Adam Bede (version 2)
George Eliot
Read by Tom Denholm
George Eliot was the pen name of Mary Ann Evans – an ironic ‘deception’ given that Adam Bede, her first novel, is written unashamedly from a feminist standpoint.
The story centres on a pastoral love triangle. Two young men, carpenter Adam Bede and squire Captain Arthur Donnithorne, are both in love with the mercurial Hetty Sorrel. There’s a further love interest between Adam and beautiful lay preacher Dinah Morris.
The setting is a country village in the north of England in the last years of the eighteenth century. The author paints a wonderful landscape of contemporary life as it really was, and excels in the portraits of her characters. Each is flawed, each has their own passions, each is unique, and through this great novel, Eliot put her stamp on literature and on the way we view the vagaries of character, helping us to see people as they really are.
This is one of the greatest novels in the English language. First published in 1859, Adam Bede has never been out of print since, which speaks volumes about its timeless quality. - Summary by Tom Denholm (25 hr 44 min)
Chapters
Reviews
Angela and Ammon Womack
Amazing reader, incredible story. I laughed, cried and grew to love all the characters in the book, faults and all.
6 Star Review
Kristie Barnes
One of the best, most expressive readers. He read this beautiful, moving classic with such heart, it seems he must've read it many times before. This was my first George Eliot novel, and I was moved by the characters, the description of the land and its folks. This book has earned its addition to my Listen Once More list.
Calledphil
A slow. detailed, enjoyable story narrated by a expert.
a great book read by a masterful narrator
Johnny
An epic story of love and tragedy in the rural 17th Century north of England. Tom Denholm captures the rural northern voice perfectly with Adam, Pastor Irwine and Martin Poyser all being stand out characters. However his portrayals of Lisbeth Bede and Rachel Poyser, so perfectly capture the voices I remember from my own childhood in the countryside of Northern England, that I was transported back there with every line. Magical.
New Favorite Book
Erin Klarr
I have never read a book by George Elliot before, which now seems like a great loss. I enjoyed both the story and the reader immensely.
Brilliant
Lily
Brilliantly read. Amazing gift of bringing each character to life. The novel is exquisite. I wish there were writers today who could write like George Eliot.
Great story, great reader.
Sandi Hryhor
I've always loved George Eliot's style of writing and her insights. I thought the reader was well suited to the story.
Wonderfully read
Claire
Thoroughly enjoyable reading, evocative of the time and places of the novel, I enjoyed every minute.