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  • The Weirdstone of Brisingamen

  • By: Alan Garner
  • Narrated by: Philip Madoc
  • Length: 6 hrs and 19 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (578 ratings)
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The Weirdstone of Brisingamen cover art

The Weirdstone of Brisingamen

By: Alan Garner
Narrated by: Philip Madoc
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Summary

About 150 years ago, my great-great-grandfather, Robert Garner, carved the face of an old man with long hair and beard in the rock of a cliff on a hill where my family has lived for at least 400 years, and still does. He carved the face above a well that is much older. How much older, no one knows, but it's centuries older, or even more. And why did he carve it? He carved it to mark that here is the Wizard's Well.

I am Joseph's grandson, and I grew up on that hill, Alderley Edge in Cheshire, aware of its magic and accepting it. I didn't know that it wasn't the same for everyone. I didn't know that not all children played, by day and by night, the year long, on a wooded hill where heroes slept in the ground. Yet there were strange things. Below another ancient well, the Holy Well, a rock lies in a bog. It fell from the cliff above in 1740 and made the Garners' cottage shake. It landed on an old woman and her cow that, for some reason, were standing in the bog, and, as a result, are still there. When I was seven, the bog was dangerous for somebody of my size and I once got stuck in it and thought I was going to drown, even though I sank only to my hips; but I managed to reach the rock and to climb up it to where a fallen tree was lodged, which spanned the bog, and by sliding along the trunk I was able to reach firm land. Nearby, under the leaf mould, is a layer of white clay that we used as soap to wash ourselves before we went home after playing. But there wasn't anything I could do about my clothes, and Grandad was not pleased.

The Edge is a land of two worlds: above and below. It took me my childhood to learn about above; when I was 19, I went to learn the wonders of below: a world of darkness and silence, so dark that you can see the lights of brain cells discharging; so silent that blood in the veins can be heard.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio.

©1960 Alan Garner (P)2005 Naxos Audiobooks

What listeners say about The Weirdstone of Brisingamen

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

A fantastic book superbly narrated.

The Weirdstone has always been a favourite of mine, so finding it on Audible in unabrdiged form was a treat. I didn't expect too much from Philip Madoc as a narrator, but must say that his delivery and characterisation are superb. The characters come alive, and are are so distinct that the narration fades into the background and a vivid play is performed within ones imagination and Alderley Edge, the Svarts, Colin, Susan, Gowther, Bess, the Dwarves and Cadelin appear before you.

Throughout the childrens' adventures, you are there with them; in the bog, the caves, and other wonderfully presented dark, evil, scary places and you will find yourself right in the middle of the action with them, as they tackle their final desperate challenge.

I would recommend this book in written or audible form to anyone!

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19 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A absolute classic

I remember this book fondly from my youth, and the narration does the book justice. Strongly recommended to anyone with a taste for the Tolkein-esque! I just wish the BBC radio play was also available.

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18 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

No need for music

What did you like best about The Weirdstone of Brisingamen? What did you like least?

The Weirdstone is a brilliant story, which has been part of my life for many many years. I decided to get an audible version just to check how some of the names should be pronounced. Assuming Philip Madoc pronounced them the way Alan Garner intended, the audible book served its purpose. However, I am baffled by the decision to interrupt the flow of the story with prolonged, jarring music - there's no need for it between chapters and definitely not randomly within chapters. A very poor decision to force that on us and it nearly put me off listening to the whole book.

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11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant

A wonderful story with some memorable characters the good guys Cadellin and Durathror and the baddies the Morrigan and Grimnir, living hidden from the inhabitants of Alderley Edge and unexpectedly stumbled on by two children Colin and Susan. I remember reading this when I was 11 and forty years later it is still full of wonder for me. A childrens book that even an adult can enjoy and sets your feet firmly on the path to discovering new worlds. A magical book with The Moon of Gomrath coming next.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Very well narrated

I had this book on audio as a child and very much enjoyed re-listening to it after ten years. It's a good story, very exciting and full of adventure. The narrator is superb. Would recommend this to kids aged over about 8-9 and adults as well.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

A childhood favourite re-visited

This book scared and thrilled me as a child and it's great to hear it read so well by Philip Madoc, who manages the accents very convincingly. Alan Garner has a deep knowledge of British myth and folklore and writes wonderful stories where 20th century life becomes entangled with the stuff of legend.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A gateway to fantasy

This is the book that eased me into the in depth world of fantasy.

Maybe not the best technically written book, but when the story is this immersive, are you worried?

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

philip madoc is marvellous, the book is good too!

This book is very enjoyable overall although the writing has weaknesses. The story has a gripping start, a slow middle, and a gripping concluding part, although the actual ending came so suddenly I felt cheated of a final chapter which would have brought everything to a more satisfying conclusion. Philip Madoc is a star reader, and I could not imagine anyone else bringing the story and characters to life as he did for me. He is just marvellous.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Recommended

Didn't read this book as a child, but enjoyed it. Worth getting just to hear Philip Madoc's wonderful voice narrating it, but a good buy in its own right.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent

Highly recommended, eery atmospheric music between the chapters adds a creepy charm, all the characters are well-performed, my favourites being the cautious Fenodyree the dwarf and the earthy tones Gowther Mossock. It's wonderful to hear them brought to life and I finally know how to pronounce Brisingamen!

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4 people found this helpful