The Turn of the Screw [Soundtrack Edition]

By: Henry James

Narrated by: Emma Thompson, Richard Armitage - introduction

Length: 4 hrs and 40 mins

Publisher's summary

This version of The Turn of the Screw features a soundtrack that includes music and sound effects designed to enhance the listening experience. We will send you a survey in the next few weeks to ask for your feedback on this version. Your feedback will be very helpful and is much appreciated.

Academy Award, Golden Globe, and Emmy winner Emma Thompson lends her immense talent and experienced voice to Henry James' Gothic ghost tale, The Turn of the Screw.

When a governess is hired to care for two children at a British country estate, she begins to sense an otherworldly presence around the grounds. Are they really ghosts she's seeing? Or is something far more sinister at work?

Having performed in films based on some of the greatest works in literature - including Sense and Sensibility, Howards End, Much Ado About Nothing, and Henry V - Thompson is no stranger to the classics, and she lends a graceful eloquence to this moody, macabre story. Joined by listener favorite Richard Armitage, who performs the prologue, Thompson reinvigorates this psychological thriller of life, death, evil, and the unknown.

Public Domain (P)2016 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"[Narrator] Emma Thompson gives the performance we expect from an Oscar winner. Most listeners don't think of Henry James as a passionate writer, but passion is there, and Thompson brings it out - and adds some of her own.... Thompson's reading will teach new listeners how to read the text - and perhaps James in general - and to understand why he's considered a genius." (AudioFile)

The Turn of the Screw

A suspenseful read with ghosts! Author leaves interpretation of the ending up to the reader

Good performance

The story itself was okay. I enjoy ghost stories, but this wasn't exceptionally special. The performance on the other hand was very good. I like Emma Thomson and thought she did a great job. The music in the background helped add to the eerie tone and I thought it was a good addition; compared to the almost empty sounding audio books where only the narrator can be heard.

Do Not Listen While Driving but Entertained Anyway

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The Book is hard to follow unless you are relaxing beside a fire with your eyes closed. I found it rather wordy and confusing as I listened to it while driving on a long trip. Thank goodness for the 30 second rewind.

Would you be willing to try another book from Henry James? Why or why not?

Probably not but he (this book seems like a lady wrote it) is a highly rated author and I wanted to experience one of his works. The book had too many words for me for a relatively simple plot.

Which character – as performed by Emma Thompson and Richard Armitage - introduction – was your favorite?

Of course the governess..Ms Thompson brought her to life.

Do you think The Turn of the Screw [Soundtrack Edition] needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

Unless someone sees the ghost of Henry James and can ask him to write a sequel, I think not.

Any additional comments?

Emma Thompson was wonderful and help me emotionally experience the tale. I am glad Richard Amitage only read the beginning as he read it too fast.The sound track did not add anything of consequence to the listening. Of course most of it was lost with road noise.

nail bitting!

I loved this suspenseful story! I couldn't stop listening. Using the soundtrack with the reading was so effective that I found my self in the storyline and at times was so taken in as to forget where I was. This will be among my most recommended books ever! I only hope Audible applies more soundtracks to other books of this caliber.

Fun, dark story; inconclusive ending

Would you consider the audio edition of The Turn of the Screw [Soundtrack Edition] to be better than the print version?

I have not read this story before, but I do listen to audiobooks at an increased speed (~1.5-2x). Between the emphasis of the reading and the background music, I was not able to do that with this book.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

The story tells you how to feel instead of giving you a reason to feel that way. I find this frustrating, and did was not satisfied with the ending.

Any additional comments?

I was given a free copy of this audio book to review.

So terrifying I had to listen all in one sitting!

Emma Thompson is absolutely brilliant. The sound effects and music were subtle, but effective, making the story seem as though it were really happening as you listen.

Not a fave

I thought Emma Thompson did a good job. Didn't much like the book though. They focused a lot on the children's beauty, and for me, that detracted from, rather than added to, the story.

Emma Thompson is Perfect

Wonderful narration, Emma Thompson is perfect as always. The "Soundtrack Edition" which includes ambient noises (footsteps/wind etc) is unnecessary. The narration itself is enough.
Perfect accents, emotion, pace!

a new experience of an old classic

Where does The Turn of the Screw [Soundtrack Edition] rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I've always loved this story and the movie adaptations of it and found this reading gave me a different perspective from either. Emma Thompson's reading was such a pleasure to listen too and I really enjoyed her interpretation of the governess's story and state of mind during the events in the book. I have listened to thousands of books and I would still have to say this production is in the top 10. Thank you audible and Emma Thompson!

Who was your favorite character and why?

The Governess of course ; )

What does Emma Thompson and Richard Armitage - introduction bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

We all voice these characters in our heads as we read and I have always leaned more towards the governess being just a bit vague and dreamy and not really in touch with reality. I always imagined her isolated upbringing and innocence would mean she expected reality to mirror some gothic romance book from her childhood. Emma Thompson's Governess character did not line up with what I always heard in my head and I found that added mystery and suspense to a book I have read many times. Audible productions can really be magical when they allow you to look at an old favorite in a totally new way. And of course Richard Armitage was most excellent as well.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Actually no. I wanted time to think about how different Emma's governess was from the one I had already fixed in my mind. I enjoyed thinking about the differences and what those differences would mean in the upcoming turns and twists the story would take.

Any additional comments?

If you are one of those people that don't buy audible versions of books you already know by heart from years of reading them keep in mind that a good actor can put a totally new spin on the stories you love and give them a fresh feel that adds a whole new dimension. I know it sounds trite but each new narrator, if they are good and these particular narrators are superlative, will let you experience this book anew thru another persons 'eyes'. and that is damn near priceless.

Excellent narration, dubious about sound effects

Emma Thompson does an excellent job with this narration of a wonderful classic. The unique factor here is the sound effects. I am not sold on them. They were well done, but they took me away from the story instead of allowing me to sink into it. In the future, I will be avoiding books with sound effects.

I still gave five stars to the story and performance of the narrator because those were excellent. It's just the production and sound effects that took away from om the overall.

My review is not a synopsis of the book, but rather my opinion of it. I received a free copy of this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review