-
Billy Budd, Sailor
- Narrated by: William Roberts
- Length: 3 hrs and 34 mins
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Buy for $9.87
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Publisher's summary
Written some 40 years after Moby Dick, Melville's Billy Budd is a moving tale of good versus evil. Set aboard a British navy ship at the end of the eighteenth century, a young, innocent sailor's charm and good nature put the men around him at ease. Ship life agreed with Billy. He made friends quickly and was well liked, which infuriated John Claggart, the ship's cold-blooded superior officer.
Mutiny was a continual threat greatly feared by naval officers. Even minor offences were dealt with harshly to keep crews in their place, regardless of whether the accused was guilty or innocent.
The envious Master-at-Arms becomes obsessed with the destruction of the 'Handsome Sailor' and torments the young man until his false accusations lead to an eventual charge of treason against Billy.
Listeners also enjoyed...
-
An Old-Fashioned Girl
- By: Louisa May Alcott
- Narrated by: Anne Hancock
- Length: 9 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Immediately following the success of Little Women, Louisa May Alcott sat down to write An-Old Fashioned Girl, expanding on the subject of rich versus poor that she explored in her first novel. It’s a story of a country mouse and a city mouse: 14-year-old Polly Milton travels to Boston for a stay with her friend Fanny Shaw. The wealthy Shaws’ way of life is foreign to Polly who tries to adapt but is quickly labeled “old-fashioned”. Fanny and her friends dress and behave as their elders do, flirting with boys and gossiping.
-
-
Okay
- By selene on 07-15-18
-
The Pit and the Pendulum
- By: Edgar Allan Poe
- Narrated by: B.J. Harrison
- Length: 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
“I was sick, sick unto death with that long agony,” begins one of the most famous tales from the master of the macabre, Edgar Allan Poe. Through the tortures of the Spanish Inquisition, we follow the straying mind of the unnamed prisoner in his quest for hope in a world of darkness and despair. This episode skyrocketed The Classic Tales Podcast to number 3 on iTunes’ Top 100 Podcasts chart.
-
-
I loved the story this is a must read.
- By Amazon Customer on 10-02-23
By: Edgar Allan Poe
-
Amos Fortune, Free Man
- By: Elizabeth Yates
- Narrated by: Roslyn Ruff
- Length: 3 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When Amos Fortune was only 15 years old, he was captured by slave traders and brought to Massachusetts, where he was sold at auction. Although his freedom had been taken, Amos never lost his dignity and courage. For 45 years, Amos worked as a slave and dreamed of freedom. And, at age 60, he finally began to see those dreams come true.
-
-
i love this book
- By Mike L. on 11-08-18
By: Elizabeth Yates
-
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
- By: Barbara Robinson
- Narrated by: Elaine Stritch
- Length: 1 hr and 26 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Herdmans are the worst kids in the history of the world. They lie, steal, smoke cigars, swear, and hit little kids. So no one is prepared when this outlaw family invades church one Sunday and decides to take over the annual Christmas pageant.
-
-
WHAT A WASTE
- By Patty on 10-05-10
By: Barbara Robinson
-
The Scarlet Letter
- By: Nathaniel Hawthorne
- Narrated by: Kate Petrie
- Length: 6 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
One of the most important novels in classic literature, Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter tackles the subject of adultery, with the notorious Hester Prynne at the forefront of the scandal in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. In the beginning of the novel, Hester is serving time in prison for having a child out of wedlock and is forced to wear a scarlet A on her clothing at all times, so she cannot run from her sin no matter where she goes.
-
-
missing the introductory???
- By Savannah on 05-20-20
-
Born Again
- What Really Happened to the White House Hatchet Man
- By: Charles Colson
- Narrated by: Jon Gauger
- Length: 13 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In the 1970s, against the backdrop of the explosive Watergate scandal, Charles Colson revealed the story of his own search for meaning during the tumultuous investigations that led to the collapse of the Nixon administration. A convicted former special counsel to the president, Colson paradoxically found new life - not with success and power, but while in national disgrace and serving a prison sentence.
-
-
Great Read
- By Cindy on 08-27-12
By: Charles Colson
-
An Old-Fashioned Girl
- By: Louisa May Alcott
- Narrated by: Anne Hancock
- Length: 9 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Immediately following the success of Little Women, Louisa May Alcott sat down to write An-Old Fashioned Girl, expanding on the subject of rich versus poor that she explored in her first novel. It’s a story of a country mouse and a city mouse: 14-year-old Polly Milton travels to Boston for a stay with her friend Fanny Shaw. The wealthy Shaws’ way of life is foreign to Polly who tries to adapt but is quickly labeled “old-fashioned”. Fanny and her friends dress and behave as their elders do, flirting with boys and gossiping.
-
-
Okay
- By selene on 07-15-18
-
The Pit and the Pendulum
- By: Edgar Allan Poe
- Narrated by: B.J. Harrison
- Length: 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
“I was sick, sick unto death with that long agony,” begins one of the most famous tales from the master of the macabre, Edgar Allan Poe. Through the tortures of the Spanish Inquisition, we follow the straying mind of the unnamed prisoner in his quest for hope in a world of darkness and despair. This episode skyrocketed The Classic Tales Podcast to number 3 on iTunes’ Top 100 Podcasts chart.
-
-
I loved the story this is a must read.
- By Amazon Customer on 10-02-23
By: Edgar Allan Poe
-
Amos Fortune, Free Man
- By: Elizabeth Yates
- Narrated by: Roslyn Ruff
- Length: 3 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When Amos Fortune was only 15 years old, he was captured by slave traders and brought to Massachusetts, where he was sold at auction. Although his freedom had been taken, Amos never lost his dignity and courage. For 45 years, Amos worked as a slave and dreamed of freedom. And, at age 60, he finally began to see those dreams come true.
