People who bought this also bought...

The Sign of Four

By:
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Narrated by:
Patrick Tull

Length: 4 hrs and 6 mins

Unabridged

Overall

518

Performance

456

Story

464

Greed, betrayal, and vengeance set the stage for this Sir Arthur Conan Doyle classic. Sherlock Holmes is rescued from boredom by the strange case of Jonathan Small and the tragedy of Pondicherry Lodge. The mystery leads Holmes and Dr. Watson into an intricate plot regarding a lost treasure belonging to four convicts on the Andaman Islands.

Sherlock is always a winner

By
KIM B.
on
12-21-12

War and Peace

By:
Leo Tolstoy

Narrated by:
Frederick Davidson

Length: 61 hrs and 8 mins

Unabridged

Overall

2,234

Performance

1,599

Story

1,569

Often called the greatest novel ever written,
War and Peace is at once an epic of the Napoleonic wars, a philosophical study, and a celebration of the Russian spirit. Tolstoy's genius is clearly seen in the multitude of characters in this massive chronicle, all of them fully realized and equally memorable.

Glad I finally decided to read it

By
Plumeria
on
09-25-05

The Complete Stories of Sherlock Holmes

By:
Arthur Conan Doyle

Narrated by:
Charlton Griffin

Length: 70 hrs and 53 mins

Unabridged

Overall

1,452

Performance

1,332

Story

1,328

Here in one recording is every Sherlock Holmes story ever written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Originally appearing in serial form, these famous stories are here presented in the order in which they were first published beginning in 1887. Included in this definitive, award-winning collection are four novels and 56 short stories, a total of 60 titles. The 56 short stories are aggregated into five named collections, just as they were originally published in book form.

More collections like this, please!

By
Myusollo
on
07-22-14

Nicholas Nickleby

By:
Charles Dickens

Narrated by:
Simon Vance

Length: 31 hrs and 25 mins

Unabridged

Overall

941

Performance

669

Story

670

The most gorgeously theatrical of all Dickens's novels,
Nicholas Nickleby follows the delightful adventures of a hearty young hero in 19th-century England. Nicholas, a gentleman's son fallen upon hard times, must set out to make his way in the world. His journey is accompanied by some of the most swaggering scoundrels and unforgettable eccentrics in Dickens's pantheon.

A knockout!

By
Robert
on
03-15-07

Charlie Wilson's War

The Extraordinary Story of the Largest Covert Operation in History

By:
George Crile

Narrated by:
Christopher Lane

Length: 20 hrs and 28 mins

Unabridged

Overall

3,790

Performance

1,505

Story

1,525

Charlie Wilson's War is the untold story behind the last battle of the Cold War and how it fueled the rise of militant Islam. George Crile tells how Charlie Wilson, a maverick congressman from east Texas, conspired with a rogue CIA operative to launch the biggest, meanest, and most successful covert operation in the agency's history.

The Afghan War:Last Nail in the Soviet Coffin

By
William Lorenzen
on
08-10-04

The Count of Monte Cristo

By:
Alexandre Dumas

Narrated by:
Bill Homewood

Length: 52 hrs and 45 mins

Unabridged

Overall

4,226

Performance

3,920

Story

3,923

On the eve of his marriage to the beautiful Mercedes, having that very day been made captain of his ship, the young sailor Edmond Dantès is arrested on a charge of treason, trumped up by jealous rivals. Incarcerated for many lonely years in the isolated and terrifying Chateau d'If near Marseille, he meticulously plans his brilliant escape and extraordinary revenge.

This is the one to spend 50 hours listening to!

By
james
on
03-05-13

The Sign of Four

By:
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Narrated by:
Patrick Tull

Length: 4 hrs and 6 mins

Unabridged

Overall

518

Performance

456

Story

464

Greed, betrayal, and vengeance set the stage for this Sir Arthur Conan Doyle classic. Sherlock Holmes is rescued from boredom by the strange case of Jonathan Small and the tragedy of Pondicherry Lodge. The mystery leads Holmes and Dr. Watson into an intricate plot regarding a lost treasure belonging to four convicts on the Andaman Islands.

Sherlock is always a winner

By
KIM B.
on
12-21-12

War and Peace

By:
Leo Tolstoy

Narrated by:
Frederick Davidson

Length: 61 hrs and 8 mins

Unabridged

Overall

2,234

Performance

1,599

Story

1,569

Often called the greatest novel ever written,
War and Peace is at once an epic of the Napoleonic wars, a philosophical study, and a celebration of the Russian spirit. Tolstoy's genius is clearly seen in the multitude of characters in this massive chronicle, all of them fully realized and equally memorable.

