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Grass Crown
- Narrated by: F. Murray Abraham
- Length: 5 hrs and 54 mins
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Publisher's summary
The magnificent glory of Republican Rome is threatened when a struggle for power erupts among the men who shaped its hard-won peace. At its center are two extraordinary leaders: Gaius Marius, the general who saved Rome from Barbarian invasions, desperately trying to extend his reign for a prophesied and unprecedented seventh term as Consul; and Lucius Cornelius Sulla, once Marius' most trusted right-hand man, now a dangerous rival hungry for his own taste of political success.
As the two men battle for position, they are surrounded by a new generation of statesman, soldiers and lovers, from Senate intriguers and their ambitious wives to the child of destiny, Gaius Julius Caesar.
An absorbing tale of a Republic fighting for its survival in a world of treachery, barbarism and never-ending war, The Grass Crown is a remarkable entry in Colleen McCullough's brilliant and unprecedented series on the rise and fall of the world's greatest civilization.
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In a vivid depiction of Ancient Greece and its legendary heroes, The Mask of Apollo tells the story of Nikeratos, the gifted tragic actor at the centre of political and cultural activity in Athens, 400 B. C. Wherever he goes, Nikeratos carries a golden mask of Apollo, a relic and reminder of an age when the theatre was at the height of its greatness and talent. Only a mascot at first, the mask gradually turns into Nikeratos' conscience as he encounters famous thinkers, actors, and philosophers, including the famous Plato himself.
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The Author, Mary Renault, UNMASKED by her Apollo
- By James on 05-12-15
By: Mary Renault
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The Virgin's Daughter
- Tudor Legacy, Book 1
- By: Laura Andersen
- Narrated by: Rosalind Ashford
- Length: 12 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
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Perfect for fans of Philippa Gregory and Alison Weir, The Virgin's Daughter is the first book in a captivating new saga about the next generation of Tudor royals, which poses the thrilling question: What if Elizabeth I, the celebrated Virgin Queen, gave birth to a legitimate heir?
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Intriguing premise, good story, great storytelling
- By RC on 06-10-15
By: Laura Andersen
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The Black Rose
- By: Thomas B. Costain
- Narrated by: David Case
- Length: 17 hrs and 45 mins
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Walter of Gurnie, bastard son of an English peer, is forced to flee from Oxford for his part in the university riots of 1273. Inspired by Friar Bacon, he determines to travel to China. With his friend Tristam, he fights his way to the heart of the fabulous Mongol Empire and returns famous, to find that he must choose between the first love he thought lost and the exotic flower that he found in the East.
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Great Book
- By Jean on 03-09-13
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The Road to Jerusalem
- Crusades Trilogy Series, Book 1
- By: Jan Guillou
- Narrated by: Gildart Jackson
- Length: 15 hrs and 7 mins
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Born in 1150 to a noble Swedish family and coming of age at a monastery under the tutelage of a Cistercian monk and a former Knight Templar, young Arn Magnusson is sent to fulfill his destiny beyond the cloister walls. But the world awaiting him is a place at odds with his monastic ways. And when the murder of a king engulfs Western Götaland into a whirlwind of intrigue and ruthless power plays, headstrong and naive Arn is forced to leave the woman he loves behind and take up arms to battle infidels in the Holy Land.
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Went looking for trashy historical fiction...
- By Anonymous User on 02-01-22
By: Jan Guillou
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Mythos
- By: Stephen Fry
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- Length: 15 hrs and 26 mins
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Here are the thrills, grandeur, and unabashed fun of the Greek myths, stylishly retold by Stephen Fry. The legendary writer, actor, and comedian breathes life into ancient tales, from Pandora's box to Prometheus's fire, and transforms the adventures of Zeus and the Olympians into emotionally resonant and deeply funny stories, without losing any of their original wonder. Learned notes from the author offer rich cultural context. This volume is a doorway into a captivating world.
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Please, will you tell me a story?
- By L. Kampp on 09-24-19
By: Stephen Fry
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The Iron King
- The Accursed Kings, Book 1
- By: Maurice Druon
- Narrated by: Peter Joyce
- Length: 11 hrs and 2 mins
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From the publishers that brought you A Game of Thrones comes the series that inspired George R.R. Martin’s epic work. France became a great nation under Philip the Fair - but it was a greatness achieved at the expense of her people, for his was a reign characterised by violence, the scandalous adulteries of his daughters-in-law, and the triumph of royal authority.
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Historical Goodie
- By Syd Young on 08-03-13
By: Maurice Druon
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Master and God
- A Novel of the Roman Empire
- By: Lindsey Davis
- Narrated by: Robin Sachs
- Length: 15 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
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Lindsey Davis’ Master and God is a vastly entertaining historical novel set in the reign of the Emperor Domitian in first-century Rome. It is on the one hand a love story between Gaius Vinius Clodianus, a valiant but reluctant member of the Praetorian Guard, whose military career is as successful as his marital history is disastrous, and Flavia Lucilla, daughter of a freed slave and hairdresser to the ladies of the imperial household. A devastating fire in Rome brings them together....