-
-
i love this book
- By Mike L. on 11-08-18
By: Elizabeth Yates
-
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
- By: Barbara Robinson
- Narrated by: Elaine Stritch
- Length: 1 hr and 26 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Herdmans are the worst kids in the history of the world. They lie, steal, smoke cigars, swear, and hit little kids. So no one is prepared when this outlaw family invades church one Sunday and decides to take over the annual Christmas pageant.
-
-
WHAT A WASTE
- By Patty on 10-05-10
By: Barbara Robinson
-
The Scarlet Letter
- By: Nathaniel Hawthorne
- Narrated by: Kate Petrie
- Length: 6 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
One of the most important novels in classic literature, Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter tackles the subject of adultery, with the notorious Hester Prynne at the forefront of the scandal in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. In the beginning of the novel, Hester is serving time in prison for having a child out of wedlock and is forced to wear a scarlet A on her clothing at all times, so she cannot run from her sin no matter where she goes.
-
-
missing the introductory???
- By Savannah on 05-20-20
-
Born Again
- What Really Happened to the White House Hatchet Man
- By: Charles Colson
- Narrated by: Jon Gauger
- Length: 13 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In the 1970s, against the backdrop of the explosive Watergate scandal, Charles Colson revealed the story of his own search for meaning during the tumultuous investigations that led to the collapse of the Nixon administration. A convicted former special counsel to the president, Colson paradoxically found new life - not with success and power, but while in national disgrace and serving a prison sentence.
-
-
Great Read
- By Cindy on 08-27-12
By: Charles Colson
-
Moby Dick
- By: Herman Melville
- Narrated by: William Hootkins
- Length: 24 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
"Call me Ishmael." Thus starts the greatest American novel. Melville said himself that he wanted to write "a mighty book about a mighty theme" and so he did. It is a story of one man's obsessive revenge-journey against the white whale, Moby-Dick, who injured him in an earlier meeting. Woven into the story of the last journey of The Pequod is a mesh of philosophy, rumination, religion, history, and a mass of information about whaling through the ages.
-
-
Excellent, EXCELLENT reading!
- By Jessica on 02-18-09
By: Herman Melville
-
Benito Cereno
- By: Herman Melville
- Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki
- Length: 3 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This is the epic sea adventure, a harrowing tale of slavery and revolt aboard a Spanish ship, is often regarded as Melville's finest short story. The balance of forces is complete, the atmosphere one of epic significance, the light cast upon the hero intense to the highest degree, the realization of the human soul profound, and the telling of the story orchestrated like a great symphony.
-
-
The literary equivalent of a caste painting from the same time
- By Auggie on 09-10-20
By: Herman Melville
-
The Sign of the Beaver
- By: Elizabeth George Speare
- Narrated by: Greg Schaffert
- Length: 3 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
At just 12 years old, Matt must face serious challenges in the Maine wilderness while awaiting his father's return to their cabin. When he is saved from a terrifying bee swarm attack by an Indian chief and his grandson Attean, Matt gains a valuable friend in the young Indian boy.
-
-
Good story, dubious dialog, irritating music
- By Paul Hubbard on 08-05-12
-
The Witch of Blackbird Pond
- By: Elizabeth George Speare
- Narrated by: Mary Beth Hurt
- Length: 6 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Kit Tyler must leave behind shimmering Caribbean islands to join the stern Puritan community of her relatives. She soon feels caged, until she meets the old woman known as the Witch of Blackbird Pond. But when their friendship is discovered, Kit herself is accused of witchcraft!
-
-
Great characters - a delightful listen!
- By Susan on 02-28-04
-
Billy Budd, Foretopman
- By: Herman Melville
- Narrated by: Frank Muller
- Length: 3 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
It's 1791. Friendly, handsome, and popular Billy Budd is a sailor on board the British warship HMS Indomitable. Britain is at war with France, and because of the famous Nore and Spithead mutinies that occurred earlier in the year, every captain is alert for signs of mutiny and rebellion. The master-at-arms, John Claggatt, a vicious bully, is insanely jealous of Billy's good looks and popularity.
-
-
Poor quality
- By Turner on 04-12-07
By: Herman Melville
-
Bartleby, the Scrivener: A Story of Wall Street
- By: Herman Melville
- Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki
- Length: 1 hr and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Herman Melville’s tale of corporate discontent, Bartleby, the Scrivener, tells the story of a quiet, hardworking legal copyist who works in an office in the Wall Street area of New York City. The business where he works handles the official financial paperwork of wealthy men. One day, Bartleby’s employer requests he proofread one of the documents he has copied. Bartleby declines the assignment with the inscrutable “I would prefer not,” the first of what will become many refusals.
-
-
Very strange, very haunting
- By Tad Davis on 11-24-11
By: Herman Melville
-
The Old Man and the Sea
- By: Ernest Hemingway
- Narrated by: Donald Sutherland
- Length: 2 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Old Man and the Sea is one of Hemingway's most enduring works. Told in language of great simplicity and power, it is the story of an old Cuban fisherman, down on his luck, and his supreme ordeal, a relentless, agonizing battle with a giant marlin far out in the Gulf Stream. Here Hemingway recasts, in strikingly contemporary style, the classic theme of courage in the face of defeat, of personal triumph won from loss.
-
-
Truly a Classic
- By Dave on 07-01-08
By: Ernest Hemingway
-
The Red Badge of Courage
- By: Stephen Crane
- Narrated by: Frank Muller
- Length: 4 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Young Henry Fleming used to play soldier and dream of being a hero, but when he faces his first battle - the Battle of Chancellorsville - he finds that heroism is not at all what he had expected. Shells burst in front of him like strange flowers, gunfire ripped toward him in great crackling sheets of flame, and all around him, blue-coated figures lie still on the blood-drenched grass. Remarkably, Stephen Crane wrote this realistic tale of the terror of war without ever witnessing a battle.