Glad I finally decided to read it

By
Plumeria
on
09-25-05

The Complete Stories of Sherlock Holmes

By:
Arthur Conan Doyle

Narrated by:
Charlton Griffin

Length: 70 hrs and 53 mins

Unabridged

Overall

1,452

Performance

1,332

Story

1,328

Here in one recording is every Sherlock Holmes story ever written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Originally appearing in serial form, these famous stories are here presented in the order in which they were first published beginning in 1887. Included in this definitive, award-winning collection are four novels and 56 short stories, a total of 60 titles. The 56 short stories are aggregated into five named collections, just as they were originally published in book form.

More collections like this, please!

By
Myusollo
on
07-22-14

Nicholas Nickleby

By:
Charles Dickens

Narrated by:
Simon Vance

Length: 31 hrs and 25 mins

Unabridged

Overall

941

Performance

669

Story

670

The most gorgeously theatrical of all Dickens's novels,
Nicholas Nickleby follows the delightful adventures of a hearty young hero in 19th-century England. Nicholas, a gentleman's son fallen upon hard times, must set out to make his way in the world. His journey is accompanied by some of the most swaggering scoundrels and unforgettable eccentrics in Dickens's pantheon.

A knockout!

By
Robert
on
03-15-07

Charlie Wilson's War

The Extraordinary Story of the Largest Covert Operation in History

By:
George Crile

Narrated by:
Christopher Lane

Length: 20 hrs and 28 mins

Unabridged

Overall

3,790

Performance

1,505

Story

1,525

Charlie Wilson's War is the untold story behind the last battle of the Cold War and how it fueled the rise of militant Islam. George Crile tells how Charlie Wilson, a maverick congressman from east Texas, conspired with a rogue CIA operative to launch the biggest, meanest, and most successful covert operation in the agency's history.

The Afghan War:Last Nail in the Soviet Coffin

By
William Lorenzen
on
08-10-04

The Count of Monte Cristo

By:
Alexandre Dumas

Narrated by:
Bill Homewood

Length: 52 hrs and 45 mins

Unabridged

Overall

4,226

Performance

3,920

Story

3,923

On the eve of his marriage to the beautiful Mercedes, having that very day been made captain of his ship, the young sailor Edmond Dantès is arrested on a charge of treason, trumped up by jealous rivals. Incarcerated for many lonely years in the isolated and terrifying Chateau d'If near Marseille, he meticulously plans his brilliant escape and extraordinary revenge.

This is the one to spend 50 hours listening to!

By
james
on
03-05-13

A Patriot's History of the United States

By:
Larry Schweikart,
Michael Allen

Narrated by:
Patrick Lawlor

Length: 50 hrs and 11 mins

Unabridged

Overall

919

Performance

478

Story

474

Since the liberal revolution of the '60s and '70s, American history books have been biased toward the negative. They overemphasize America's racism, sexism, and bigotry while downplaying the greatness of her patriots. As a result, more emphasis is placed on Harriet Tubman than on George Washington, more on the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II than on D-day or Iwo Jima. This book offers a long-overdue acknowledgment of America's true and proud history.

About What You Would Expect

By
P. Metz
on
05-06-12

The Foundations of Western Civilization

What is Western Civilization? According to Professor Noble, it is "much more than human and political geography," encompassing myriad forms of political and institutional structures - from monarchies to participatory republics - and its own traditions of political discourse. It involves choices about who gets to participate in any given society and the ways in which societies have resolved the tension between individual self-interest and the common good.

Highly recommended

By
Mike Keith
on
08-08-16

Moby-Dick

By:
Herman Melville

Narrated by:
Frank Muller

Length: 21 hrs and 20 mins

Unabridged

Overall

3,476

Performance

2,991

Story

3,003

Labeled variously a realistic story of whaling, a romance of unusual adventure and eccentric characters, a symbolic allegory, and a drama of heroic conflict,
Moby Dick is first and foremost a great story. It has both the humor and poignancy of a simple sea ballad, as well as the depth and universality of a grand odyssey.

