Story and performance both first rate

This is one of the finest audiobooks I have ever listened to, both the story and the performance were first rate. Compelling, compassionate. I have never read Dracula but I am going to now!

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4 people found this helpful

Stage hero’s and a heroine!

Brilliant portrayal of Henry Irving and Bram Stoker’s momentous contributions to the stage and to theatre history. Lots of lovely details bring their characters to life as the story cleverly unfolds. A powerful novel, I just wish it had been longer! Ellen Terry is there as well, adored, yet enigmatic. The scene setting is skilful, evoking the period with vivid description, scents and sounds. Mellifluous narration, made it, for me, a most enjoyable listen.

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Superb

Just wonderful. Even better if you are acquainted with Dracula. Perfect narration complements a splendid novel. My first, but not my last book by Joseph O’Connor

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Absolutely wonderful

O’Connor’s way with words in nothing short of magical...humour, pathos, touching moments, duelling with words...this is a majestic book...be prepared for a truly wondrous experience...

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A joy of a read, from start to end.

A most wonderful reading experience. A literary masterpiece, crafted by an author at the top of his game, skillfully narrated to bring life to each shining syllable. The dialogue and banter between Stoker, Irving and Terry skips along to the thrum of Victorian London life. Humorous, touching and emotive. Highly recommended, and an essential addition and listen to your Audible library.

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20 people found this helpful

Wonderful, engrossing book

brilliant storytelling and vivid description. I have read it twice and listened once and there is always something new to discover.

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1 person found this helpful

A fantastic listen

I thought this book was brilliant. Joseph O'Connor has done a wonderful job of telling Bram Stoker's story. He has pulled together so many threads: the acting world, homosexuality in the time period, Jack the Ripper, conspiracy theories, Bram Stoker's life story, and Dracula. And he has handled each element so deftly, without casting any value judgements but just making the reader aware of them in the context of Bram's life. I found the ending a little drawn out, but it does hold some interesting insights into the times.

Both narrators were excellent but Barry McGovern was brilliant.

I will be searching out other works by both the author and the narrator. Just Brilliant.

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Fabulous Gothic Tale

I absolutely loved this book so beautifully narrated by Barry McGovern. Magnificent prose, atmospheric, tender and amusing. Will definitely listen to it again.

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Superb

The best work by far that I’ve heard on Audible. The book and the narration are nuanced and thoughtful, intelligent and immensely touching. If only there were more than five stars - this would deserve them all.

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More Hearts and Loves than Stakes

I bought the hard-copy of this book and the audiobook after hearing the briefest of description on the radio, and I am so pleased that I did. This is a really rewarding listen/read both in terms of the relationships involving the characters, and also the ‘teasings’ concerning how much written about in this novel is reflected in Bram Stoker’s 1897 ‘Dracula’. I enjoyed the dialogue which never fails to hit the mark and frequently sparkles – but that does not mean it is always pretty. Some of the narrative is genuinely poetic. And at other times it can – to this listener at least – seem dense. The mix of narrative methods to carry the story along is welcomed, though there are times when a change of place or time can come quickly between lines and can give a surprise or a slight stumble. (Having the book in your hand easily recovers that.) The main novel’s frame and its coda (coda some 50 pages) I initially questioned. This was probably because I wanted more of the ‘meat’ of the goings on in the time the three lead characters were at the Lyceum Theatre together. I soon got over that and found the coda added considerably to the overall enjoyment of the book. I liked the loves, and the question of when people are really themselves or not; the regrets, and the forgiveness. The audiobook was very good though it did give me some niggling difficulties. The performer’s (Barry McGovern) narration speed at 1.0 was too slow for me and I had to reset the speed to 1.25 - such a boon with Audible. Because there are narrative changes to time or place, if only listening there is a good chance of a miss-step, I was pleased I had Audible 30 second play-back as well the book to hand. I disliked Anna Chancellor’s small contributions as the voice of Ellen Terry as these seemed wholly out of sympathy to the way that the character in the main narrative and performance is shown, but this is minor. The voicing of Henry Irving is a true delight. I was disappointed that the book’s ‘Caveat, Bibliography, Acknowledgements’ were not included in the audiobook - even in abbreviated form - as this denies the listener some real things of interest. A listen that will cause you to speculate.

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7 people found this helpful