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Sherlock Holmes: The Definitive Collection
- Narrated by: Stephen Fry
- Length: 71 hrs and 57 mins
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Sherlock Holmes: The Definitive Collection
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Mythos
- Written by: Stephen Fry
- Narrated by: Stephen Fry
- Length: 15 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 1,621
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 1,358
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Story5 out of 5 stars 1,355
Here are the thrills, grandeur, and unabashed fun of the Greek myths, stylishly retold by Stephen Fry. The legendary writer, actor, and comedian breathes life into ancient tales, from Pandora's box to Prometheus's fire, and transforms the adventures of Zeus and the Olympians into emotionally resonant and deeply funny stories, without losing any of their original wonder. Learned notes from the author offer rich cultural context. This volume is a doorway into a captivating world.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Amazing
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Poirot's Finest Cases
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- Written by: Agatha Christie
- Narrated by: Full Cast, John Moffat
- Length: 15 hrs and 37 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 188
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 169
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Story5 out of 5 stars 168
John Moffatt stars as the Belgian detective Hercule Poirot. The ABC Murders: A chilling letter sets the sleuth on the trail of an enigmatic killer. After the Funeral: A wealthy businessman is dead, and his sister thinks it was murder. Death on the Nile: Poirot is in Egypt when a chilling murder takes place. Peril at End House: Whilst on holiday, the sleuth encounters a young woman, a hat and a bullet. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd: Mrs Farrars is found dead, one year after the death of her husband.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Love love this
- By Amanda Kamarauskas on 2018-09-19
Written by: Agatha Christie
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P.G. Wodehouse Volume 1
- The Jeeves Collection
- Written by: P.G. Wodehouse
- Narrated by: Stephen Fry
- Length: 40 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 100
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 84
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Story5 out of 5 stars 84
“I have the honour to offer up to you, thanks to the good people of Audible, a selection of some of my very favourite Wodehouse. If these stories are new to you I hope it will be the beginning of a lifelong pleasure, if some or all are familiar I hope you will welcome them like old friends.” (Stephen Fry). Audible Studios presents this brand new performance by Stephen Fry of some of his favourite Jeeves stories from P.G. Wodehouse, with an exclusive introduction.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Scintillating!!!
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Written by: P.G. Wodehouse
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The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
- Written by: Douglas Adams
- Narrated by: Stephen Fry
- Length: 5 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 2,429
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 2,115
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 2,108
Seconds before the Earth is demolished to make way for a galactic freeway, Arthur Dent is plucked off the planet by his friend Ford Prefect, a researcher for the revised edition of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy who, for the last 15 years, has been posing as an out-of-work actor.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Wow Stephen Fry
- By Anonymous User on 2018-05-27
Written by: Douglas Adams
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The Chronicles of Narnia Complete Audio Collection
- Written by: C. S. Lewis
- Narrated by: Kenneth Branagh, Alex Jennings, Michael York, and others
- Length: 33 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 767
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For over 60 years, readers of all ages have been enchanted by the magical realms, the epic battles between good and evil, and the unforgettable creatures of Narnia. This box set includes all seven titles in The Chronicles of Narnia - The Magician's Nephew; The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe; The Horse and His Boy; Prince Caspian; The Voyage of the Dawn Treader; The Silver Chair; and The Last Battle.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Great Story
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Norse Mythology
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- Narrated by: Neil Gaiman
- Length: 6 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 2,425
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 2,120
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 2,108
Neil Gaiman has long been inspired by ancient mythology in creating the fantastical realms of his fiction. Now he turns his attention back to the source, presenting a bravura rendition of the great northern tales. In Norse Mythology, Gaiman fashions primeval stories into a novelistic arc that begins with the genesis of the legendary nine worlds; delves into the exploits of the deities, dwarves, and giants; and culminates in Ragnarok, the twilight of the gods and the rebirth of a new time and people.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Fantastic!
