Much stranger than I thought

This is a good rather than great reading of a fascinating text. We all think we know Don Quixote, but the novel is much stranger than I expected, full of meandering digressions and stories within the story. I usually like digressive fiction (hell, I write it!), but here I was desperate to get back to the main narrative of Don Quixote and Sancho. I haven't the space or the time to give a detailed critique of the novel, but I can say that it's one of those that I'm very glad to have read, rather than one I've loved reading. The translation here is the one by Smollett. It's (of course) very old fashioned, but at least you are getting two great writers for the price of one.

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16 people found this helpful

Excellent narration!

The narrator has distinctive voices and manners for each character. The reading is easy to listen to.

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Tilting at Windmills

For a 16th Century novel this feels very fresh, showing that humour and pathos are timeless. This is a very long novel, that I really enjoyed, however it does meander so for some that might be off putting. If you want to understand what quixotic means this is for you; is it foolish to pursue unrealistic dreams.? Or is there something heroic about it? Do we need this fantasy to keep us motivated?

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A long listen, but an utterly worthwhile one

Where does Don Quixote rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I would rank Don Quixote highly among the other audiobooks to which I have listened. While the story at time goes off on massive tangents, the characters and their classic encounters make this an essential listen. The story has a bit of everything; it is by turns a comedy, a romance, an adventure, a drama, and ultimately a poignant tale of friendship. This translation, by Tobias Smollett, is written in a robust and lyrical style. I felt this suited the narrative, though I understand it may not be to everyone's taste.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Sancho Panza. The only real choices here are Sancho or Don Quixote himself, and of the two, Sacho is by far the better character. He is the real heart and soul of the story.

Have you listened to any of Robert Whitfield’s other performances? How does this one compare?

I have never listened to Robert Whitfield before but I was most impressed with his performance. I loved the voices he gave to the main characters and his performance was delivered with great energy and wit.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

It's as big as the bible, so no! However - and this isn't a criticism of the audiobook, but of the book in general - there are vast sections of text which could be lost and it would only benefit the novel.

Any additional comments?

Overall, this is a great book, and deserving of its place in literary history. However, there is no denying that it is far too long in places. For this reason I have only given it four stars for story, as it really did try my patience at time. However, once you get past that, you are in for a real treat.

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3 people found this helpful

mad from start to finish.

I'm getting through the "classics" , why didn't I read these before, they are terrific and this is one of the best.

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mixed

Decent narration but found the story too meandering. entertaining in parts however. the world's first novel

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Audible reading of Don Quixote

“This is an excellent reading and translation. Wonderful. I laughed outloud many times.”

The Knight of the Rueful Countenance.

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1 person found this helpful

Tobias

What can I say about this fantastical masterpiece that hasn’t already been said. However it is superbly narrated by Tobias. I enjoyed every minute.

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superbly read

This is a very long book. Despite the immensity of the task, the narration is faultless..

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Fantastic

One of the greatest books ever written and beautifully narrated by Robert Whitfield, barely noticed the 40+ hours it lasts

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