I Had No Idea Melville Was So Funny

By
Dave
on
05-09-12

A Tale of Two Cities [Tantor]

By:
Charles Dickens

Narrated by:
Simon Vance

Length: 13 hrs and 39 mins

Unabridged

Overall

3,732

Performance

3,198

Story

3,250

A Tale of Two Cities is one of Charles Dickens's most exciting novels. Set against the backdrop of the French Revolution, it tells the story of a family threatened by the terrible events of the past. Doctor Manette was wrongly imprisoned in the Bastille for 18 years without trial by the aristocratic authorities.

it's the singer not the song*

By
Maynard
on
11-09-13

A Day's Read

Join three literary scholars and award-winning professors as they introduce you to dozens of short masterpieces that you can finish - and engage with - in a day or less. Perfect for people with busy lives who still want to discover-or rediscover-just how transformative an act of reading can be, these 36 lectures range from short stories of fewer than 10 pages to novellas and novels of around 200 pages. Despite their short length, these works are powerful examinations of the same subjects and themes that longer "great books" discuss.

Wonderful Introduction to Short Fiction

By
Tracy Rowan
on
01-17-18

The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich

A History of Nazi Germany

By:
William L. Shirer

Narrated by:
Grover Gardner

Length: 57 hrs and 13 mins

Unabridged

Overall

8,112

Performance

6,782

Story

6,770

Since its publication in 1960, William L. Shirer’s monumental study of Hitler’s German empire has been widely acclaimed as the definitive record of the 20th century’s blackest hours.
The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich offers an unparalleled and thrillingly told examination of how Adolf Hitler nearly succeeded in conquering the world. With millions of copies in print around the globe, it has attained the status of a vital and enduring classic.

Held my interest for 57 hours and 13 minutes

By
Jonnie
on
11-08-10

Unstuff Your Life

Kick the Clutter Habit and Completely Organize Your Life for Good

By:
Andrew J. Mellen

Narrated by:
Andrew J. Mellen

Length: 10 hrs and 21 mins

Unabridged

Overall

2,071

Performance

1,737

Story

1,705

Arguably the most organized man in America, Andrew J. Mellen has created unique, lasting techniques for streamlined living, bringing order out of chaos for a client list that includes attorneys, filmmakers, and even psychologists. With Unstuff Your Life! he puts his powerful program in the hands of his widest audience yet.

My lightbulb moment

By
Angela
on
05-07-12

The Hobbit

By:
J. R. R. Tolkien

Narrated by:
Rob Inglis

Length: 11 hrs and 8 mins

Unabridged

Overall

28,475

Performance

25,624

Story

25,823

Like every other hobbit, Bilbo Baggins likes nothing better than a quiet evening in his snug hole in the ground, dining on a sumptuous dinner in front of a fire. But when a wandering wizard captivates him with tales of the unknown, Bilbo becomes restless. Soon he joins the wizard’s band of homeless dwarves in search of giant spiders, savage wolves, and other dangers. Bilbo quickly tires of the quest for adventure and longs for the security of his familiar home. But before he can return to his life of comfort, he must face the greatest threat of all.

Classic

By
🇺🇸💟DARA
on
06-06-13

The Science of Energy

Resources and Power Explained

By:
The Great Courses

Narrated by:
Professor Michael E. Wysession

Length: 13 hrs and 20 mins

Original Recording

Overall

1,479

Performance

1,319

Story

1,313

To better put into perspective the various issues surrounding energy in the 21st century, you need to understand the essential science behind how energy works. And you need a reliable source whose focus is on giving you the facts you need to form your own educated opinions.

Great Overview

By
Amanda Gannon
on
04-07-16

The Search for Exoplanets: What Astronomers Know

By:
The Great Courses

Narrated by:
Professor Joshua N. Winn

Length: 12 hrs and 17 mins

Original Recording

Overall

526

Performance

474

Story

466

As recently as 1990, it seemed plausible that the solar system was a unique phenomenon in our galaxy. Thanks to advances in technology and clever new uses of existing data, now we know that planetary systems and possibly even a new Earth can be found throughout galaxies near and far.

Fun across the universe

By
Mark
on
01-08-16

The Yard

By:
Alex Grecian

Narrated by:
Toby Leonard Moore

Length: 14 hrs and 42 mins

Unabridged

Overall

1,678

Performance

1,506

Story

1,505

Victorian London is a cesspool of crime, and Scotland Yard has only 12 detectives - known as “The Murder Squad” - to investigate thousands of murders every month. Created after the Metropolitan Police’s spectacular failure to capture Jack the Ripper, The Murder Squad suffers rampant public contempt. They have failed their citizens. When Walter Day, the squad’s newest hire, is assigned the case of the murdered detective, he finds a strange ally in the Yard’s first forensic pathologist, Dr. Bernard Kingsley.

