
Tempest-tost
The Salterton Trilogy, Book 1
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Narrated by:
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Frederick Davidson
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By:
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Robertson Davies
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Critic reviews
"Davies's characters fascinate, and his gentle, graceful style makes no demands on the reader. His civilized prose should read well aloud - indeed, Davidson helps one hear its strengths. He provides an intelligent, expressive, well-paced rendering of the narrative...as well as vivid impersonations of the characters." ( AudioFile)
"An exercise in puckish persiflage." ( Toronto Star)
"An exercise in puckish persiflage." ( Toronto Star)
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Davidson is one of my favourite narrators, and I'm glad he did this trilogy --but volume 1 not only has minor sound quality glitches but also inconsistencies in accent (plus a too earnest attempt at upper Canadian vowels - maybe they were more authentic for the period, before mass media flattened upper Cdn English.
However, both the sound quality and the narration are better in the remaining two volumes of the trilogy, Leaven of Malice and Mixture of Frailties. Those two are much stronger - 5 star -novels, though I think you'd still need some interest in emerging Cdn culture to thoroughly enjoy them.
weaker than the two others in the trilogy
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Very entertaining novel
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Funny and clever and laugh out loud at times
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Would you listen to Tempest-tost again? Why?
I am used to reading Davies and it took a bit for me to get the characters (names especially) straight in my head. Mr. Davidson is an outstanding narrator but I believe it impossible for one narrator to have voices different enough to make several male characters, similar in age, stand apart.What was one of the most memorable moments of Tempest-tost?
The dialogue between Bridgetower and Greselda when they end their brief crush is classic Davies...funny, accurate, often giving me a touch of "I wish I'd said that" envy.Davies delivers, cover artist/editor fail!
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Ok at best
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I have read all of his novels "in paper", and he is one of my favorite authors. By now I have experienced several in audio. His books were meant to be read aloud, as you would expect of a former actor.
In all of the novels Davies depicts multiple human beings as lively, sympathetic creatures who are trying to get on with life --- though to our delight, they do not generally know what that means. The drawing is less skilled here than in his later works, though he tells an amusing story.
Anyone who has been around amateur theatricals will enjoy the background. Tempest-Tost also introduces us to characters who will come to fuller life in the other parts of the trilogy.
Anyone who wants to spend an entire novel "inside" one person should know upfront that Davies may not be their man. To some extent in this work, and much more in later ones, he gives life and depth to multiple characters --- with a wonderful combination of humor, tragedy, and sympathy. The humanist peeks through here, as does the humorist. But they have yet to become one. The main object of both the humor and the sympathy here, a sad pedant, is too one-dimensional.
To me the book lacks the depth, grace and balance of the later ones. It is a worthy effort. If heard in sequence, you can see how rapidly Davies moved from talented beginner to far more.
If you are trying to pick a book that will help you decide whether or not to read more of Davies, this would not be the best first choice. But if you want a complete picture of his Salterton community it will be well worth your time.
First of the first (and shows it)
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Hugely entertaining and insightful
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It makes me appreciate all the more the talents of a reader who takes the trouble to understand and embody the characters. This one should stick to essays or history - something without any people.
Great book, inadequate reader
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