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Whether it’s a commentary on a bygone era or an everlasting tale of adventure, classics are renowned for their timeless nature, capacity to endure through the reading lists and book clubs of many generations, and yet retain something significant for the present listener. In this collection, each of the must-listen stories is matched with a narrator who is both outstanding and captivating. You may be familiar with some of the tales presented here, but you’ve never heard them told like this before. One day, you’ll have read every must-read classic there is! Check out their top picks for vintage audiobooks.
Pride and Prejudice
Pride and Prejudice, a love story written by Jane Austen in the 19th century, is one of the most cherished works of literature. Even so, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime literary experience when delivered by a terrific narrator in a magnificent performance. In the 2005 film version, Rosamund Pike played Jane Bennett, the protagonist’s sister and best friend. Pike’s portrayal here reflects the depth of her familiarity with the text and the nuances of each character, from Elizabeth’s fiery independence to Mr. Darcy’s stoic reserve. If you’ve read Jane Austen’s story of female wit, improbable love, and repressive society before, you’ll find this audiobook to be a welcome change of pace.
Invisible Man
Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man, first published in 1953, is a sobering look at the state of race relations in the United States today. The story follows a Black man as he struggles to find his place in a white-dominated society and has a profound sense of invisibility as a result of his upbringing. Joe Morton gives life to this complex drama, which raises important concerns about Marxism, Black nationalism, and Black identity. In theatre, film, and television, he has captivated audiences as powerful Black characters. A true undercurrent of understanding runs through his narration, and it is this that compels an audience to listen.
A Christmas Carol
Hugh Grant’s instantly identifiable voice with Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol make for a winning combination. Given that Dickens penned such enduring works as Oliver Twist, Great Expectations, and A Tale of Two Cities, it’s hard to argue with that statement. The dramatic (and, at times, suitably terrifying) narrative works splendidly with the Victorian story of guilt, greed, family, and redemption. Hugh Grant, a winner of the British Academy Film Award for Best Actor, narrates the audiobook, making it an engaging and entertaining experience. Grant’s Scrooge goes through a range of emotions, from fury to fear to remorse to glee, as the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future visit him.
Frankenstein
Mary Shelley’s classic science fiction tale about a disturbed scientist and the homicidal monster he unleashes is made all the more tense by Dan Stevens’s performance. Fans of “Downton Abbey” may recognise Stevens best as Matthew Crawley. The bulk of the narrative takes place in Victor Frankenstein’s head. He describes the chain of circumstances that led to the birth of his monster. Stevens’s tone, at once calm and tormented, paints a vivid picture of Frankenstein’s anguish. The audiobook’s deep and penetrating themes of loss, solitude, remorse, and the pitfalls of knowing are guaranteed to stun listeners who are only familiar with the creature and his narrative through the horror film.
Jane Eyre
Charlotte Bront’s Jane Eyre is a classic, and Thandie Newton’s narration is a beautiful complement to the novel’s introspective, thought-provoking style, which first garnered acclaim more than a century ago. The protagonist’s life in the English countryside from birth to marriage is chronicled in prose that at times might be difficult to follow. Newton, however, makes short work of Victorian storytelling, making the story’s narrative and characters accessible even to modern readers. “I think they’re so struck by (Jane Eyre) because Charlotte Bront manages to relate, expertly, what it means to be a human being… and that never changes,” Newton says of Bront’s classic. (And don’t worry, Newton reads Jane Eyre in her perfectly native London accent, despite being best known for playing American characters.)
Listen To All Your Favorite Classic Book At Audible
Do you want to read more books but never have the time to do so? Or perhaps you’re the type who likes to listen to tales even while you’re otherwise occupied. Whatever the case may be, you can count on Audible to have your back. You can now read your favourite books whenever and wherever you like thanks to a plethora of digital libraries that allow you to read classics online or download them to read offline. You can lose yourself in classic literature that has endured the test of time, from the works of Charles Dickens to those of Jane Austen. So, take a break from reading and listen to these timeless works as brought to life by the great narrators of Audible.