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The Magic Skin

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The Magic Skin

By: Honoré de Balzac
Narrated by: John Bolen
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About this listen

 "The possession of power, no matter how enormous, does not bring the knowledge how to use it." Raphael, a failed writer, deep in debt, and unrequited in love, is about to take a suicidal plunge into the Seine River. Just in time, he discovers the "Magic Skin" in an antiquity shop. Its supernatural powers grant every wish but it extracts a terrible toll! This parable depicts the malaise of 19th century France.©2002 Tantor Media Incorporated Fiction Higher & Continuing Education Literary Fiction Parents & Adult Children
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What listeners say about The Magic Skin

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Welsh Mafia

The Chagrin is in the listening??.

Balzac is a loved Parisian companion of many a jaunt to a g?te. Give the guy a break, you need the absolute of the French countryside to enjoy this one fully. Not to everyone?s taste, but then you pass many caravans on Le Franciliene and though bound for campsites we?re all still on holiday, aren?t we?

What a poor production of ?La Peau de chagrin.? One of the true French greats really grates here ? having to turn my speakers right up to get any sort of reasonable delivery. ?In-audible?, I think is more appropriate.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Jeannie

The Magic Skin

This is, I think, the worst read audiobook I have ever listened to. It is so badly read that it is not possible to follow or understand the story. Pauses in all the wrong places, pseudo-French accents (as if one needed this) for the dialogue, and the said (un)French accents make it almost impossible to hear, much less comprehend, what is going on. Had I known in advance, I should never have bought it. Pity, as I understand it's a great novel!

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4 people found this helpful

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Aisling Reid

Terrible audio. Headache inducing

All direct speech is read in a faux French accent and is completely unintelligible. The pronunciation of French words and places is incorrect.

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1 person found this helpful

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for artful

Worst narration ever

The narrator does ALL the dialogue in an execrable French accent. Like inspector Clouseau- except this isn’t a comedy.
An insult to Balzac.
Avoid.

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