
The Black Tulip
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Narrated by:
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Peter Joyce
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By:
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Alexandre Dumas
About this listen
When tulip-grower Cornelius van Baerle is framed for treason and sentenced to death, he is powerless against the brutal factional politics that put him in prison. But Rosa, the jailer’s daughter, is beautiful and strong-willed, and when they fall in love she determines not only to save him but also to grow the near mythical flower: the black tulip.S et in the savage turmoil of Holland’s late 17th century, this intimate novel celebrates the power of integrity over obsession, and tolerance over violence; and it creates in the black tulip a symbol of humanity’s potential.
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Overall
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Performance
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Performance
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a word of warning
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By: Alexandre Dumas
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- Length: 39 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
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Editorial reviews
The quest to grow a black tulip doesn't have the same narrative appeal as Dumas's Count of Monte Cristo or Three Musketeers, but it provides adventure enough for those who love the great melodramas of the nineteenth century. Peter Joyce delivers a fine rendition of Dumas's meaty prose and is especially good at depicting villains and brutal jailers, less effective at conveying his nubile heroine. Although this is a lesser work by Dumas, the author's judicious detachment, voiced so well in Joyce's calm and untroubled delivery, holds the promise throughout that innocence will triumph and justice eventually prevail: The villain will be vanquished, and the power of the black tulip will somehow open the prison doors and unite the fateful lovers.
I recommend it for any and all-it was a great book!
The Black Tulip
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The story wasn't that great, nor were the characters. They were kind of stupid, and it was hard to empathise when the topic was a flower, the love of which consumed the protagonist. Eventually Dumas made a decent mystery out of it, kind of.... I'm so glad this was a short book though.
Not bad, far from Dumas' best
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A simple story
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Other reviewers have praised Dumas' gift for dialogue. I find that his dialogue is elevated, yet still usually a pleasure to read. It is, however, unlikely to be reflective of the reality of speech of the uneducated peasant characters. On the other hand, his appreciation for human motivations and personlities is superb, his sense of pacing in building suspense keeps the pages turning, and his third person narration style is highly entertaining. His asides to his "gentle readers" lend personal warmth, amusement, and intimacy to his tale.
While this novel does not provide great philosophic depth, that would be equivalent to criticizing shrimp for not tasting like steak. My only real complaint is the overblown romance scenes with the constrained desires, pent up yearning, and prudery of Walt Disney's Cinderella. I suppose this is, to some extent, a byproduct of writing of the topic of sexual attraction during the early 19th century.
Overall, this is a fun tale, full of action, suspense, and enough interesting historical details to keep at bay the gremlins of self-reproach for time wasted through frivolous reading.
This audible version was well performed and easy to listen to with clear delineation of different character voices.
Tulips, murder, love, and mystery
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Would you listen to The Black Tulip again? Why?
Yes, it is a great story.What was one of the most memorable moments of The Black Tulip?
I don't think I will ever lose the image of Cornelius and John DeWitt being murdered in the streets.Which scene was your favorite?
I don't have a favorite.If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?
A man nearly destroyed by the love of Tulips.Don't overlook "The Black Tulip"
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The Black Tulip takes place in Holland of 1672 (not the France of most of Dumas' works), and opens describing both why the tulip is important and why the protagonist gets thrown into jail. From there it's an enjoyable journey that easily holds the audience's interest. Unlike most works by Dumas, this one comes in as a much shorter story, leaving Dumas with less time to ramble on with thoughts and descriptions, keeping the plot clean and simple.
Peter Joyce does a great job of narration with this story, giving distinct voices to the different characters, and helping the story to flow.
A great story for any Dumas fan, or for anyone wanting to see if they like his work without investing the time needed for the Three Musketeers or Count of Monte Cristo classics.
Prison, Love, and Tulips
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Love and romance
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Charming and a bit silly, but worthwhile
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Classic
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Terrific
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