Barchester Towers (unabridged)
$ 54.00
Barchester Towers, the sequel to The Warden, is the second novel in Trollope’s major series, the Chronicles of Barsetshire. It focuses on the power struggle between Archdeacon Grantly, Mr Slope and the Proudies as they fight for control of the diocese of Barchester. Meanwhile, another struggle is taking place for the heart of Eleanor Bold. Who will win her? The vile Mr Slope, the idling Bertie Stanhope or someone else entirely? This is a witty and sparkling novel about greed, hate and love; Trollope captures the intricacy of human emotion and character with warmth, humour, wonderful characterisation and, of course, perfect dialogue.
Audiobook Details:
Author: Anthony TrollopeRead by: David Shaw-Parker
Audiobook Type: unabridged
Publisher: Naxos Audiobooks
Running time (hh:mm:ss): 21:44:39
Download size: 248 MB
ISBN: 9781843797678
About the Reader
| David Shaw-Parker David Shaw-Parker trained at RADA and began his career with the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1977. His recent theatre appearances include My Fair Lady, The False Servant and Oedipus Rex at The Royal National Theatre, and The Country Wife, Acorn Antiques, Heavenly Ivy and Uncle Vanya in London?s West End. He has recorded extensively for BBC Radio and his recordings for Naxos AudioBooks include The Great Poets: John Clare, The Pilgrim?s Progress and The Chronicles of Barsetshire. |
Reviews for this Audiobook:
Trollope is one of our greatest comic novelists, as well as having an extraordinary talent for taking you confidentially and irresistibly into the flow of his story. Oblivious of the snail-like pace of Oxford's flood-impeded traffic, I was grinning from ear to ear as David Shaw-Parker explodes into the clerical indignation that follows Obadiah Slope's iconoclastic sermon in Barchester Cathedral. '"Abominable," groaned the dean. "Abominable," muttered the meagre doctor. "Abominable," re-echoed the chancellor, uttering a sound from the bottom of his deep chest. "I really think it was," said Mr Harding.' Proof positive that Trollope wrote with an ear to being read aloud.
Christina Hardyment, The Times
David Shaw-Parker's exemplary reading of Trollope's masterpiece is like sitting in your club in a comfortable chair after a good meal and listening to one of the particularly good-natured other members tell you a story about some people he knows. His tone is confiding and personal, perfectly capturing the spirit of Trollope's narrative voice. There's no attempt to impersonate characters; Shaw-Parker's voice changes just enough that we are never in doubt who is speaking or what kind of person the speaker is. (The unctuous Mr Slope is particularly fine.) There are occasional peculiar changes in the sound quality for a phrase or two, but these are minor distractions from a charming and witty performance.
Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award
A.C.P., AudioFile
Shaw-Parker follows up his outstanding recording of The Warden (also available from Naxos) with an exceptional reading of the sequel, perhaps Trollope's most beloved novel. Romance vies with church politics as Archbishop Grantly battles against the new bishop and his smarmy assistant for control of religious life in Barsetshire. Shaw-Parker totally embraces his role as narrator, and in delightfully plummy tones, he guides listeners through the twisty plot, witty dialogue, and humorous asides. His animated portrayal of the large cast enlivens characters, from the poor pensioners to elite government officials. The narration highlights the strengths of this charming tale and, despite the novel's size, makes this a compelling listening experience.
Joyce Saricks, Booklist