Excellent Narration, Book Needed Some Work

By
Sires
on
09-09-12

Macbeth: A Novel

By:
A. J. Hartley,
David Hewson

Narrated by:
Alan Cumming

Length: 9 hrs and 45 mins

Unabridged

Overall

2,552

Performance

2,239

Story

2,236

Macbeth: A Novel brings the intricacy and grit of the historical thriller to Shakespeare’s tale of political intrigue, treachery, and murder. In this full-length novel written exclusively for audio, authors A. J. Hartley and David Hewson rethink literature’s most infamous married couple, grounding them in a medieval Scotland whose military and political upheavals are as stark and dramatic as the landscape in which they are played.

Narrator choice inspired

By
Beverly
on
07-10-11

Publisher's Summary

First appearing in print in 1890, the character of Sherlock Holmes has now become synonymous worldwide with the concept of a super sleuth. His creator, Conan Doyle, imbued his detective hero with intellectual power, acute observational abilities, a penchant for deductive reasoning and a highly educated use of forensic skills. Indeed, Doyle created the first fictional private detective who used what we now recognize as modern scientific investigative techniques.

Doyle ended up writing four novels and 56 short stories featuring Holmes and his companion, Dr. Watson. All but four are told in the first person by Watson, two by Holmes, and two are written in the third person. Together, this series of beautifully written Victorian literature has sold more copies than any other books in the English language, with the exceptions of the Bible and Shakespeare.

Volume 1 in this series consists of two novels, A Study in Scarlet and The Sign of Four, followed by a collection of short stories entitled The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.

Story

mouth watering

The only problem I have with this series is that I am awaiting the next episode with impatience! I bought this after much comparing, I wanted a voice I could enjoy, one who could do a variety of voices, and a series that didn't end up costing a lot, as I intend to own every story. This is value for money, and worth the wait. The only improvement possible is a multiple cast, but I chose cost over that.
Well done! and thanks for getting back to me - there will be three volumes when finished, and the second is ready and due to be offered for download any time now.

a list of what you'll find in Volume 1

A Study in Scarlet (novel; 1887)

The Sign of the Four (novel; 1890)

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (short stories, published in The Strand between July, 1891 and December, 1892):

A Scandal in BohemiaThe Red-Headed LeagueA Case of IdentityThe Boscombe Valley MysteryThe Five Orange PipsThe Man with the Twisted LipThe Adventure of the Blue CarbuncleThe Adventure of the Speckled BandThe Adventure of the Engineer's ThumbThe Adventure of the Noble BachelorThe Adventure of the Beryl CoronetThe Adventure of the Copper Beeches

From what I can tell from a quick internet search, Volume 1 of this audiobook covers the Holmes cannon faithfully from the first. I'm eager to start Volume 2 to see if the coverage will be as comprehensive.

I liked Charlton Griffin's Sherlock and Dr. Watson, but I didn't like his portrayal of any of the female characters (they sounded so wimpy and foolish, even when they were written otherwise).

I read several of the short stories, out of order, years ago. Listening to this audiobook to "read" the cannon from start to finish is great because I can follow the character development of Homles and Watson, and their relationship.

Wish there was a list of titles

I really enjoyed listening to this collection of Sherlock Holes stories. I just wish there was an easy to find list of the stories for reference The narration was fantastic. The short stories were a nice length; I often listened to them on the way to work. Each story contained an individual plot/case yet there were many times references to previous cases, providing a connection between stories. It was interesting to see the Holmes and Watson characters develop throughout the collection.

I started listening to this collection because of the Sherlock TV show produced by BBC. The show was great and surprisingly fits with the classic stories quite well.

Reason you've heard of Sherlock Holmes

There's a reason you've heard of Sherlock Holmes before ever cracking a page or hearing the narration.
These stories are great, things explained and you're never left in the dark as to what is happening.
That was my biggest fear with mystery novels, that I never knew what was going on till the very end explanation.

This Audio book narrator is TOP notch, I don't think I've heard any better, and only a few on the same level.
This is absolutely worth getting without a doubt! A voice for every character and they all come to life.

Loved this Narration!

If you are an audiobook addict as I am, you will probably agree that a mediocre narrator can make a fantastic book awful and a mediocre book un-“readable.” I did not find Charlton Griffin’s performance at all mediocre! I love all of the Sherlock Holmes stories and enjoyed every hour of this narration.