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Info Dump with Romance
- By S. Lev-Ami on 10-03-12
By: Lindsey Davis
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Burr
- A Novel (Narratives of Empire, Book 1)
- By: Gore Vidal
- Narrated by: Grover Gardner
- Length: 21 hrs and 20 mins
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Here is an extraordinary portrait of one of the most complicated - and misunderstood - figures among the Founding Fathers. In 1804, while serving as vice president, Aaron Burr fought a duel with his political nemesis, Alexander Hamilton, and killed him. In 1807, he was arrested, tried, and acquitted of treason. In 1833, Burr is newly married, an aging statesman considered a monster by many. But he is determined to tell his own story, and he chooses to confide in a young New York City journalist. Burr is the first novel in Gore Vidal's Narratives of Empire series.
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Finally! Vidal's Great Take on the Life of Burr
- By John Norton on 06-12-19
By: Gore Vidal
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The Praise Singer
- By: Mary Renault
- Narrated by: Tim Bentinck
- Length: 11 hrs and 5 mins
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Set in sixth-century Greece at the time of the Tyrants, the Persian Wars, and a great flowering of the arts, this novel takes the form of Simonides' memoirs, written in retirement in Sicily. The author was a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, and she also wrote "The King Must Die".
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Ambrosia for the gods & a feast for Greek geeks
- By James on 04-20-15
By: Mary Renault
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Masterpiece - Best Audiobook I’ve Listened To
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By: Edward Gibbon
What listeners say about Grass Crown
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- crushthereview
- 05-31-14
Good Continuation of First Man in Rome
What made the experience of listening to Grass Crown the most enjoyable?
I really enjoyed First Man in Rome and the Grass Crown was a good continuation. McCullough does a great job developing the characters, presenting a historical theatre, and creating plausible political and verbal instances.
Who was your favorite character and why?
I can never decide between Sulla or Marius. I respect Sulla because he did a lot of the "dirty work" in the first book and continues in this one. His downside though is the chip on his shoulder and chaotic personal life. Marius on the other hand represents the true man, good in deed, intelligent and strong. However, his demise comes from an upwelling of pride, which to any with a sense of humility, is distasteful.
Which character – as performed by F. Murray Abraham – was your favorite?
Hell they were all good!
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
I wasn't "moved" per se. The entire book was good.
Any additional comments?
I wish McCullough's Rome series was NOT abridged.
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3 people found this helpful
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- Aziza
- 09-17-24
heavily abridged. like half the book is gone
heavily culled text. if you're a fan of these books, and familiar with them, i wouldn't suggest these. if yoyve never read the book, go on then.
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- jparroni
- 04-22-16
Abridged Again
What did you love best about Grass Crown?
Great story and historical characters brought to life.
What was one of the most memorable moments of Grass Crown?
I have now listened through the book "Caesar" and so honestly can't remember a specific scene. I can say, however, that the memory of the relationship between Gaius Marius and Sulla will long stay with me.
Would you listen to another book narrated by F. Murray Abraham?
Perhaps it was the change in reader that I found distracting as I had come to feel I "knew" the voices of the central characters. Abraham is a good reader, no doubt but I never adjusted to him in this book.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
No.
Any additional comments?
I detest the abridgements.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Philos04
- 08-10-21
WOW!!!
I have never listened to a book that was a captivating as the reading of the same text until now! Excellent combo of voice talent, story, and writing! McCullough is unrivaled in historical fiction. Love love loved it!!!
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- Miriam
- 07-06-15
Longer version please.
I hate that the 800+ page book was diminished to a few short hours. Davina Porters reading was better.
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7 people found this helpful
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- Robert Grogan
- 04-24-16
Abridged!
Great book, only drawback is it is missing some wonderful detail. Please someone record unabridged!
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6 people found this helpful
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- Prof. Bill
- 10-06-23
story suffers
I have read both versions, and the abridged version is hard to understand. Many facts are glossed over.
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- Paulo
- 02-23-15
great lost, her recent death... irreplaceable.
loved it immensely. A unique way to tell such complex story ( involving real personas that helped forge what we, as Europeans an westerners, are today, 2000 years later). Bravo for your books and life well lived. A modern eclectic genius.
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- Jeff R
- 11-29-17
Don't mind that it's abridged
I'll be the dissenting voice for all the people railing against the abridged version. The whole series is tremendous fun, but fine literature it is not. Some of the books in the series I listened to the full audiobook or read the book proper, and I'm sorry these books work a LOT better at six hours than at twenty five hours. The plot is stripped to basics and it works with characters' very direct prose to create an almost Hemmingway-esque feel to the novel.
I do feel that First Man in Rome and The Grass Crown are the best books in the series, and actually I did go between the abridged audiobook and the hardcover. Yes, you do lose something with the abridged version of the book, and there is occasional awkwardness from covering for the skipped sections, but ultimately I think it is the most enjoyable way to get through what is a bit of pulp-ish fun.
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- archeogirl
- 02-20-16
I don't like abridged books
This is probably a great book and is read well. When I bought it I didn't realize it was abridged. The plot is hard to follow and you miss out on all the extra pieces that build the characters. Too bad.
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2 people found this helpful