- By Taylor Chafe on 2017-12-11
Written by: Neil Gaiman
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Mythos
- Written by: Stephen Fry
- Narrated by: Stephen Fry
- Length: 15 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 1,621
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 1,358
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 1,355
Here are the thrills, grandeur, and unabashed fun of the Greek myths, stylishly retold by Stephen Fry. The legendary writer, actor, and comedian breathes life into ancient tales, from Pandora's box to Prometheus's fire, and transforms the adventures of Zeus and the Olympians into emotionally resonant and deeply funny stories, without losing any of their original wonder. Learned notes from the author offer rich cultural context. This volume is a doorway into a captivating world.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Amazing
- By Kindle Customer on 2019-10-04
Written by: Stephen Fry
-
Poirot's Finest Cases
- Eight Full-Cast BBC Radio Dramatisations
- Written by: Agatha Christie
- Narrated by: Full Cast, John Moffat
- Length: 15 hrs and 37 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 188
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 169
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 168
John Moffatt stars as the Belgian detective Hercule Poirot. The ABC Murders: A chilling letter sets the sleuth on the trail of an enigmatic killer. After the Funeral: A wealthy businessman is dead, and his sister thinks it was murder. Death on the Nile: Poirot is in Egypt when a chilling murder takes place. Peril at End House: Whilst on holiday, the sleuth encounters a young woman, a hat and a bullet. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd: Mrs Farrars is found dead, one year after the death of her husband.
-
5 out of 5 stars
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Love love this
- By Amanda Kamarauskas on 2018-09-19
Written by: Agatha Christie
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P.G. Wodehouse Volume 1
- The Jeeves Collection
- Written by: P.G. Wodehouse
- Narrated by: Stephen Fry
- Length: 40 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 100
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 84
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Story5 out of 5 stars 84
“I have the honour to offer up to you, thanks to the good people of Audible, a selection of some of my very favourite Wodehouse. If these stories are new to you I hope it will be the beginning of a lifelong pleasure, if some or all are familiar I hope you will welcome them like old friends.” (Stephen Fry). Audible Studios presents this brand new performance by Stephen Fry of some of his favourite Jeeves stories from P.G. Wodehouse, with an exclusive introduction.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Scintillating!!!
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- Written by: Douglas Adams
- Narrated by: Stephen Fry
- Length: 5 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 2,429
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 2,115
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 2,108
Seconds before the Earth is demolished to make way for a galactic freeway, Arthur Dent is plucked off the planet by his friend Ford Prefect, a researcher for the revised edition of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy who, for the last 15 years, has been posing as an out-of-work actor.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Wow Stephen Fry
- By Anonymous User on 2018-05-27
Written by: Douglas Adams
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The Chronicles of Narnia Complete Audio Collection
- Written by: C. S. Lewis
- Narrated by: Kenneth Branagh, Alex Jennings, Michael York, and others
- Length: 33 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 767
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 638
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Story5 out of 5 stars 637
For over 60 years, readers of all ages have been enchanted by the magical realms, the epic battles between good and evil, and the unforgettable creatures of Narnia. This box set includes all seven titles in The Chronicles of Narnia - The Magician's Nephew; The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe; The Horse and His Boy; Prince Caspian; The Voyage of the Dawn Treader; The Silver Chair; and The Last Battle.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Great Story
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Norse Mythology
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- Narrated by: Neil Gaiman
- Length: 6 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 2,425
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 2,120
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 2,108
Neil Gaiman has long been inspired by ancient mythology in creating the fantastical realms of his fiction. Now he turns his attention back to the source, presenting a bravura rendition of the great northern tales. In Norse Mythology, Gaiman fashions primeval stories into a novelistic arc that begins with the genesis of the legendary nine worlds; delves into the exploits of the deities, dwarves, and giants; and culminates in Ragnarok, the twilight of the gods and the rebirth of a new time and people.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Fantastic!
- By Taylor Chafe on 2017-12-11
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Orwell Collection
- Animal Farm & 1984
- Written by: George Orwell
- Narrated by: Stephen Fry
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Audible Studios presents two new recordings of George Orwell's most celebrated novels – Nineteen Eighty-Four and Animal Farm – with exclusive introductions, written and performed by Stephen Fry.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Fry captures the story perfectly
- By Jen on 2021-05-21
Written by: George Orwell
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Moby-Dick
- Written by: Herman Melville
- Narrated by: Frank Muller
- Length: 21 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 62
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Labeled variously a realistic story of whaling, a romance of unusual adventure and eccentric characters, a symbolic allegory, and a drama of heroic conflict, Moby Dick is first and foremost a great story. It has both the humor and poignancy of a simple sea ballad, as well as the depth and universality of a grand odyssey.
