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  • The Charioteer

  • By: Mary Renault
  • Narrated by: Joe Jameson
  • Length: 14 hrs and 42 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (117 ratings)
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The Charioteer cover art

The Charioteer

By: Mary Renault
Narrated by: Joe Jameson
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Summary

After surviving the Dunkirk retreat, Laurie Odell, a young homosexual, critically examines his unorthodox lifestyle and personal relationships, as he falls in love with a young conscientious objector and becomes involved with a circle of world-weary gay men.

©1955 Mary Renault (P)2014 Audible Studios

What listeners say about The Charioteer

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Magnificent story magnificently narrated

I had forgotten how much I love 'The Charioteer ' by Mary Renault.
The story itself is excellent; the depiction of Laurie and Ralph and their struggle to be themselves within the constraints of their society wrenching at times. The characterisation is excellent and I always find myself rooting for Ralph and Laurie, even though I've read it a number of times over the years..
The narration was excellent. I could 'see' the characters as they spoke; their differences were apparent through changes in tone and pitch and I had no problems identifying who was speaking (I shall probably bookmark all my favourite bits so that I can revisit particular sections but I will be listening to this again (& again) as I've thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience.
The language, setting and characters are immersive to the point where you resent being interrupted reading or listening to go and do something else. It's a book I want to wrap myself up in whether I'm reading or listening and if you like WWII set novels with gay characters figuring themselves out in a restrictive society then I recommend giving 'The Charioteer' a go.

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9 people found this helpful

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

Magnificent performance of a wonderful book

I was totally gripped by this story and the characters. Some may find the attitudes a bit dated, but they are true to their time. Mary Renault's ability to understand human nature and get inside the heads of different characters is quite breathtaking. I only wish there was a sequel. But regardless, these characters will live with me for a long time.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent recording of Renault classic

One of my favourite books that I came to decades ago via her Greek novels.
It was fascinating listening to a book I’ve read so many times and picking up so much more nuance from the language - wonder if it’s because your eyes skim with the natural reading process but with listening you do literally hear every word.?
I love the myth of The Charioteer and for me the book is about reconciling ideals with the harsher reality of real life.
Narration and voices were perfect.
Her writing beautiful as ever and evocations of an English autumn of 1940 crisp and clear - perhaps enthused with nostalgia as she actually wrote the novel in South Africa.

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2 people found this helpful

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

Brilliant

A superb reading by an expert and extremely talented reader of this classic story of love and redemption. A must listen.

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2 people found this helpful

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

Haunting, evocative brilliant prose....

Where do I start with this one?? The prose outdoes Harper Fox herself…and I didn’t think that could be done. Haunting, evocative, brilliant writing, which captures the tense atmosphere and downbeat mood of the early WWII years extremely well. Who to trust, what to say, how to behave…these weren’t just issues for the gay population to think about and concern themselves with at that time, although they obviously had much more to lose should their ‘secret’ see the light of day.

Yes, it is a love story of sorts, although there is no HEA. It was fairly obvious to me that Ralph was aware of [and was keen on] Laurie even when they were at school, and although Laurie probably wasn’t that aware of it himself then, he idolised Ralph. After Ralph is ‘sent down’ in disgrace from school, they meet again 7 years later under very different circumstances….Ralph is in charge of the Merchant Navy vessel that has picked up several injured survivors from the Battle of Dunkirk in 1940, and Laurie just happens to be one of those survivors.

I’m not going into too much detail. There were characters I really liked, and there were a few I actually despised [Bunny, Sandy, Laurie’s mum and future step father in law, take a bow], but the main thrust of the story is about Laurie…his hopes and ideals, his 'innocence', his reluctance to accept himself for what he is AND his meeting a young man, Andrew, who knew even less about himself than Laurie did. Andrew was a CO [conscientious objector] who was being forced to help out as an orderly in the hospital that Laurie was convalescing in. Laurie was smitten, and up until meeting Ralph again at a party, was perfectly happy to drift along in an almost dreamlike state imagining how the future could be. Andrew's character was almost too good to be true really, and Ralph who made mistakes, drank like a fish and smoked like a chimney was his complete opposite really, but oh…so much more fleshed out as a ‘real’ person.

As far as Joe Jameson’s performance as narrator is concerned, I was very impressed. He’s really good at accents, at female voices and at voicing numerous characters [as in this particular story] with ease. Yes, I’m aware that Joe Jameson is Hamish Long of Brothers of the Wild North Sea and Rusty Coles of The Lost Prince, and to be honest, the problem I had with him in Brothers of the Wild North Sea was evident in this one too, but it was a minor niggle and I was much too involved in the story to bother about it.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A complex and poignant love story far ahead of its time

Wonderful to see Mary Renault's marvellous work now available on Audible. I hope that it will open it up to a wider audience.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

At last

An unusual Renault novel set during WW2. A gay love story which doesn’t end in tragedy. It’s a moving novel recommend it highly. It’s beautiful read too.

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

Great read

I remember reading a few of her historical books when I was young but not this one. 50 more years on, I finally discover that she wrote books that weren't sent in ancient Greece. This is of its time but also ahead of that time in many ways. She has woven such an absorbing tapestry of human connection and emotion.

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

Charming period piece

It’s so subtle in places that I almost missed some important bits of the story.
The characters are very well written and there is a great sense of time and place in the early days of the war.
The narration is superb and the characters brought to life which makes sense of this touching story from another era.

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

Compelling

Well crafted novel from an able writer. A sensitively treated subject that keeps you guessing.

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