Spoon River Anthology Audiobook By Edgar Lee Masters cover art

Spoon River Anthology

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Spoon River Anthology

By: Edgar Lee Masters
Narrated by: Patrick Fraley, Edward Asner
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Deemed "essential" in the canon of American literature, this audiobook masterpiece performed in its entirety by a full cast makes the classic accessible to everyone. From a cemetery in a fictional mid-American town, the dead speak the truths about their lives. Some speak of hardships and sordidness; others, of their simple, honest, happy lives. Some are elderly and others are youthful or children; mortality has claimed them all. Their voices reach us deeply, alternately plaintive, anguished, enigmatic, angry, contemptuous, and comedic, evoking themes of love and hope, disappointment, despair, and abiding faith. As the Spoon River residents examine their lives, they invite us to do the same.Public Domain (P)2002 Patrick Franley and the Audio Partners Publishing Corp. Published by The Audio Partners. Poetry United States World Literature Classics Fiction

Critic reviews

"The cast of 50, headed by Patrick Fraley and Edward Asner, is well matched to the many characters in this excellent production." (AudioFile)
Spirited Performances • Interconnecting Stories • Beautiful Poems • Powerful Anthology • Classic Literature
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American gothic at its finest. An examination of small town midwestern American life from viewpoint of the deceased of a local grave yard. It gives an excellent flavor to 19th century history.

A must read

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I was looking for a good dramatic reading of this anthology on audio and this is the best one I've found. There is a cast of 50 that includes Patrick Fraley and Edward Asner. I highly recommend this version.

Good dramatic reading

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Being from Central Illinois and visiting "The Hill" many times this Audible Book entertained me and brought a smile to my face. I can't wait to visit the cemetary and follow along with the book.

Entertainment at it's best

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4 decades ago I watched my mom play guitar for this book in a play. After her passing, I found a newspaper article featuring my mom and the cast. Being able to find this classic on Audible has actually helped the healing process of losing a parent.
I really enjoyed the variety of speakers representing the people telling their stories. Took me way back to the theater where I grew up.

Authentic characters

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I should have read this long ago. It illustrates clearly the underlying anger that resides in a segment of American culture. Each of these characters has a bone to pick with their life, their relationships and their death. In rare cases they seem to think they beat the system. I recommend reading for seekers of truth spoken in anther time but in a place like now. I wish someone would offer hope not anger, hate and violence.

American Poetry

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I really really wanted a listenable version but this is not it. Terrible audio and dramatic, affected cast. So many good book on Audible but really too bad about this one. Try Winesburg, Ohio. Tom

Great Book and terrible Audio and Cast

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Literature and is classic, so written was the story line that I inadvertently fell head over heels with both the stories and the artists who performed the many parts

The Anthology herein by Masters is a superb piece of literature - should be a classic

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This anthology of beautiful, often gritty poems is every bit as powerful, amusing, and American as Whitman's Leaves of Grass. The Asner et. al. performance is magnificent! I wish they would record Whitman's great legacy to American letters like this! The performers lend meaning to the material in the best way. This is the way to read poetry! This is the way to listen to it!

Magnificent American poetry

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This is one of those books that I remember friends reading in high school, but for some reason my teacher skipped. It is something that I have meant to read for years, but have never made time for; well I am glad I finally made the time. Even though I knew the reputation of the book, I was still surprised by how well it worked. The depth and variety of the characters were surprising. Part of me really wanted to sit down and make a chart of all the interconnecting stories like I was some sort of school kid. If you have never made the time for this classic, I would suggest that you do so as soon as possible.

Great Book

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Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Yes, because I have always liked the work.

If you’ve listened to books by Edgar Lee Masters before, how does this one compare?

Not overly great.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

It's okay.

Was Spoon River Anthology worth the listening time?

Yes, because the work itself is memorable; the production seemed a little shallow.

Spoon River

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