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4 out of 5 stars
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Expected more from the Story
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The Canterbury Tales
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- Unabridged
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 2
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Story5 out of 5 stars 2
In The Canterbury Tales Chaucer created one of the great touchstones of English literature, a masterly collection of chivalric romances, moral allegories and low farce. A story-telling competition between a group of pilgrims from all walks of life is the occasion for a series of tales that range from the Knight's account of courtly love and the ebullient Wife of Bath's Arthurian legend, to the ribald anecdotes of the Miller and the Cook.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Language Barrier
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H.G. Wells: The Science Fiction Collection
- Written by: H. G. Wells
- Narrated by: Hugh Bonneville, Jason Isaacs, Sophie Okonedo, and others
- Length: 27 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 173
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 144
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 141
Known as ‘The Father of Science Fiction’, Herbert George Wells’ writing career spanned over 60 years. He was a writer of novels, short stories, nonfiction books and articles. As a young man, Wells won a scholarship to the Normal School of Science in London, sparking his infamous vocation as a science fiction writer. Introduced by film director and H. G. Wells fanboy Eli Roth, this collection features unabridged recordings of the novels performed by Hugh Bonneville, Jason Isaacs, Sophie Okonedo, David Tennant and Alexander Vlahos.
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5 out of 5 stars
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The genius of H.G. Wells
- By Jennifer on 2020-01-27
Written by: H. G. Wells
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Benedict Cumberbatch Reads Sherlock Holmes' Rediscovered Railway Mysteries
- Four Original Short Stories
- Written by: John Taylor
- Narrated by: Benedict Cumberbatch
- Length: 2 hrs and 4 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 163
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 135
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 135
Benedict Cumberbatch reads these four new Sherlock Holmes stories by John Taylor: 'An Inscrutable Masquerade', 'The Conundrum of Coach 13', 'The Trinity Vicarage Larceny' and 'The 10.59 Assassin'. Inspired by Arthur Conan Doyle's original Sherlock Holmes stories, John Taylor has written four more mysteries featuring the world's greatest detective. Read by acclaimed actor Benedict Cumberbatch, these new adventures share all the suspense of the original tales.
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3 out of 5 stars
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Predictable Stories, Wonderful Narration
- By Cheri Champagne on 2018-06-05
Written by: John Taylor
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The Stand
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- Narrated by: Grover Gardner
- Length: 47 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 2,858
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 2,532
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 2,528
This is the way the world ends: with a nanosecond of computer error in a Defense Department laboratory and a million casual contacts that form the links in a chain letter of death. And here is the bleak new world of the day after: a world stripped of its institutions and emptied of 99 percent of its people. A world in which a handful of panicky survivors choose sides - or are chosen.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Brilliant
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Written by: Stephen King
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More of Poirot's Finest Cases
- Seven Full-Cast BBC Radio Dramatisations
- Written by: Agatha Christie
- Narrated by: full cast, John Moffat
- Length: 13 hrs and 27 mins
- Original Recording
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 135
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 124
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Story5 out of 5 stars 123
John Moffat stars as the Belgian detective Hercule Poirot in seven more BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisations. The stories in this volume are: Evil Under the Sun, Sad Cypress, Murder in Mesopotamia, Lord Edgware Dies, Halloween Party, Murder on the Links and Five Little Pigs. Based on the original novels by Agatha Christie, these superb adaptations feature a cast of outstanding actors playing an array of likely suspects.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Poirot! What's Not to Like
- By Amazon Customer on 2018-01-12
Written by: Agatha Christie
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The Monster Collection
- Written by: Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker, Robert Louis Stevenson, and others
- Narrated by: Richard Armitage, Dan Stevens, Greg Wise, and others
- Length: 30 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 249
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 227
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 227
Audible presents a special edition of three Gothic masterpieces: a brand-new Audible Exclusive recording of Robert Louis Stevenson's The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and Bram Stoker's Dracula.