-
-
A Classic
- By Sher from Provo on 06-06-16
By: Stephen Crane
-
Johnny Tremain
- By: Esther Forbes
- Narrated by: Grace Conlin
- Length: 8 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Johnny, a young apprentice silversmith, is caught with Otis, Hancock, and John and Samuel Adams in the exciting operations and subterfuges leading up to the Boston Tea Party and the Battle of Lexington. As Johnny is forced into the role of a full-grown man in the face of his new country's independence, he finds that his relations with those he loves changes for the better as well.
-
-
This has been the favorite
- By Jessica on 01-26-11
By: Esther Forbes
-
Billy Budd
- By: Herman Melville
- Narrated by: Peter Joyce
- Length: 3 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
On one level...Melville’s tale is an historical adventure telling the story of life aboard ship shortly after the mutiny at Spithead in 1797. Billy is taken from a homeward bound merchantman to serve on the ‘Seventy Four’ HMS Indomitable. He falls foul of Claggart, the ‘Master at Arms’, and the final confrontation results in death. Billy becomes an unwilling martyr - what passes for justice must be implemented because of the rebellious climate of the time.
-
-
Well done, a pleasure to listen to!
- By Kindle Customer on 10-17-18
By: Herman Melville
-
Number the Stars
- By: Lois Lowry
- Narrated by: Blair Brown
- Length: 2 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Ten-year-old Annemarie Johansen and her best friend Ellen Rosen often think of life before the war. It's now 1943, and their life in Copenhagen is filled with school, food shortages, and the Nazi soldiers marching through town. When the Jews of Denmark are "relocated," Ellen moves in with the Johansens and pretends to be one of the family. Soon Annemarie is asked to go on a dangerous mission to save Ellen's life.
-
-
People of all ages will enjoy this book.
- By Angela Rhodes on 10-16-12
By: Lois Lowry
-
HALO: The Fall of Reach
- HALO, Book 1
- By: Eric Nylund
- Narrated by: Todd McLaren
- Length: 11 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The 26th century. Humanity has expanded beyond Earth’s system to hundreds of planets that colonists now call home. But the United Earth Government and the United Nations Space Command is struggling to control this vast empire. After exhausting all strategies to keep seething colonial insurrections from exploding into a full-blown interplanetary civil war, the UNSC has one last hope.
-
-
Phenomenal story - problematic performance
- By wotsisname on 07-02-19
By: Eric Nylund
Related to this topic
-
Billy Budd, Foretopman
- By: Herman Melville
- Narrated by: Frank Muller
- Length: 3 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
It's 1791. Friendly, handsome, and popular Billy Budd is a sailor on board the British warship HMS Indomitable. Britain is at war with France, and because of the famous Nore and Spithead mutinies that occurred earlier in the year, every captain is alert for signs of mutiny and rebellion. The master-at-arms, John Claggatt, a vicious bully, is insanely jealous of Billy's good looks and popularity.
-
-
Poor quality
- By Turner on 04-12-07
By: Herman Melville
-
Billy Budd
- By: Herman Melville
- Narrated by: Peter Joyce
- Length: 3 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
On one level...Melville’s tale is an historical adventure telling the story of life aboard ship shortly after the mutiny at Spithead in 1797. Billy is taken from a homeward bound merchantman to serve on the ‘Seventy Four’ HMS Indomitable. He falls foul of Claggart, the ‘Master at Arms’, and the final confrontation results in death. Billy becomes an unwilling martyr - what passes for justice must be implemented because of the rebellious climate of the time.
-
-
Well done, a pleasure to listen to!
- By Kindle Customer on 10-17-18
By: Herman Melville
-
Heart of Darkness (Unabridged)
- By: Joseph Conrad
- Narrated by: Charles Constant
- Length: 4 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Long hailed as one of the greatest novels of the 20th century, Joseph Conrad's tale of one man's descent into the mysterious and deadly Congo jungle to find a messianic ivory trader is a journey into the depths of man's own greed and quest for power. Marlow, our narrator, relates his story of his slow upriver quest to meet the strange and enigmatic Kurtz, who lives isolated in the jungle and is revered by the natives he exploits.
-
-
Great Narrator!
- By BOA on 09-25-20
By: Joseph Conrad
-
Seize the Fire
- Heroism, Duty, and the Battle of Trafalgar
- By: Adam Nicolson
- Narrated by: Adam Nicolson
- Length: 6 hrs and 26 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Adam Nicolson takes the great naval battle of Trafalgar, fought between the British and Franco-Spanish fleets in October 1805, and uses it to examine our idea of heroism and the heroic. A story rich with modern resonance, Seize the Fire reveals the economic impact of the battle as a victorious Great Britain emerged as a global commercial empire. Nicolson not only vividly describes the brutal realities of battle but enters the hearts and minds of the men who were there.
-
-
great narration
- By Tito on 12-06-17
By: Adam Nicolson
-
Nostromo
- By: Joseph Conrad
- Narrated by: Frank Muller
- Length: 16 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
One of the great adventure novels of our language creates a most engaging central character, Nostromo. A picturesque man of action and popular hero, Nostromo lives to be "well-spoken of" by the citizens of Costaguana, the mythical South American banana republic where the story takes place. Around this figure, Conrad spins a story of revolution, politics, and racial conflict as complex as Nostromo, the man whose greatest enemy is himself.
-
-
Wow!
- By Amazon Customer on 07-11-03
By: Joseph Conrad
-
Commander
- The Life and Exploits of Britain's Greatest Frigate Captain
- By: Stephen Taylor
- Narrated by: Derek Perkins
- Length: 10 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Edward Pellew, captain of the legendary Indefatigable, was quite simply the greatest British frigate captain in the age of sail. Left fatherless at age eight, with a penniless mother and five siblings, Pellew fought his way from the very bottom of the navy to fleet command. Victories and eye-catching feats won him a public following. Yet he had a gift for antagonizing his better-born peers, and he made powerful enemies. Redemption came with his last command, when he set off to do battle with the Barbary States and free thousands of European slaves.
