The Rime of the Ancient Mariner Audiobook By Samuel Taylor Coleridge cover art

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner

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The Rime of the Ancient Mariner

By: Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Narrated by: Richard Burton
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Richard Burton and Ralph Richardson join together in this unqiue musical production of Samuel Taylor Coleridge's "Rime of the Ancient Mariner". The superb delivery of both these actors is augmented by an original soundtrack composed by David Moore.

©2011 Saland Publishing (P)2011 Saland Publishing
Classics European Poetry World Literature
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this is one of my favorite stories and the narrator was good but why was there music in it? It seriously ruined it for me

why is there techno music in this??

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When I was in high school, my English teacher played us a record of Richard Burton reading the Rime of the Ancient Mariner. After over 40 years, I still remember it as one of the most beautiful things I have ever heard and was overjoyed to find this. I thought "What could a little music hurt?" I found out.
First of all, Richard Burton reading poetry is ALREADY pure music. Anything else is superfluous. Poetry also already has an inherent rhythm and the uncoordinated beating of drums in the background does not fit. They have also added long, boring passages of music interspersed with Burton saying "I shot the albatross."
The power of this poem is the vision of a man tormented by remorse, loneliness, silence and despair. The addition of fast-paced, loud music completely destroys this mood which had been beautifully interpreted by Burton.
I don't know what poetry hater had the bright idea of "improving" this masterpiece, but I sincerely beg Audible to re-issue it without the music!

Should have believed other reviewers!

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The majesty of Burton's voice and acting is drowned out by a strange selection of "music."

Disappointing

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It's just so sad but the background sound effects overpower the voices. Seagulls and ocean waves are nice but I really wanted to hear Richard Burton, ya know?

poor sound quality

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What would have made The Rime of the Ancient Mariner better?

Why on earth this narration has been vandalized by overlaying it with electronic Muzak is a great mystery, but it is clear that it has been senselessly ruined.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Rime of the Ancient Mariner?

The whole poem is memorable.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Richard Burton?

No narrator could overcome the terrible production

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from The Rime of the Ancient Mariner?

Of course not a word.

Any additional comments?

What a shame.

Utterly ruined by idiotic music

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