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Julius cover art

Julius

By: Daphne Du Maurier
Narrated by: Michael Maloney
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Summary

In this Audible Exclusive production, acclaimed actor Michael Maloney narrates the disturbing tale of Daphne du Maurier’s third novel, Julius. A dark and unsettling story, Julius follows the almost sociopathic tendencies of an aspirational Frenchman who will stop at nothing to achieve his dreams.

About the Book

Julius is a bleak and disturbing tale of one man’s unstoppable rise to the top and the shocking events that ensure he gets there. A dark twist on the typical rags-to-riches storyline, Julius follows the life of a young and ambitious French peasant (Julius Lévy) from his squalid life on the banks of the Seine to the vast majesty and wonders of London.

With the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian War, Julius is forced to flee for Algeria, where he soon learns the art of deception. Here, the listener is provided a glimpse into the mind of one of the most unlikable characters in literature. Now alone in the world, Julius manipulates everyone he can, aided by his intelligence and cunning, he cares nothing for the feelings of others and discards them without hesitation whilst he continues his relentless ascent.

A deeply unsettling, yet fascinating tale, Julius is a story that will resonate with the listener long after its final words have been spoken.

About the Author

Born in London, but having spent most of her life in Cornwall, Daphne du Maurier wasted little time in pursuing a literary career. Remarkably, at the age of just 26, Julius became her third published novel. Du Maurier was famously shy and reserved, rarely providing interviews and choosing not to refer to herself as Lady or Dame - both of which were titles she had been granted. Though not as well-known as her later works, notably Rebecca, My Cousin Rachel, and Jamaica Inn, Julius contains all the elements of suspense and unpredictability which fans have come to expect and enjoy. 

About the Narrator

Michael Maloney has been a regular face for the viewing public on both stage and screen for over two decades. He is best known for his performances as Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel in The Young Victoria, as Sandy Pabblem in Notes on a Scandal, and as Louis the Dauphin in Kenneth Branagh's 1989 film adaptation of Henry V. More recently, Maloney has also been lending his voice to radio dramas, video games and audiobooks, with over 70 of his narrated titles available on Audible.

©1933 Daphne Du Maurier Browning (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

What listeners say about Julius

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A lesser known but outstanding book from Daphne du Maurier.

Not as well known as Rebecca or My Cousin Rachel, but just as outstandingly good. The portrait of the driven and immensely successful Julius Levy, rising from the gutters of Paris and Algiers to wealth beyond dreams in London and then, finally, Paris. A life that begins with nothing and ends with nothing. What does it merit a man to gain the world ... A book that has intrigued and haunted me over the years. A parable and an inspiration. So good to re-live this saga through Audible.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Julius

having rediscovered Daphne Du Maurier I am working my way through her titles. I hadn't heard of this title before and was a little wary due to other reviews. I loved it. The story is good and i really enjoyed the narration which is acted rather than read.
Highly recommended.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Disappointing

I love Michael Maloney's acting, but his reading is too histrionic for audio books. I was gripped by the story, but couldn't stay with it because of the reading. Shame.

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4 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

"Cauliflower, leeks and sharp, ripe cheese."

Simply stunning. The life from just after birth to death of Julian Levi, his boyhood spent in a peasant family, his father a Jew, his mother and grandfather crude market peddlers from whom he learned the art of selling, the joy of getting 'something for nothing'. Forced to flee to Paris when the Prussians invaded, he begins to perfect his life skills selling rats to the starving inhabitants later stealing, conning, hoarding his money to build a fortune.
Julius is not a pleasant man, his own desires and obsession with possession present throughout his life, so it is also an uncomfortable book to read. Or would be, we're it not so beautifully written by cu Maurier, and equally well narrated by Michael Maloney. Hi expertly nuanced voice carries the smells and colours of the surroundings so expertly revealed by the author, he is pace perfect, his intonation so natural and almost comforting, plus the voices for each separate character is individually distinct and appropriate. A fine performance.

Set in the period spanning the nineteenth to twentieth centuries there is a lot to offend present day sensitivities. But leave the twenty first century behind and live, briefly, in the shoes of Julius, an unpleasant and ruthless man who, for all that he achieved and the pain he causes others, is still someone to be pitied.
Not a book for anyone expecting last paced action, or romance, or even happy ever afters: it is grim. But it is also a book which transports the reader to a different time and place and will stay in the mind for a long time

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3 people found this helpful

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Visceral Dark Story

A fantastic story about the character of a self made man.The ruthlessness of his actions and his desire for ownership not just of things but of people .

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2 people found this helpful

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Portrait of an ogre

Quite different from the other DDM novels or short stories I have read, less sinister but a disturbing character nonetheless.

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1 person found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars
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Such a nasty man - Julius

I love Du Mautier’s other books but this one is about such a nasty character & no one good at all to form a contrast - so I suffered it to the end but hated it !

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Excellent

Daphne du Maurier's books are always a revelation, always different from her others. This one is almost overwhelming, the story moves relentlessly through the horrific life of a monstrous person who has no ability to relate to others and no humanity. The narrator has picked up perfectly on the pace of the wonderful writing, I became so engrossed that I began to experience a rise in blood pressure and had to take it in small doses. I'm glad I persevered as the story, the character and the writing will live with me for some time.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Captivating

Brilliantly written and excellent narration and a fantastic book. Shows the worst of humanity and what greed and consumerism can do.

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