Preview
  • Riders of the Purple Sage

  • By: Zane Grey
  • Narrated by: Jim Roberts
  • Length: 11 hrs and 55 mins
  • 4.2 out of 5 stars (57 ratings)

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Riders of the Purple Sage

By: Zane Grey
Narrated by: Jim Roberts
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Publisher's summary

Riders of the Purple Sage was one of the earliest works of Western fiction, and it played a significant role in popularizing Westerns. The novel tells the story of Jane Withersteen and her battle to overcome her persecution by members of her Mormon church. She does this with the help of her non-Mormon cowboy friends Bern Venters and Lassiter.
Public Domain (P)2009 Jimcin Recordings
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Editorial reviews

An early classic of the American Western genre, Riders of the Purple Sage continues to be a best seller today. Our heroine is Jan Withersteen, who lives in a small, peaceful Mormon community in Cottonwood, Utah. Trouble with cowboys, however, disturbs this peace, and this is where the adventures begin. Jim Roberts narrates the audiobook's vivid prose. His staid bass voice provides a balance to the story's extreme excitement.

What listeners say about Riders of the Purple Sage

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
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    32
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Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Breathtaking

The second time reading was better than the first. I've read e follow up. It too is a masterpiece.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Making an author proud


What a magnificent story. And a magnificent performance. I have loved the story since I was a child. I’ve read it numerous times and have enjoyed the different movie versions of it from the 1925 Tom mixed silent movie to the movie that was made several years ago for TNT. Jim Roberts gave you marvelous reading and brought all the characters to life as well as the beauty of the purple Sage. Thanks

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

So so.

Narrator kept fast, clipped pace that was annoying at times. So much repeated action that it was hard to stay interested.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Good version

If you could sum up Riders of the Purple Sage in three words, what would they be?

A great classic

What other book might you compare Riders of the Purple Sage to and why?

Lots of other books by the same author

What does Jim Roberts bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Did a very good job. Enough differentiation of the voices to know who is talking without going in to "cartoon voice" land. Narrator does not sound like a Westerner but that was find with me. I find genuine Western "twangs" very distracting after a while.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Big gunfight at the end.

Any additional comments?

I listened to samples of all the many versions and liked this the best. Made the right choice. Good listening experience

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34 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Riders of the Purple Sage

This was the first Zane Grey novel I read. Over the years, I have read it at least three times. How fitting that in my twilight years, I have now heard it read to me. Be sure and follow it with the sequel, "The Rainbow Trail."

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61 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Good story

The story is great, Zane Gray is great. The narrator left a lot to be desired. Monotone and seamed to lack punctuation.

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

DO NOT GET THIS ONE

I've been a member of Audible since 06 and this is the first review I felt compelled to write. The narator is horrible, I could only listen to it for about 5 minutes before I had to shut it off. If you want to get a good nap or a good nights sleep it may be just the thing, because the montone voice could put a insominac out cold

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