-
-
OK
- By peter on 02-02-21
By: Stephen Taylor
-
Billy Budd, Foretopman
- By: Herman Melville
- Narrated by: Frank Muller
- Length: 3 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
It's 1791. Friendly, handsome, and popular Billy Budd is a sailor on board the British warship HMS Indomitable. Britain is at war with France, and because of the famous Nore and Spithead mutinies that occurred earlier in the year, every captain is alert for signs of mutiny and rebellion. The master-at-arms, John Claggatt, a vicious bully, is insanely jealous of Billy's good looks and popularity.
-
-
Poor quality
- By Turner on 04-12-07
By: Herman Melville
-
Billy Budd
- By: Herman Melville
- Narrated by: Peter Joyce
- Length: 3 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
On one level...Melville’s tale is an historical adventure telling the story of life aboard ship shortly after the mutiny at Spithead in 1797. Billy is taken from a homeward bound merchantman to serve on the ‘Seventy Four’ HMS Indomitable. He falls foul of Claggart, the ‘Master at Arms’, and the final confrontation results in death. Billy becomes an unwilling martyr - what passes for justice must be implemented because of the rebellious climate of the time.
-
-
Well done, a pleasure to listen to!
- By Kindle Customer on 10-17-18
By: Herman Melville
-
Heart of Darkness (Unabridged)
- By: Joseph Conrad
- Narrated by: Charles Constant
- Length: 4 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Long hailed as one of the greatest novels of the 20th century, Joseph Conrad's tale of one man's descent into the mysterious and deadly Congo jungle to find a messianic ivory trader is a journey into the depths of man's own greed and quest for power. Marlow, our narrator, relates his story of his slow upriver quest to meet the strange and enigmatic Kurtz, who lives isolated in the jungle and is revered by the natives he exploits.
-
-
Great Narrator!
- By BOA on 09-25-20
By: Joseph Conrad
-
Seize the Fire
- Heroism, Duty, and the Battle of Trafalgar
- By: Adam Nicolson
- Narrated by: Adam Nicolson
- Length: 6 hrs and 26 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Adam Nicolson takes the great naval battle of Trafalgar, fought between the British and Franco-Spanish fleets in October 1805, and uses it to examine our idea of heroism and the heroic. A story rich with modern resonance, Seize the Fire reveals the economic impact of the battle as a victorious Great Britain emerged as a global commercial empire. Nicolson not only vividly describes the brutal realities of battle but enters the hearts and minds of the men who were there.
-
-
great narration
- By Tito on 12-06-17
By: Adam Nicolson
-
Nostromo
- By: Joseph Conrad
- Narrated by: Frank Muller
- Length: 16 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
One of the great adventure novels of our language creates a most engaging central character, Nostromo. A picturesque man of action and popular hero, Nostromo lives to be "well-spoken of" by the citizens of Costaguana, the mythical South American banana republic where the story takes place. Around this figure, Conrad spins a story of revolution, politics, and racial conflict as complex as Nostromo, the man whose greatest enemy is himself.
-
-
Wow!
- By Amazon Customer on 07-11-03
By: Joseph Conrad
-
Commander
- The Life and Exploits of Britain's Greatest Frigate Captain
- By: Stephen Taylor
- Narrated by: Derek Perkins
- Length: 10 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Edward Pellew, captain of the legendary Indefatigable, was quite simply the greatest British frigate captain in the age of sail. Left fatherless at age eight, with a penniless mother and five siblings, Pellew fought his way from the very bottom of the navy to fleet command. Victories and eye-catching feats won him a public following. Yet he had a gift for antagonizing his better-born peers, and he made powerful enemies. Redemption came with his last command, when he set off to do battle with the Barbary States and free thousands of European slaves.
-
-
OK
- By peter on 02-02-21
By: Stephen Taylor
-
By the Mast Divided
- John Pearce, Book 1
- By: David Donachie
- Narrated by: Peter Wickham
- Length: 15 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
London: 1793. Young firebrand John Pearce, on the run from the authorities, is illegally press-ganged from the Pelican tavern into brutal life aboard HMS Brilliant, a frigate on her way to war. In the first few days, Pearce discovers the Navy is a world in which he can prosper. And he is not alone; he is drawn to a group of men who eventually form an exclusive gun crew, the Pelicans, with Pearce their elected leader.
-
-
Didn't work for me
- By Michael E on 07-23-08
By: David Donachie
-
Captain Blood
- By: Rafael Sabatini
- Narrated by: Robert Whitfield
- Length: 10 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
George MacDonald Fraser, author of the Flashman novels, praises this hearty saga as "one of the great unrecognized novels of the 20th century." Doctor Peter Blood's quiet life is shattered when he is convicted of treason for helping a wounded nobleman in the 1685 rebellion against King James II.
-
-
Outstanding rendition of classic swashbuckler
- By Gary on 03-27-04
By: Rafael Sabatini
-
Edgar Allan Poe - The Complete Works Collection
- By: Edgar Allan Poe
- Narrated by: Philippe Duquenoy
- Length: 48 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Edgar Allan Poe was one of the most prolific authors of his time, eventually gaining recognition for his tales of horror and his uncanny ability to paint a macabre picture with words. The Complete Works Collection of Edgar Allan Poe contains over 150 stories and poems, separated into individual chapters, including all of Poe's most notorious works such as The Raven, Annabel Lee, A Dream Within a Dream, Lenore, The Tell-Tale Heart, and many more.
-
-
Would recommend to anyone!!!
- By Gail Blackwell on 03-14-18
By: Edgar Allan Poe
-
Why Read Moby-Dick?