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5 out of 5 stars
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great books to have read to you
- By LorenLaberge on 2019-03-18
Written by: Mary Shelley, and others
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P. G. Wodehouse Volume 2
- The Blandings Collection
- Written by: P. G. Wodehouse
- Narrated by: Stephen Fry
- Length: 45 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 27
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 24
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 24
Audible Studios presents the second volume of the best-selling PG Wodehouse collection. In this volume, Stephen Fry lends his voice to the Blandings stories. This collection contains: Summer Lightning, Heavy Weather, Blandings Castle and Elsewhere, Lord Emsworth and Others, Uncle Fred in the Spring Time.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Brilliant, enjoyable listen
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Written by: P. G. Wodehouse
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Something Fresh
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- Narrated by: Jonathan Cecil
- Length: 7 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 2
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 2
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 2
The one thing that could be expected to disturb the peace of life at Blandings is the incursion of imposters. And Blandings has imposters like other houses have mice. On this occasion, there are two of them: both intent on a dangerous enterprise.
Written by: P. G. Wodehouse
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Pandemic
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- Written by: A. G. Riddle
- Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini
- Length: 18 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 422
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 394
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Story4 out of 5 stars 395
In Atlanta, Dr. Peyton Shaw is awakened by the phone call she has dreaded for years. As the CDC's leading epidemiologist, she's among the first responders to outbreaks around the world. It's a lonely and dangerous job, but it's her life - and she's good at it. This time she may have met her match. In Kenya, an Ebola-like pathogen has infected two Americans. One lies at death's door. With the clock ticking, Peyton assembles her team and joins personnel from the Kenyan Ministry of Health and the WHO.
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3 out of 5 stars
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Editor wrecks first words of every chapter!
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Written by: A. G. Riddle
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The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents
- (Discworld Novel 28)
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- Narrated by: Peter Serafinowicz, Bill Nighy, Rob Wilkins, and others
- Length: 8 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall5 out of 5 stars 9
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 9
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Story5 out of 5 stars 9
Maurice, a streetwise tomcat, has the perfect money-making scam. Everyone knows the stories about rats and pipers, and Maurice has a stupid-looking kid with a pipe, and his very own plague of rats—strangely educated rats. But in Bad Blintz, the little con suddenly goes down the drain. For someone there is playing a different tune and now the rats must learn a new word. EVIL. It's not a game any more. It's a rat-eat-rat world. And that might only be the start.
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4 out of 5 stars
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Great story; weak narrator
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Written by: Terry Pratchett
Publisher's Summary
Now updated to include Chapter Name Information, so you can easily find your favourite story or novel
Winner of Audible's 2017 Members' Choice Award
"...it was reading the Sherlock Holmes stories as a boy that first turned me on to the power of writing and storytelling." (Stephen Fry)
Ever since he made his first appearance in A Study In Scarlet, Sherlock Holmes has enthralled and delighted millions of fans throughout the world. Now Audible is proud to present Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes: The Definitive Collection, read by Stephen Fry. A lifelong fan of Doyle's detective fiction, Fry has narrated the complete works of Sherlock Holmes - four novels and five collections of short stories. And, exclusively for Audible, Stephen has written and narrated nine insightful, intimate and deeply personal introductions to each title.
Stephen Fry is an English actor, screenwriter, author, playwright, journalist, comedian, television presenter, film director and all round national treasure. He is the acclaimed narrator of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter audiobooks and most recently recorded The Tales of Max Carrados for Audible Studios. Stephen has contributed columns and articles to newspapers and magazines, appears frequently on radio and has written four novels and three volumes of autobiography.