Stories that are Universal, Timeless, & Elementary

I gave this four stars, but that is a little unfair. I probably need to break it down a little better. ACD's first couple novellas (Study in Scarlet; Sign of Four) were interesting but just didn't hold together well. I could easily deduce what Doyle was trying to do with Study in Scarlet, but he just didn't pull it off (3 stars). Sign of Four was a tad better fit for Doyle (3.5 stars), but still not quite up to my expectations.

ACD's true form is the short story. His longer pieces just don't hold up quite as well as Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (5 stars). ACD is a master of the short story. Adventures of Sherlock Holmes has very few duds. It is clear that not only was Doyle breaking new ground, but he absolutely pwned the form (and would for the next century). It is rare to find a literary work that sold so well initially (the Strand sold Holmes like crazy) and still appears relevant and popular today (from t.v. shows like Sherlock to Bones). That is the brilliance of Doyle's detective stories: they are universal, they are timeless, and they are -- elementary.

A Towering Delight...And a Pair of Small Caveats

“I made a blunder, my dear Watson. Which is, I am afraid, a more common occurrence than anyone would think who only knew me through your memoirs.”

Holmes makes this comment at the beginning of the second series of these marvelous recordings. But it applies to the first series as well, of course. Having only known Holmes at an even farther remove than Watson’s memoirs—via movies and TV—it is a revelation to meet the real Holmes, blunders and all, regardless of his quibbles about the good doctor’s literary efforts.

Like reading Ian Flemming’s Bond novels only after steeping oneself in the movies (yes, I made that mistake too), we discover a far more human, cantankerous and fragile person than is revealed even in Jeremy Brett’s masterful performances. And it was a great treat to finally learn how Holmes and Watson were originally thrown together. Like ham and eggs or rum and Coke, theirs is an association so long established and so seemingly natural that we forget they had to have had a first meeting.

About stories that have stood the test of popular opinion as well as these, leaving the reading public consistently agog since their first appearance 126 years ago, nothing need be said. The character of Holmes seems an apogee of High Victorianism: a complete faith in science, progress and the power of rationalism, totally devoid of that other trait we associate with late 19th Century England, sentimentalism. Against this sheer cliff of cold deduction, we flounder along with Doctor Watson, ensnared in conclusions we leap at too quickly and obvious facts we too blithely overlook and a sentimentalism that leads us to do odd things like fall in love and get married. Watson has his moments too, bringing his specialized medical knowledge to bear on wounds and poisons, but he’s usually as in the dark as you or me. Ultimately, I’d rather be like Watson than Holmes—convenient that, since I already am—but Holmes is still fascinating to watch.

And in these recordings he’s fascinating to listen to as well. Without sounding like Basil Rathbone or Jeremy Brett, Charlton Griffin gives us a distinct and vibrant Holmes. His milder, self-deprecating Watson is perfect, as is all the supporting cast except the female characters. Someone else has mentioned that Griffin’s women sound idiotic. While I wouldn’t go quite that far, they do sound a bit too helpless and simple.

Another quibble: the American side of “A Study in Scarlet”, the second part of which takes place among the Mormons of Utah, is something of a challenge for Griffin. True, Conan Doyle’s writing slips off the track here as well—it sounds as if he’s writing about a country and a people he’s only known through stereotypes and hearsay. But Griffin’s wild-west accents only make it worse.

But these are minor points when set against an otherwise masterful performance. Beginning the second series, I seem to detect the women sounding a little brighter, too. Thanks to Audible for making these available and giving me the chance, as with The Count of Monte Cristo and Don Quixote, to catch up on the classics I sidestepped in my callow youth.

Too many mistakes

What made the experience of listening to The Complete Stories of Sherlock Holmes, Volume 1 the most enjoyable?

These are great stories that have stood the test of time and work well in the audiobook format.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Charlton Griffin?

I have great admiration for the actors who read these audiobooks and can produce a range of accents and never get them mixed up. So I am willing to forgive a few lapses in this regard. However, the frequency of missed accents and mispronunciations did detract from my enjoyment of the book. There were occasions where it was clear that the reader did not comprehend the words he was reading. For example, "bowing" with a violin bow not bending from the waist; "a propos" and "in situ" mispronounced; "house' and "horse" getting mixed up - and many more.

The Complete Stories of Sherlock Holmes

Great material, but...

I don't want to overstate my problem with this, because not everybody will be so fussy - but I cannot *stand* the choice of an American narrator.

It's not that the guy reading it is 'bad at his job'. Not at all. If I were to find him the narrator of an American novel, I expect he might be excellent. But because he's not British, a). his accents are slightly off, and b). he mispronounces certain words in a way that really, really jars.

