The Portent
George MacDonald
Read by LibriVox Volunteers
Overshadowed by the dark legend of the murderous rider of the horse with the loose shoe, Duncan Campbell sets out from his home in the Highlands to make his fortune in the world. When he finds the woman whose destiny is mingled with his, he must overcome first her indifference, then the malice of her family, then the forces of space and time. Will he ever put to rest the old curse?
George MacDonald was an influence on many famous fantasy writers, including C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, and Madeleine L'Engle. This fantasy romance derives from MacDonald's own Celtic tradition of the "Second Sight". It is a daydream, but one which holds up a mirror to human nature and shows us the truth of ourselves, as well as being a work of art in itself. (summary by Beth Thomas and Gemma Myers) (4 hr 23 min)
Chapters
Preface | 2:59 | Read by Beth Thomas (1974-2020) |
Chapter 1: My Boyhood | 9:30 | Read by Gemma L Myers |
Chapter 2: The Second Hearing | 7:35 | Read by Gemma L Myers |
Chapter 3: My Old Nurse's Story | 31:25 | Read by Mike Pelton |
Chapter 4: Hilton Hall | 8:58 | Read by Larry Wilson |
Chapter 5: Lady Alice | 8:17 | Read by Larry Wilson |
Chapter 6: My Quarters | 7:38 | Read by Larry Wilson |
Chapter 7: The Library | 7:36 | Read by Larry Wilson |
Chapter 8: The Somnambulist | 6:51 | Read by Larry Wilson |
Chapter 9: The First Waking | 7:19 | Read by Gemma L Myers |
Chapter 10: Love and Power | 11:54 | Read by JustinJYN |
Chapter 11: A New Pupil | 8:48 | Read by JustinJYN |
Chapter 12: Confession | 7:19 | Read by JustinJYN |
Chapter 13: Questioning | 4:50 | Read by JustinJYN |
Chapter 14: Jealousy | 4:47 | Read by JustinJYN |
Chapter 15: The Chamber of Ghosts | 10:38 | Read by Mike Pelton |
Chapter 16: The Clanking Shoe | 14:39 | Read by Mike Pelton |
Chapter 17: The Physician | 9:20 | Read by Mike Pelton |
Chapter 18: Old Friends | 4:48 | Read by Mike Pelton |
Chapter 19: Old Constancy | 5:47 | Read by Mike Pelton |
Chapter 20: Margaret | 24:21 | Read by Mike Pelton |
Chapter 21: Hilton | 7:35 | Read by Gemma L Myers |
Chapter 22: The Sleeper | 9:27 | Read by Gemma L Myers |
Chapter 23: My Old Room | 10:27 | Read by Gemma L Myers |
Chapter 24: Prison-Breaking | 8:10 | Read by Gemma L Myers |
Chapter 25: New Entrenchments | 9:21 | Read by Gemma L Myers |
Chapter 26: Escape | 9:00 | Read by Gemma L Myers |
Chapter 27: Freedom | 4:30 | Read by Gemma L Myers |
Reviews
good story, 1 tough reader
A LibriVox Listener
Chapters 10 through 14 are almost unintelligible owing to the reader's accent. It was a good effort, but it did detract from the enjoyment of the book.
good book, one difficult narrator
Richard Hertz
interesting book. the narrator in the middle (9-12?) was a mumbler with harsh S's, so if you turned up the volume, the S's were hard to take.
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Tamsin Cole
Gemma reads beautifully, I could listen to her continually so clear and soothing, just helps you get carried away with the story
very romantic
Jessica L Chipps
a swoon worthy story with a satisfying ending. Somewhat mellowdramatic, but isn't that refreshing and lovely sometimes?
Annika Matson
This story makes me feel so... mystical? I just finished listening for the second time. The readers are excellent
Interesting story
Amy Sterrett
The story was interesting. All the readers but one were well recorded and enjoyable. Thank you.
Must read! Wonderful! I liked it so much I plan to buy the
book.
Tygerlily
That was the best sci-fi movie that hasn't been made yet. Brilliant.