- By: Nathaniel Philbrick
- Narrated by: Nathaniel Philbrick
- Length: 2 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The New York Times best-selling author of seagoing epics now celebrates an American classic.Moby-Dick is perhaps the greatest of the Great American Novels, yet its length and esoteric subject matter create an aura of difficulty that too often keeps readers at bay. Fortunately, one unabashed fan wants passionately to give Melville's masterpiece the broad contemporary audience it deserves.
-
-
A beautiful love letter to an amazing novel
- By Darwin8u on 10-20-12
-
The Greek Way
- By: Edith Hamilton
- Narrated by: Nadia May
- Length: 8 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Based on a thorough study of Greek life and civilization, of Greek literature, philosophy, and art, The Greek Way interprets their meaning and brings a realization of the refuge and strength the past can be to us in the troubled present. Miss Hamilton's book must take its place with the few interpretative volumes which are permanently rooted and profoundly alive in our literature.
-
-
...Not as Good as The Echo of Greece
- By The Masked Reviewer on 11-04-16
By: Edith Hamilton
-
The Man Who Invented Fiction
- How Cervantes Ushered in the Modern World
- By: William Egginton
- Narrated by: Michael Butler Murray
- Length: 8 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In the early 17th century, a crippled, graying, almost toothless veteran of Spain's wars against the Ottoman Empire published a novel. It was the story of a poor nobleman, his brain addled from studying too many novels of chivalry, who deludes himself that he is a knight errant and sets off on hilarious adventures. That story, Don Quixote, went on to sell more copies than any other book beside the Bible, making its author, Miguel de Cervantes, the single most-read author in human history.
-
-
Very Interesting and Informative, but Poorly Read
- By LCorSMT on 06-21-23
By: William Egginton
-
The Roman Way
- By: Edith Hamilton
- Narrated by: Nadia May
- Length: 6 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Edith Hamilton shows us Rome through the eyes of the Romans. Plautus and Terence, Cicero and Caesar, Catullus, Horace, Virgil, and Augustus come to life in their ambitions, their work, their loves and hates. In them we see reflected a picture of Roman life very different from that fixed in our minds through schoolroom days, and far livelier.
-
-
Not so bad
- By steve on 04-25-11
By: Edith Hamilton
-
The Captain of the Pole Star
- By: Arthur Conan Doyle
- Narrated by: B. J. Harrison
- Length: 1 hr and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Word goes among the crew of the Pole Star that the captain is haunted by demons. And after the days turn into weeks in the frigid Arctic Ocean, stories begin to circulate of ghosts and midnight hauntings.
-
-
Conan Doyle wrote more than Mr. Holmes.
- By Kristi R. on 11-14-11
-
A Rage for Glory
- The Life of Commodore Stephen Decatur, USN
- By: James Tertius de Kay
- Narrated by: John McDonough
- Length: 8 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Acclaimed author James Tertius de Kay recounts the lifeof Commodore Stephen Decatur in the first new biography of the great naval hero in almost 70 years. De Kay draws on material unavailable to previous biographers to explore Decatur’s extraordinary life. From his burning of the Philadelphia to his capture of the HMS Macedonian, Decatur demonstrated his legendary bravery at every turn.
-
-
Excellent writing and exciting story
- By mikey on 08-02-19
-
The Tempest
- By: William Shakespeare
- Narrated by: Sir Ian McKellen, Emilia Fox, Scott Handy, and others
- Length: 2 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Sir Ian McKellen, fresh from his performance as Gandalf in Lord of the Rings, is Prospero, and heads a strong cast in Shakespeare’s last great play. The wronged duke raises a tempest to shipwreck his old opponents on his island so that he can ensure justice is done. With Emilia Fox as Miranda, Scott Handy in the pivotal role of the sprite Ariel, and Ben Owukwe as Caliban.
-
-
Gandalf is great
- By Justin on 11-10-15
-
Socrates
- A Man for Our Times
- By: Paul Johnson
- Narrated by: John Curless
- Length: 4 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Acclaimed historian and best-selling author Paul Johnson’s books have been translated into dozens of languages. In Socrates: A Man for Our Times, Johnson draws from little-known resources to construct a fascinating account of one of history’s greatest thinkers. Socrates transcended class limitations in Athens during the fifth century B.C. to develop ideas that still shape the way we think about the human body and soul, including the workings of the human mind.
-
-
Plat-Soc-Paul
- By Megasaurus on 11-17-12
By: Paul Johnson
-
Sons of the Waves
- The Common Seaman in the Heroic Age of Sail
- By: Stephen Taylor
- Narrated by: Matthew Waterson
- Length: 13 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
British maritime history in the age of sail is full of the deeds of officers like Nelson but has given little voice to plain, "illiterate" seamen. Now, Stephen Taylor draws on published and unpublished memoirs, letters, and naval records, including court-martials and petitions, to present these men in their own words. In this exhilarating account, ordinary seamen are far from the hapless sufferers of the press gangs.
-
-
Navy Guy Recommends this Title
- By Lexcast on 06-17-20
By: Stephen Taylor
People who viewed this also viewed...
-
Billy Budd
- By: Herman Melville
- Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki
- Length: 3 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Billy Budd, an orphaned, illegitimate child suffused with innocence, openness, and natural charisma, has been impressed into service aboard the HMS Bellipotent. He is adored by the crew, but for unexplained reasons arouses the antagonism of the ship's Master-at-Arms John Claggart, who falsely accuses Billy of conspiracy to mutiny.
-
-
Very good
- By Elmer Sklue on 03-12-17
By: Herman Melville
-
Billy Budd
- By: Herman Melville
- Narrated by: Michael Lackey
- Length: 3 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In 1797, young Billy Budd is impressed into naval service. It is a perilous time for a British Royal Navy still reeling from mutinies and marauding French ships. When Billy is forcibly transferred to HMS Bellipotent, he evokes the wrath of John Claggart, the ship's master-at-arms. Claggart falsely accuses Billy of conspiracy to mutiny, a charge that will have a profound effect on the fates of both seamen.