Part 1
Chapter 1: Opening Credits and Introduction to A Study in Scarlet
Chapters 2-15: A Study in Scarlet
Chapter 16: Introduction to The Sign of Four
Chapters 17-21: The Sign of Four, Part 1
Part 2
Chapters 1-7: The Sign of Four, Part 2
Chapter 8: Introduction to The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
Chapters 9-21: The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Part 1
Part 3
Chapter 1: The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Part 2
Chapter 2: Introduction to The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes
Chapters 3-14: The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes
Chapter 15: Introduction to The Hound of the Baskervilles
Chapters 16-21: The Hound of the Baskervilles, Part 1
Part 4
Chapters 1-9: The Hound of the Baskervilles, Part 2
Chapter 10: Introduction to The Return of Sherlock Holmes
Chapters 11-21: The Return of Sherlock Holmes, Part 1
Part 5
Chapters 1-2: The Return of Sherlock Holmes, Part 2
Chapter 3: Introduction to The Valley of Fear
Chapters 4-18: The Valley of Fear
Chapter 19: Introduction to His Last Bow
Chapters 20-21: His Last Bow, Part 1
Part 6
Chapters 1-7: His Last Bow, Part 2
Chapter 8: Introduction to The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes
Chapters 9-20: The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes and Closing Credits
What the critics say
"The pairing of Fry and Holmes is a bit of a marriage made in heaven...." (New York Times)
"[Fry] gets into character with his habitual genius..." (The Times)
"Sherlock Holmes. Narrated by Stephen Fry. Need I say more? Honestly though, what a perfect way to get away from it all while you're cooking dinner, commuting, or tidying up this weekend." (Buzzfeed)
"If you're a fan of Sherlock Holmes, Stephen Fry, or the simple pleasure of the audiobook, today's your lucky day. Audible have unveiled a brand new reading of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's entire Sherlock Holmes catalogue, all performed by Fry's dulcet tones." (Evening Standard)
"If you've ever listened to the Harry Potter audiobooks, you'll know that Stephen Fry is responsible for the cosy and eternally reassuring voice that plays out during the recording of J.K Rowling's iconic books. Now, he's turned his talents to a brand new reading of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's entire Sherlock Holmes catalogue - and the thought of it has already got us clambering to pull up a comfy armchair in front of a roaring fire." (Metro)
"Having already narrated one of the world's best-selling book series in the form of Harry Potter, Stephen Fry has returned to the recording booth to take on another hugely popular series." (BBC)
"It doesn't get much more British than Stephen Fry talking about Sherlock." (Mashable)
"Sherlock Holmes is the unfading literary icon - as beloved and as relevant as he was over 120 years ago. To celebrate his currency, Audible has released Sherlock Holmes: The Definitive Collection; Arthur Conan Doyle's complete adventures of the famed detective, as narrated by lifelong fan Stephen Fry, including nine personal introductions exclusive to Audible." (The Independent)
More from the same
What listeners say about Sherlock Holmes: The Definitive Collection
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Gentleman Gamer
- 2017-09-21
An Elementary Purchase
... though Holmes never says once in the canon 'Elementary, my dear Watson', but I digress.
The Holmes stories are timeless, and thus easy to recommend to anyone; some of the novels may be a bit hard to get into for some- I'm thinking here of the lengthy backstory of the criminal included in the end of A Study in Scarlet particularly, though The Sign of Four and The Valley of Fear each in their turn also have lengthy, if more readable, backstories of their respective villains- but generally speaking, they're as interesting and readable now as they were when Conan Doyle wrote them. They're less a series of typical 'mysteries', but are more truly a series of 'adventures', as Watson puts it: there are plenty of conundrums to be sure and there is usually some problem posed to Holmes that he needs to solve, but they're not always of the 'whodunit' or 'howdunit' variety. In two stories he deals with threats of blackmail made to someone, another he attempts to stop a jaded woman from marrying a scoundrel, in several there's less investigation and more action, and then there are plenty of whimsical stories where merely something bizarre happens, and the whole of the story is spent in finding out the wherefore and why. Even by today's standards the stories never feel 'typical', mix things up a good deal, and are compulsively readable; they're not really 'mysterious' and tax your brain as you try to figure out a killer's identity as you would in a Christie novel, but the Holmes stories draw you in and seldom fail to engage and entertain. Thus I would recommend them to absolutely anyone and everyone, bar none.
