industrial revolution on the English landscape and townships and on the lives of its folk. Doyle clearly believes that “manly” sports are character building and a reflection of the true British spirit and, while this thinking may be dated, his thoughts flow rapidly from his imagination imbuing the “main event”, the boxing match, with a liveliness and urgency that is very entertaining.

Highly recommended.

Gripping audio book with characters with fists of stone

Delightful audio production of this, unknown to me, novelette written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in 1899. The narrator superbly immerses the audience into the story while the cast of characters, music and sound fx’s support the story, dialects, and emotions of this period piece while leaving space for your own mind’s eye. It was the perfect 1 1/2 hr diversion on a long drive that capture the attention of the teenager as well.

Sport fans are sure to find this story exciting where a seemingly everyman sports enthusiast looks to achieve greatness.