-
-
H2O here isn't wide, but deep w/ strong currents
- By Darwin8u on 12-04-13
By: Herman Melville
-
Billy Budd, Foretopman
- By: Herman Melville
- Narrated by: Frank Muller
- Length: 3 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
It's 1791. Friendly, handsome, and popular Billy Budd is a sailor on board the British warship HMS Indomitable. Britain is at war with France, and because of the famous Nore and Spithead mutinies that occurred earlier in the year, every captain is alert for signs of mutiny and rebellion. The master-at-arms, John Claggatt, a vicious bully, is insanely jealous of Billy's good looks and popularity.
-
-
Poor quality
- By Turner on 04-12-07
By: Herman Melville
-
Billy Budd
- By: Herman Melville
- Narrated by: Peter Joyce
- Length: 3 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
On one level...Melville’s tale is an historical adventure telling the story of life aboard ship shortly after the mutiny at Spithead in 1797. Billy is taken from a homeward bound merchantman to serve on the ‘Seventy Four’ HMS Indomitable. He falls foul of Claggart, the ‘Master at Arms’, and the final confrontation results in death. Billy becomes an unwilling martyr - what passes for justice must be implemented because of the rebellious climate of the time.
-
-
Well done, a pleasure to listen to!
- By Kindle Customer on 10-17-18
By: Herman Melville
-
Billy Budd, Sailor
- By: Herman Melville
- Narrated by: Martha Dahl, Deborah Barry
- Length: 3 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Billy Budd, Sailor is a novel by American writer Herman Melville, first published posthumously in London in 1924. Melville began writing the work in November 1888, but left it unfinished at his death in 1891. It was acclaimed by British critics as a masterpiece when published in London, and quickly took its place among the canon of significant works in the United States.
By: Herman Melville
-
Herman Melville Collection
- Moby Dick, Bartleby the Scrivener and Sailor Billy Budd
- By: Herman Melville
- Narrated by: Tom Chandler
- Length: 29 hrs
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Are you ready to be engulfed in a world in which man battles with deep emotions of vengeance, the pressures of society, and passive resistance? Herman Melville’s descriptive style of storytelling captivates and thrills listeners as he deftly reveals the undertones and themes of racial conflict, truth, and social injustice.
-
-
wonderful
- By Patrick on 07-07-21
By: Herman Melville
-
Billy Budd
- By: Herman Melville
- Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki
- Length: 3 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Billy Budd, an orphaned, illegitimate child suffused with innocence, openness, and natural charisma, has been impressed into service aboard the HMS Bellipotent. He is adored by the crew, but for unexplained reasons arouses the antagonism of the ship's Master-at-Arms John Claggart, who falsely accuses Billy of conspiracy to mutiny.
-
-
Very good
- By Elmer Sklue on 03-12-17
By: Herman Melville
-
Billy Budd
- By: Herman Melville
- Narrated by: Michael Lackey
- Length: 3 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In 1797, young Billy Budd is impressed into naval service. It is a perilous time for a British Royal Navy still reeling from mutinies and marauding French ships. When Billy is forcibly transferred to HMS Bellipotent, he evokes the wrath of John Claggart, the ship's master-at-arms. Claggart falsely accuses Billy of conspiracy to mutiny, a charge that will have a profound effect on the fates of both seamen.
-
-
H2O here isn't wide, but deep w/ strong currents
- By Darwin8u on 12-04-13
By: Herman Melville
-
Billy Budd, Foretopman
- By: Herman Melville
- Narrated by: Frank Muller
- Length: 3 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
It's 1791. Friendly, handsome, and popular Billy Budd is a sailor on board the British warship HMS Indomitable. Britain is at war with France, and because of the famous Nore and Spithead mutinies that occurred earlier in the year, every captain is alert for signs of mutiny and rebellion. The master-at-arms, John Claggatt, a vicious bully, is insanely jealous of Billy's good looks and popularity.
-
-
Poor quality
- By Turner on 04-12-07
By: Herman Melville
-
Billy Budd
- By: Herman Melville
- Narrated by: Peter Joyce
- Length: 3 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
On one level...Melville’s tale is an historical adventure telling the story of life aboard ship shortly after the mutiny at Spithead in 1797. Billy is taken from a homeward bound merchantman to serve on the ‘Seventy Four’ HMS Indomitable. He falls foul of Claggart, the ‘Master at Arms’, and the final confrontation results in death. Billy becomes an unwilling martyr - what passes for justice must be implemented because of the rebellious climate of the time.
-
-
Well done, a pleasure to listen to!
- By Kindle Customer on 10-17-18
By: Herman Melville
-
Billy Budd, Sailor
- By: Herman Melville
- Narrated by: Martha Dahl, Deborah Barry
- Length: 3 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Billy Budd, Sailor is a novel by American writer Herman Melville, first published posthumously in London in 1924. Melville began writing the work in November 1888, but left it unfinished at his death in 1891. It was acclaimed by British critics as a masterpiece when published in London, and quickly took its place among the canon of significant works in the United States.
By: Herman Melville
-
Herman Melville Collection
- Moby Dick, Bartleby the Scrivener and Sailor Billy Budd
- By: Herman Melville
- Narrated by: Tom Chandler
- Length: 29 hrs
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Are you ready to be engulfed in a world in which man battles with deep emotions of vengeance, the pressures of society, and passive resistance? Herman Melville’s descriptive style of storytelling captivates and thrills listeners as he deftly reveals the undertones and themes of racial conflict, truth, and social injustice.