As for whether a potential purchaser should buy this version of the Holmes canon with readings by Stephen Fry or the Simon Vance ones... well firstly, if you enjoy the Holmes stories already I'd genuinely recommend getting both, as they both have their strengths. If you're new to the stories however and just want to get into one version, here's my recommendation:
If you want an engaging, dramatic read, Fry's your man. He's got a real talent for putting emotion and personality into every character he reads, making them feel unique and distinct from another, and generally helping the characters leap off the page. This is especially nice, given that a majority of the time Watson is narrating the stories in 1st person, and thus the added inflection to his readings is wonderful.
If you want to ease into the stories however, and want to relax with them as you would a nice cup of tea, go with Simon Vance's readings. His harmonious voice draws you into the setting particularly, makes it come to life in your mind, and eases you into the story like you would ease into a cozy armchair. While I couldn't call the rest of the characters' readings more than passable compared to Fry, he does a great job with Holmes' and Watson particularly, which really is the important thing.
So yeah; go with Fry for flair, and Vance for a relaxing read. You can't go wrong with either :)
#Audible1
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68 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Al H.
- 2018-02-22
Stephen Fry is a master
Stephen Fry's personal love for Sherlock Holmes comes through in his masterful reading of this collection. An absolute delight filled with well acted voices, regional dialects and accents. Don't be surprised it you start listening again from the beginning as soon as you reach the end.
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15 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Patrick B
- 2018-05-01
Sherlock Holmes is excellent, but read by Stephen Fry makes it unbelievably awesome!
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s stories about everyone’s favorite fictional detective are amazing on their own. No dispute there.
However, these stories being given life by Stephen Fry’s breathtakingly amazing storytelling capabilities makes them an absolute must read (or listen, in this case).
Never have I ever been so immersed into stories as I was under Mr. Fry’s narration. There might as well have been an entire soundtrack of mood modifying music being his voice.
Absolute marvel is this collection of classics read by the eloquent Stephen Fry!
You will definitely be missing a masterpiece if you do not own Sherlock Holmes: The Definitive Collection.
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12 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- andrew eden
- 2018-01-29
simply fantastic!
Stephen Fry is brilliant as narrator. The stories come alive as he tells them with such enthusiasm!
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7 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Nes
- 2018-01-09
I absolutely amazing!!!
I love Sherlock Holmes and love Stephan Fry so this audio book was quite the treat. very enthralling. I highly recommend this audio book!
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5 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Sarah Galletly
- 2019-12-19
Excellent!
I absolutely love this! It is by far my favourite book I have listened to. Stephen Fry is a marvel narrator and gives the impression of different speakers without sounding distracting or taking away from the stories. I particularly enjoy the introductions to the different sections. It imparts a personal flavor to the Sherlock Holmes stories that I believe make them more enjoyable to hear from him. I have listened and relistened to this numerous times and I know I will enjoy hearing it again in the future.
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4 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Mr. Layton
- 2019-09-25
great stories
really enjoyed the whole series lots of material. felt sad when finished but also like I accomplished something significant.
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4 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Maria Dolores
- 2018-05-13
What fun, and how wonderful Mr Fry’s performance
I can’t believe I listened to the whole 6 parts of the series in just a few weeks. Such great escapism. And I greatly enjoyed Mr Fry’s comments about Sir A. C. Doyle, and the circumstances in which he wrote these wonderful adventures. Sherlock Holmes is truly eternal.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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- edgar stephens
- 2021-05-04
Stephen Fry + Sherlock = awesome
This was one of the first audiobooks I have ever purchased and I was not disappointed. I got it originally for the simple reason that it is very long and I like Stephen Fry. It has transformed into my trusty fallback, my old faithful, something I can listen to in small pieces or huge swaths of time. I can't say enough good things about Stephen, his voice is pleasant, he seamlessly alters his voice for each character even if it's ever so slight. The stories themselves are wonderful and I enjoy the glimpses of life in the Victorian era. My favorite stories would probably be "the sign of four" or "the valley of fear".
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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- Brendan
- 2018-08-08
Long but good
Stephen Fry is great in terms of timing and accents. The stories become repetitive and formulaic after a certain point, but that’s to be expected. It gave me a better perception of the time\space that Homes occupied, quite different than film, television and other media emphasize. It was worth the listen.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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- Antanas Grincevicius
- 2017-10-23
Excellent production
Previously bought Charlton Griffiths production of Sherlock Holmes.
