Lord Jim Audiobook By Joseph Conrad cover art

Lord Jim

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Lord Jim

By: Joseph Conrad
Narrated by: Frederick Davidson
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This work set the style for a whole class of literature, a work that the critic Morton Dauwen Zabel calls an example of Conrad's "central theme...the grip of circumstances that enforce self-discovery and its cognate, the discovery of reality and truth...." It is a novel about a man's lifelong efforts to atone for an act of instinctive cowardice. The young Jim, chief mate of the Patna, dreams of being a hero. When the Patna threatens to sink and the cowardly officers decide to save their own skins and escape in the few lifeboats, Jim despises them. But at the last moment, dazed by horror and confusion, he joins them, deserting the passengers - 800 Muslim pilgrims - to apparent death. Tormented by this act of cowardice and desertion, Jim flees to the West. Living among the natives in Patusan, a remote trading post in the jungle, he is able to cease sacrificing himself on the altar of conscience. When he defends Patusan against the evil "Gentleman Brown," his efforts create order and well-being, thereby winning the respect and affection of the people for whom he becomes Tuan - or Lord Jim.(P)1993 by Blackstone Audiobooks Classics European Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Literary History & Criticism Psychological World Literature Fiction Scary
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This has been on my book list for some time based on reviews. So finally I listened and read it (that's my system audio and read - a bit compulsive on my part). So the beginning was a little too much hot air, I believe it was because this was originally a series in a magazine, at that time they were getting paid by the word. The symbolism, if there were to be some, was lost on me. So the story continues and it gets better ( you want to keep listening and reading (ha). I did not see the end coming.

A book about the sea?

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Conrad’s books are full of symbolism and, for me at least, are hard to follow. This one is not written in chronological order, and has to be pieced together. It took me a little work to be able to figure this book out, but in the end it was worth the effort. It is beautifully written and I can see why it is ranked among the best literature of the early 20th century (even though it was written in 1899). Jim is the consummate tragic hero. I can’t read too many books like this in close proximity because it leaves me sad and a little depressed.

Frederick Davidson, as alway, is a fabulous narrator. I know some people don’t care for him, but I think he is phenomenal. His characterizations are just great, and the depth of feeling he puts into his reading is really what hooked me on him.

Takes an effort to read

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This is one of my favorite novels of all time; but this narrator is absolutely terrible. The passages in which Conrad's Marlow is clearly supposed to be speaking with a quiet, growling intensity are read by this narrator as if Marlow were a very bored and effete snob. He reads the entire novel this way. I bought this audiobook and couldn't possibly listen to more that ten minutes of it; so I got the Kandinsky reading instead (also available on audible.com), which is infinitely superior.

Terrible narrator -- Great novel

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I agree with the previous reviewer...although I unfortunately listened to more that ten minutes of the narration. Tried on several occasions over the course of the year and after making it a grueling 9 hrs into the book gave up in despair. For your own psychological well being, do not download this program under any circumstance. Pink toads!...Piiiiiiiink toooooads!...ahhhhh!!!

get the other version

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