-
-
wonderful
- By Patrick on 07-07-21
By: Herman Melville
-
Billy Budd
- By: Herman Melville
- Narrated by: Christopher Timothy
- Length: 2 hrs and 20 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Billy Budd, Sailor is a classic confrontation between good and evil, and the story of an innocent young man unable to defend himself against a wrongful accusation.
-
-
This classic deserves a terrific narrator and Timothy nails it!
- By Bryan O'Connor on 07-25-16
By: Herman Melville
-
Herman Melville 3 Complete Works
- White Jacket , Billy Budd, The World in a Man-O-War
- By: Herman Melville
- Narrated by: Geoffrey Giuliano, The Arc
- Length: 19 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Herman Melville, born in 1819 in New York City, led a life filled with adventure, literary exploration, and contemplation. His early experiences as a sailor aboard whaling ships provided the inspiration for his most famous work, "Moby-Dick," a literary masterpiece that would later secure his place in literary history. Melville's writings delve into profound themes such as obsession, the human condition, morality, and the conflict between man and nature.
By: Herman Melville
-
The Old Man and the Sea
- By: Ernest Hemingway
- Narrated by: Donald Sutherland
- Length: 2 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Old Man and the Sea is one of Hemingway's most enduring works. Told in language of great simplicity and power, it is the story of an old Cuban fisherman, down on his luck, and his supreme ordeal, a relentless, agonizing battle with a giant marlin far out in the Gulf Stream. Here Hemingway recasts, in strikingly contemporary style, the classic theme of courage in the face of defeat, of personal triumph won from loss.
-
-
Truly a Classic
- By Dave on 07-01-08
By: Ernest Hemingway
-
Born Again
- What Really Happened to the White House Hatchet Man
- By: Charles Colson
- Narrated by: Jon Gauger
- Length: 13 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In the 1970s, against the backdrop of the explosive Watergate scandal, Charles Colson revealed the story of his own search for meaning during the tumultuous investigations that led to the collapse of the Nixon administration. A convicted former special counsel to the president, Colson paradoxically found new life - not with success and power, but while in national disgrace and serving a prison sentence.
-
-
Great Read
- By Cindy on 08-27-12
By: Charles Colson
-
The Taming of the Shrew
- Arkangel Shakespeare
- By: William Shakespeare
- Narrated by: Frances Barber, Roger Allam, Alan Cox
- Length: 2 hrs and 17 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Padua holds many suitors for the hand of fair Bianca, but Bianca may not be married until her spinster sister, Kate, is wed. Could any man be rash enough to take on Kate? The witty adventurer Petruchio undertakes the task. While he sets about transforming Kate from foul-tempered termagant to loving wife, young Lucentio and his clever servant, Tranio, plot to win Bianca.
-
-
Problem play
- By Tad Davis on 01-24-15
-
The Piazza Tales (AmazonClassics Edition)
- By: Herman Melville
- Narrated by: David deVries
- Length: 9 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
With disparate settings such as a Massachusetts farmhouse and the strange volcanic clime of the Enchanted Isles, this six-story anthology features some of Herman Melville’s most exceptional works. Included here is “Bartleby,” the dark tale of a Wall Street clerk who possesses a confounding and disarmingly passive insubordination; and “Benito Cereno,” in which the captain of a whaler boards a tattered Spanish slave ship in South America only to be drawn into an intricately plotted mutiny.
-
-
A Melville sampler
- By Tad Davis on 08-14-19
By: Herman Melville
-
Moby Dick: or the Whale
- By: Herman Melville
- Narrated by: Mark Nelson
- Length: 23 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Moby-Dick is widely considered to be the Great American Novel and a treasure of world literature. The story details the adventures of the wandering sailor Ishmael and his voyage on the whale ship Pequod, commanded by Captain Ahab. Ishmael soon learns that Ahab seeks one specific whale: Moby Dick, a ferocious, enigmatic white sperm whale. In a previous encounter, the whale destroyed Ahab's boat and bit off his leg. And Ahab intends to take revenge.
-
-
Solid narration of a timeless classic
- By G.T. on 05-20-12
By: Herman Melville
-
Billy Budd, Sailor
- Enriched Classics
- By: Herman Melville
- Narrated by: Liam Gerrard
- Length: 4 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Billy Budd, Sailor is the final novel by American writer Herman Melville, first published posthumously in London in 1924 as edited by Raymond M. Weaver, a professor at Columbia University. Other versions were later published. Melville had begun writing the original work in November 1888, but left it unfinished at his death in 1891. Acclaimed by British critics as a masterpiece when published in London, it quickly took its place as a classic literary work in the United States.
By: Herman Melville
-
The Scarlet Letter
- By: Nathaniel Hawthorne
- Narrated by: Kate Petrie
- Length: 6 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
One of the most important novels in classic literature, Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter tackles the subject of adultery, with the notorious Hester Prynne at the forefront of the scandal in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. In the beginning of the novel, Hester is serving time in prison for having a child out of wedlock and is forced to wear a scarlet A on her clothing at all times, so she cannot run from her sin no matter where she goes.
-
-
missing the introductory???
- By Savannah on 05-20-20
-
Harvey
- By: Mary Chase
- Narrated by: Jason Damron
- Length: 2 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Set against the backdrop of 1940s America, the play explores the consequences of Elwood's unconventional friendship on his relationships with his family and society. As Elwood's sister, Veta, attempts to have him committed to a mental institution, misunderstandings and comedic chaos ensue, challenging the perceptions of what is real and the importance of embracing life's enchanting mysteries. Mary Chase skillfully weaves humor, warmth, and a touch of the fantastical to create a timeless story that delves into the acceptance of uniqueness.
By: Mary Chase
-
An Old-Fashioned Girl
- By: Louisa May Alcott
- Narrated by: Anne Johnstonbrown
- Length: 10 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A country girl named Polly is visiting city friends and comes to realize that this world is quite different than which she has left. Here people are judged according to their dress and manner of speech rather than for their honesty and hard work. Yet all who meet Polly cannot help but be enamored of her; her sweet simplicity is unlike any that they have ever seen, and soon everyone comes to realize that Polly is not someone to be laughed at and ridiculed, but someone to put upon a pedestal for failing to become willing prey to the cynicism of the times.
