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Buddenbrooks
- The Decline of a Family
- Narrated by: David Rintoul
- Length: 26 hrs and 57 mins
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Buddenbrooks
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Summary
First published in 1900, when Thomas Mann was 25, Buddenbrooks is a minutely imagined chronicle of four generations of a North German mercantile family - a work so true to life that it scandalized the author's former neighbours in his native Lübeck.
As he charts the Buddenbrooks' decline from prosperity to bankruptcy, from moral and psychic soundness to sickly piety, artistic decadence and madness, Mann ushers the reader into a world of rich vitality, pieced together from births and funerals, weddings and divorces, recipes, gossip and earthy humour. It is perhaps the first great family saga of modern literature, and it brought to public notice a writer of world stature who, three decades later, was to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. David Rintoul gives one of his finest performances in this committed and deeply moving reading.
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What listeners say about Buddenbrooks
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Reader
- 22-05-22
Gentle and devastating.
I've never read or listened to Thomas Mann before and the excellent reviews persuaded me to launch upon this long long book. Beautifully crafted and humorously observed, this is the story of the Buddenbrookes, a good old family in terminal decline, along with the society they inhabit in turn of the century Germany. The performance is absolutely flawless and I felt comfortably carried along in another world, where action is sparse, people are flawed and life stories neither gripping nor tedious - a real world. A lovely book for all fans of slowly-unfolded epics.
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1 person 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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- ::m::
- 10-08-21
Possibly my favourite Audible book so far
A perfect combination of narrator and plot. The narrator generally keeps his tone neutral, but adds subtle nuance in exactly the right places.
A treat!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous User
- 23-04-24
Fantastic
Brilliant chronicle of a family suffering slow decline. Mann masterfully details his characters and makes you feel part of the family.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Issy
- 01-09-21
Exceptional authorship and narration.
Characters observed and described with fine detail by an author so young,22 years, is quite exceptional. Mann’s understanding of human nature and life’s extraordinary pathways is a rich weaving indeed.
The narration is first class and gives the writing its vibrancy.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 10-03-21
an old classic
old fashioned story beautifully told, you need to concentrate to follow all the characters. convincingly read by the actor
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Ola Agbaimoni
- 15-01-22
Simply fabulous
When I started listening I wasn’t initially taken by the very long descriptive style of the author. However after resolving to stick with it I ended by absolutely loving this book. It is a true masterpiece of literature with an Oscar willing performance by the narrator.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Len Collingwood
- 21-01-22
Superb reading of a much loved story
I found the narration absolutely compelling wonderfully nuanced and intelligent.
It seemed to fit perfectly my perception of the authors voice.
I can’t recommend this reading highly enough.
Added to this is the fine translation by John E Woods of Buddenbrooks used the reading. A real bonus for readers of Thomas Mann.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Janet Boyd
- 11-10-21
Simply wonderful
An extraordinary tour de force- cannot speak too highly of David Rintoul’s performance. And a wonderful book full of humour, wisdom, humanity - Thomas Mann was clearly one of the great thinkers of his age. Bereft now I’ve finally got to the end!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- davidmcewen
- 29-11-20
A great novel
Wonderful narration and a fabulous literary experience - having read this for the first time ten years ago, it was a joy to listen to it now once again through Audible
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Xabia
- 06-06-22
Fabulous!
This is my first experience of Thomas Mann and I have been bowled over by the sheer quality of his writing, his astute character observations and the wonderful descriptions - absolutely faultless and well read to boot. After 26 hours immersed in the Buddenbrook family saga I felt bereft when it came to an end.
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