Barry Lyndon

by William Makepeace Thackeray

Overview

Victorians had more to them than imperialist ambitions and repressed sexuality. Among other things, their novelists treated language with far more precision than our novelists today. Thackeray himself, though troubled by financial insecurity and tormented by his wife's mental illness, was a meticulous wordsmith who infused his characters with life and wit. For that reason, BARRY LYNDON is one of literature's most believable creations...moral scoundrel but mannered gent.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781438530840
Publisher:	Book Jungle
Publication date:	12/04/2009
Pages:	302
Product dimensions:	7.40(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

William Makepeace Thackeray (1811–1863) was a multitalented writer and illustrator born in British India. He studied at Trinity College, Cambridge, where some of his earliest writings appeared in university periodicals. As a young adult he encountered various financial issues including the failure of two newspapers. It wasn’t until his marriage in 1836 that he found direction in both his life and career. Thackeray regularly contributed to Fraser's Magazine, where he debuted a serialized version of one of his most popular novels, The Luck of Barry Lyndon. He spent his decades-long career writing novels, satirical sketches and art criticism.

Editorial Reviews

This classic promises an entertaining look at the corruption, duplicity, and ambition of Thackeray’s ironic narrator, Redmond Barry Lyndon. A confident social upstart, Redmond draws little empathy from the listener as he expounds upon his villainous actions to obtain wealth and prominence. Jonathan Keeble captures Redmond’s voice perfectly in his narration. Keeble has a deep, bold voice that becomes especially emphatic when his narrator grows heated, and his expert use of intonation often leaves Redmond’s veracity open for interpretation. This audiobook offers Keeble the challenge of creating not only the haughty Redmond but also a diverse set of characters, from Irish commoners to German aristocracy. Keeble meets the challenge admirably, providing a unique vocal personality for each character. His narration enlivens this intriguing fictional autobiography. D.M.W. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine

OCTOBER 2014 - AudioFile