Bought this one as I would like to listen to Stephen Fry’s narration.
Did an excellent job of pronunciation, characterisation including excellent Australian, South African and German accents.
The female voices were believable and added to the story.
Particularly liked the tone and inflection of the narration which fit with the speech. Eg Sherlock chuckled resulted in the passage being read with a chuckle.
Things which could have been added that I enjoyed Charlton Griffiths production were certain sound effects. Eg the gunshots during the narration of the killing of the despicable blackmailer Augustus Milverton.
Other than that very minor point would highly recommend to anybody wanting to transport themselves to a different age as I found it highly immersive.
I now press play to hear it again.
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29 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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- absRTP
- 2018-07-03
Best bang for credit!
Oh-my-god! Best purchase ever, 1 credit for 70+ hours of audio book! Stephan Fry is an amazing reader, he is a big fan of Sherlock Holmes and it shows!
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22 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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- Aud Jorunn Hakestad
- 2017-04-28
Stephen Fry's mastery performance
The stories are magical. The performance is splendid. One of my best listening experiences ever. Fry's different voices gives life to the great detective and his partner in a way that you think you're in the opposite chair.
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11 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- SMB
- 2017-08-17
Outstanding!
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
I would recommend this to anyone without hesitation.
What about Stephen Fry’s performance did you like?
Stephen Fry is truly a treasure. His style and technique are simply perfect. He is clear and his tone is steady and consistent. His voice characterizations are realistic and do not, in any way, irritate me like so many other readers. Additionally, Mr. Fry provides commentary at the start of each section. His comments are humorous and intelligent. I can't think of anyone else of this calibre. It is so easy to see that this is truly a work of love for Mr. Fry.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
It is impossible to listen to 71 hours in one sitting!
Any additional comments?
I have read the original stories many times. I also have many variations of Sherlock Homes, either radio productions or voiced reading. By far and above, this is absolutely the finest collection and reading made. For anyone who wants a "definitive" version which will be their "go to" version, this is it. Hands down. I will be listening to this collection for many years.
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10 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Aaron Upward
- 2017-04-19
WOW
I could listen to Stephen Fry all day, and I did, for multiple days, weeks even. This is a truely massive collection of stories and well worth the money!
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9 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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- Joanne
- 2017-06-04
technical issues
What disappointed you about Sherlock Holmes: The Definitive Collection?
After Chapter 40, it is impossible to choose any of the next 60 or so chapters at random. The default selection is chapter 40. Don't try rewinding either after Chapter 40. Love Stephen Frye. Hate the quality of the audiobook. I want my money back.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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- DFK
- 2019-09-09
A gem to take in doses
Just shy of 72 hours, this is not a “book” (it is a collection of books) to listen to continuously. Sherlock Holmes stories can become a bit boilerplate, so it is good to listen to some, and then it it aside for a while, though many times when you think you figured it out, you missed something. But every one is delightful in itself, and I recommend that you definitely add this to your library, and then listen to a few stories at a time, especially when you need a break from whatever might be getting you down. You couldn’t get a better deal (and I think I got it on some sale), penny per amount of pleasurable listening. Stephen Fry is magical. In the introduction he tells us that he is a big fan, and you can hear the enchantment in his superlative rendition. (Even his American accent is not bad!) I felt truly privileged to listen to him read to me.
I would not be responsible, though, if I did not express my usual dismay at the bits of racism and anti-Semitic tropes found here and there in these stories. It is no surprise - it is pretty standard for literature of the time, but I squirmed when a particular thug, who happened to be black (why am I told this at all? Why the dialect?) was described as a savage, or his hair as wooly. We read of a “Jew peddler” and other such tropes, and, in the very last story, The Case of Shoscombe Old Place, we repeatedly hear about “the Jews”, when the intent is creditors. In fact, Sir Robert - a bad guy in deep debt - says that his “chief creditor” is Sam Brewer, which doesn’t sound like a Jewish name at all. But even if he is Jewish, Sir Robert is not “in the hands of the Jews”. He owes a lot of money to Sam Brewer. Like much other literature that is otherwise worthy, my own approach is that we should call it out, we should express our discomfort and hopes that it is history and that readers today recognize these attitudes for the bigotry that they were, but we can still enjoy the books. In the case of this collection, these are definitely minor warts (unlike, for example, Shylock or Fagin). There are essays and articles that address Arthur Conan Doyle’s attitudes to people who were not white and to Jews - they are worth looking at to put a historical context on this problem.
