Morality Play Audiobook By Barry Unsworth cover art

Morality Play

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Morality Play

By: Barry Unsworth
Narrated by: Michael Maloney
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It is the late 14th century, a dangerous time beset by war and plague. Nicholas Barber, a young and wayward cleric, stumbles across a group of travelling players and compounds his sins by joining them. Yet the town where they perform reveals another drama: a young woman is to be hanged for the murder of a 12-year-old boy. What better way to increase their takings than to make a new play, to enact the murder of Thomas Wells?

But as the actors rehearse, they discover that the truth about the boy's death has yet to be revealed.

©1995 Barry Unsworth (P)2014 Audible, Inc. Historical Mystery Crime Fiction
Gripping Mystery • Engaging Storyline • Articulate Narration • Vivid Medieval Setting • Thought-provoking Premise
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Compelling the story is in its actuality and dramatic content clad in a medical shroud of context. Barry Unsworth is a master of the word and inventive plots in contexts which fascinate in their well fleshed out historic settings- this believable. His language takes the reader into the story. M. Melody's voice is excellent in some parts bringing to live the "spoken words". Yet, he often hasts along to loose the listener a little , leaving the impression he wants to reach the end. If my favourite novel Stone Virgin were to be read in a measured way to give time for the language to unfold, I will listen ( again)!

A great novel

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Would you listen to Morality Play again? Why?

Yes...this was third time reading and first listening. Great story...a novella...and fresh every time.

What did you like best about this story?

The breathless narrative by a first person storyteller.

Which scene was your favorite?

The opening scene. Story told in first person brings you right into the forest watching the other characters in medieval England. Economically told. Cinematic.

Any additional comments?

A short novel that manages to have you engaged with several characters as they dance on the edge of danger's cliff while unraveling a mystery.

Great Story...highly recommended

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On of Barry Unsworth's best novels and all the better for being short and punchy. It plunges you into a very believable medieval worldview and meditates on the relation between art and reality, while also spinning a gripping murder mystery tale at the same time. Michael Maloney's reading is a true performance - he speaks in a breathy, hyperactive voice that captures the novel's intensity extremely well.

Fantastic

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A really terrific short book. Engaging reader performing a wide variety of accents and characters. Loved thinking about the development of the dramatic form, and the many different types of language required.

Great story

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Wonderful story as always from Barry Unsworth and a superb performance.
I can only hope that Mr. Unsworth’s book will be eventually be available in audio.

Superb!

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At first glance, this novel appears a simple mystery set in medieval times. However, with grace, poignancy, and articulate narration, the author paints a wonderful picture of life, art, and philosophy through Nicholas, his protagonist. I cannot recommend it more highly. Michael Maloney elevates the already fantastic novel with rich, character driven narration and brilliant observation of emotion and reveals. His voice is incredible and well suited for the period and content. I had to read this for a class and wound up loving it, buying it, and keeping it in both audio and physical editions.

Fantastic

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It took a few chapters to get into the story. I am so glad I persevered! The writing is brilliant - a great plot with interesting, unusual characters. A wonderful look at life during the middle ages from the point of view of a group of traveling players. The narration speeds along! I usually have to listen at 1.5 speed or faster but this was a breathless, amazing tour de force. Two great talents have created a wonderful entertainment for a discerning audience.

Outstanding writing, outstanding narration

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An interesting premise and it held my attention the whole way through. The narration was particularly good and well-suited to all the characters

Wonderful narration

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If you could sum up Morality Play in three words, what would they be?

Medieval Theatrical Mystery

What did you like best about this story?

I loved the troupe of players.

Which scene was your favorite?

My favorite scenes were the rehearsals where the renegade monk learns to act.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I laughed a lot.

Any additional comments?

For a book that has many laughs - this is a complex and fascinating take on Medieval Europe and Justice.

Great Theater Story

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This is a very good historical mystery around time of Black Death in Europe. There is a murder mystery coupled with a tale of a traveling acting troop and a "defrocked" clergyman who joins up and gets involved in acting and writing plays, acting being one of the sins he is not to participate in normally. But he is drawn to it slowly and suffers some mental anguish over his choice to remain with them. There is more to his story that adds weight to whole novel. I like the atmosphere of the story taking place in medieval times, but more importantly it plays with the idea of how morality and religious dramas grew into actual dramatic creativity freeing themselves from shackles of repeating same old biblical tales etc. I always find items of that nature interesting: the speculation on how drama and literature developed from greek drama or earlier mythic rituals, into mystery and morality plays, and into drama as we know it today.

good historical mystery with more

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