For instance; "lab-ra-tory". I'm sorry, but a physician in Victorian England would have pronounced it, "lab-ora-tory". "Enth-oo-siasm" should be sounded, "enth-yoo-siasm". And when the narrator attempts to 'gentrify' certain words, he changes the vowels inappropriately - yes, "bath" becomes "barth", but "fancy" does not become "farncy". That's all within the first three minutes.

If you're as finickity as I am, it's intolerable. I couldn't get past the first quarter of an hour. All that said, the stories are great so, if you're not fussed by such things, feel free to ignore me. I'm stunned, though, that nobody has reported this already...

45 of 47 people found this review helpful

Overall

Mark

11-18-11

The Wrong Reader

The actor is seriously miscast. He not only cannot sustain an English accent but pronounces words in ways that do not exist in any spoken version of English that I know of. The most prominent and annoying of these is that he pronounces the 'l' in Holmes (and in 'folk'). Deeply disappointing, as I bought all the volumes of the short stories.

16 of 17 people found this review helpful

Overall

Tracy

06-24-12

Great but with definate cringe moments.

Oh thank you, thank you to the other reviewers. I thought it was just me! There has to be a problem when the sounding of those missplaced 'l's in Holmes actually make me flinch. I love these stories and the narrator made a good effort but why? Don't tell me there wasn't a single actual english actor to read these oh so english books! Hovering undecided over the buy button for volume two.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Overall

Sy

09-02-12

Good stories but I did not like the narrator

I found the narrator's different accents irritating. When listening to stories I go off into my own little bubble of imagination, picturing the characters, but this narrator's accents would pop that bubble.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Overall

Jill Ashby

06-27-12

Excellent stories, dreadful narrator

Wonderful to get back to the originals after the various films, tv series and books and compare the character of Conan Doyle's Holmes and Watson with the numerous alternatives offered today. I bought all three but am deeply frustrated at the choice of narrator. I gave up on the attempt to list the numerous everyday words which jarred, but above all he pronounces the central character 'Hawlms' instead of 'Homes' which grates on the ears over and over and over.
It's too late for me, and I will listen to them all (gritting my teeth) but please, Audible, consider redoing them?

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Overall

Jackson

08-01-12

Accent

I found the accent of the narrator irritating, but I never thought he was American. I thought he was doing Historically Informed Performance with authentic late Victorian vowels: Dorg for dog, orficer for officer and meek for make. That was irritating, although probably no more corny than the stories themselves. But doing women and children in falsetto is really off putting. The cockney accents are overdone.

But no worse than Dick Van Dyke's valiant and famous attempts at cockney in Mary Poppins.

The two novels (Study in Scarlet and Sign of Four) are not a patch on the short stories once Doyle had got into his stride.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Overall

Catherine

04-19-13

Fabulous stories hidden behind an AWFUL accent!

It is soooo easy to make this a success- the stories are well established and successful, but the choice of narrator is atrocious. Think American trying to do an Anglo/Indian accent with a heavy cockney leaning plus a smattering of 1930's BBC announcer. It would be better if he had stuck to his US accent instead of making too cringing to listen. Has made me want to look in to refunds/returns to Audible for the first time in three years' membership.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Overall

Claire

03-20-13

Beautiful literature, spoilt only by the narrator

I adore these stories, so wonderfully written. I would recommend these books to anyone. The English language at it's literary best. However, this book misses a 5 star rating based purely on the narrator. Conan-Doyle's Holmes demands a native English speaker. Whilst this is one of the better English accents I've heard from an American, there is some laughable pronunciation 'orff' (off) and 'lorng' (long) 'parssenger' etc etc.

But, all in all the writing is strong enough to withstand this onslaught. It greatly depends on how particular you are about these things... If you want these stories in all their glory, then the only narrator is Derek Jacobi.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Overall

Amazon Customer

12-27-12

Easy listening

Lots of other reviews mention the annoying habit of the narrator mispronouncing some of the quintessentially English words. I thought I would find this equally annoying. However, I was able to get past this and lose myself in the plots and dialogue between Holmes and Watson. The recording is some 20 hours long and once I was into the collection, the mispronunciations faded into inconsequence. Great value for money for your "credit" too. However, with so many marvellous British voices to choose from, the question is why did they choose an American? That being said, for Holmes fans who can listen to the book whilst picturing Basil Rathbone in his distinctive coat and deerstalker, you won't be disappointed.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Overall

Story

sophie

11-01-17

A man for our times

I was really amazed at how modern some of the concepts were, it could have been written today.