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4 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Andy
- 2018-10-25
For a sherlock holmes fan , just the best
Stefen Fry is a great interpreter for audio books and this collection contains all of the original stories,
just loved it
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Esbern Holmes
- 2018-10-13
Holmes & Fry can't go wrong
although the Holmes stories are not all world class 90 % are and Fry is always 100 %
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- jbb_librolistener
- 2020-06-26
A narrator to fit the story.
The immortality of the stories about the adventures of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson speaks for themselves.
What makes this collection special is the narration of Stephen Fry. He makes the characters come to life and gives them personality with his splendid performance. A truly extraordinaire storyteller.
His forewords too are filled with passion for the Sherlock-saga, personal anecdotes and information about the author, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
I can only recommend this!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Agnes
- 2017-09-16
Grande qualité
Stephen Fry nous livre une merveilleuse performance, il trouve le ton pour chaque personnages. L'écoute est très agréable. Quand à l'histoire elle n'a pas perdue de son intérêt avec le temps.
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17 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Deneva Ivelina
- 2018-12-08
So disappointed that the collection ended...
The most captivating stories that I've ever listened. Awesome reader, Bravo! The author and the reader together transfer you in other epoch.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Tady Walsh
- 2020-02-26
What can one say...?
Stephen Fry reading the entire Sherlock Holmes... Is there much more that can be said? It's as wonderful as it sounds. It's read with aplomb and with the obvious love that Fry has of the source material. My ONE critique would be that Fry doesn't know his Irish accents quite well enough for the Irish characters, but that's being picky. His forewords are excellent and also give an insight into Conan Doyle's own history at the time of writing. Very interesting to apply that to the context of the subsequent passages. And Stephen Fry could read the back of a cornflakes packet and make it interesting, so with this, it's just wonderful. The perfect way to absorb all the greatest detective stories written.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Nomanzland
- 2022-07-05
Absolute must
I urge you, no, I beg you to indulge yourself with this masterpiece !
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Asiya
- 2022-03-06
Excellent! A must!
I absolutely loved it, of course I already loved the book, but Stephen Fry's performance is of excellent quality! I had great time listening to the whole collection!
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- Amazon Customer
- 2022-01-25
unbeatable
I cannot imagine anyone ever bettering Stephen Fry's tour de force in his presentation of the great detective and the people who inhabit his world. Bravo.
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- Anonymous User
- 2023-07-23
What could possibly be better?
Familiar tales read by a wildly talented actor with a voice I can never tire of.
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- Anonymous User
- 2023-03-31
Stunning
Even after nearly 60 hours of listening pleasure we are left wanting more… Thank you Stephen Fry for bringing these unforgettable characters to life!
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- Client d'Amazon
- 2023-03-20
Great reading
Stephen Fry is always a pleasure to listen to.
Some of the stories have become classics, and they sure are the best of the collection
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- martine D.
- 2023-02-17
Fan de Sherlock
Un pur plaisir !
Si vous aimez les histoires de détectives , ce mythique Sherlock est inusable !
Stephen Fry a , de toute évidence , été frappé par la grâce dès l'âge de douze ans , on sent le bonheur qu'il éprouve à prêter sa voix à l'illustre détective et son ami le Dr Watson
Quand on la chance de ne pas voir s'affadir ce plaisir depuis la sortie de l'enfance , on est vraiment béni et il l'est !
Sa diction est prodigieuse , d'une clarté incroyable et le vocabulaire très littéraire et un peu désuet fait que même avec un niveau d'anglais plutôt "académique" on suit les intrigues , 75 heures de plaisir soutenu , on ne rencontre pas ça tous les jours ,
Merci , merci et encore merci !
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