-
-
A favorite story, read horribly!
- By Mandalyn on 03-04-14
-
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
- By: Barbara Robinson
- Narrated by: Elaine Stritch
- Length: 1 hr and 26 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Herdmans are the worst kids in the history of the world. They lie, steal, smoke cigars, swear, and hit little kids. So no one is prepared when this outlaw family invades church one Sunday and decides to take over the annual Christmas pageant.
-
-
WHAT A WASTE
- By Patty on 10-05-10
By: Barbara Robinson
What listeners say about Billy Budd, Sailor
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
- Johnny
- 06-11-07
A good reading of a classic story
I had to read "Billy Budd" for a senior seminar class in college, and this audiobook version worked great for me. The narration of this version is a little dry, but then there are other versions where the quality is simply dreadful to say the least.
As many may already know, there are various copies of Billy Budd (BB: Foretopman, BB: Sailor, etc.) because Melville never published the novella in his lifetime. However, I listened to this audiobook while reading along with the Norton Critical Edition of Billy Budd, and the changes were hardly distinct (except for the name of the ship Indomitable vs. Belipotent and an added paragraph towards the end of the novella).
Anyway, I've listened to this audiobook 4 times since I bought it, and it's a great version in my opinion.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
56 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Tom Scholl
- 07-19-24
A story of jealousy and innocence.
Melville is difficult to read, but after a while, it’s sometimes refreshing to listen to the sentence structure and verbiage. Thrilling descriptions almost paint a portrait of the story. I hadn’t read this book since the 70’s, I’m glad to “read” it again.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Jess
- 08-12-16
Awesome
I like the way Billy Budd was presented. I also like the way the story was fluent and not confusing. I did not like how long the chapters were.🙁
I would recommend this to my entire family, friends, my book club!
I chose this rating because of how cool, well written, amazing well read, and overall fantastic the book was!!!!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
16 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Scott Olson
- 03-05-15
Billy Budd
I had to read the book for school and using the audiobook was indefinitely helpful. Though at times it was hard to get though because of the nature of the writing, I enjoyed the book.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
11 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- J.B.
- 07-03-17
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
Billy Budd, Sailor, written by: Herman Melville, Narrated by: William Roberts. This is a magnificent story of a good wholesome and loved by many Billy Budd, and how his nature fuses with the drastic life on a sea ship at the end of the 18th millennium. Billy is an impressed sailor who faces off with a ship’s first officer, antagonistic to Billy because of Billy’s goodness and appreciation by others. This book tells the story of the debased ravaging the pure; because of incarnate evil, lodged herein, in the first officer, John Claggart. The presence of the devil is a strong force in this novella.
Billy is eventually put under false charges, and reacts violently. Thus, Billy becomes unfairly charged, but being properly prosecuted for his violent reaction when unfairly charged. Needless to say, the crew is in Billy’s favor, but the book next weights the need of the admiralty law to prevail and keep order and the crew’s demand for true and proper justice.
A short novel, with multitudes of character interactions, deep seated conflicts in right and wrong, justice and equity and the disregard of those in control for the common man. All that counts is keeping those in power in authority.
Great little story.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
8 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Craig Schorling
- 08-09-17
Short Piece of Classic Literature
There is something about classic literature that reminds you why words are so powerful. I found myself constantly referring to a dictionary during this one and that is not a bad thing. I typically tend to enjoy stories such as these in print form but this was a daily deal and the price was length was short. I have always enjoyed stories about the sea and this one delivered. While this is not up to the caliber of Moby Dick it is well told and employs a terrific use of language to create the world.
William Roberts was the perfect voice for this story and gave an authentic sound to this tale. If you enjoy classics, give this short story a listen. It did not disappoint.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Matt Ranlett
- 11-13-17
Metaphors for Days
I've got to say that I, personally, am not a fan of the way Herman Melville wrote this. Chalk full of extremely dense sentences, contemporary references I don't know, and entire sections of non-sequiturs which a modern editor would have made him chop.
Billy Budd is basically the perfect guy if a bit simple. He's beautiful and friendly and everyone likes him except for the guy that doesn't due to a genetic defect of character. That guy, also a good looking guy who, aside from his crappy police officer type of job and the aforementioned character defect, accuses our Christ figure in front of the captain. Billy reacts by getting so tongue-tied that he slugs the "cop". The cop naturally dies. Now we get to the meat of the story, in the post-trial monologue scene. Here the captain must convince the officers/jurists that regardless of how awesome Billy is and how sketchy that other guy may have been, Billy's got to go down for the crime he committed.
They hang him.
There's some light follow-up afterward but basically, the act of hanging Billy didn't earn anyone karmic credits.
Audible 20 Review Sweepstakes Entry
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Travis Hiland
- 03-15-17
Captivating
Such beautiful language. New respect for Melville, master of the complexities of the human heart.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
19 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- LAG
- 07-12-17
An interesting story
I thought the story was sad
It was however, well executed
The narrator was excellent
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- David Bricker
- 06-09-18
Melville's Last Classic
As delightfully dense and poetic as Melville's other work, Billy Budd is a commentary on law and order, military command, the British policy of impressing merchant sailors into military service, and the human spirit. Unlike the 138 chapters of Moby Dick, this audiobook can be consumed in a little over 4 hours. Authentically Melville, it's Victorian in style, yet it lacks the extended tangents and long back story chapters that characterize Moby Dick. Perhaps as Melville aged he combined his dexterity with words with a certain efficiency born of experience or a need to finish the story before his time ran out. Predictably heavy work from one of the true masters of English prose.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful