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Gulliver's Travels

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About this listen

Jonathan Swift's classic satire, in a brand new dramatisation starring Arthur Darvill (Rory from BBC Television's Doctor Who)

Gulliver is shipwrecked on the Island of Lilliput where the natives are tiny people living in a miniature society. With his unique overview of this realm, Gulliver discovers a world of petty politics and small minds. Coerced into a war between two nations who disagree on the best way to eat boiled eggs, Gulliver finds himself betrayed by friends and battered by enemies - escape is his only option if he wants to survive!

Gulliver's adventures in Lilliput are hilarious, disturbing and profound. This is a story of dishonest politicians, mindless ceremony and wars based on unconvincing arguments. A satire as potent now as it ever was!

©2019 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2019 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd Classics Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Fiction Witty War
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This 3 episode adaptation is quite engrossing and uses some atmospheric sound effects to good effect. However, it is a shame they relied on Philip Glass' minimalist incidental music to start and end each chapter. This makes no sense at all. In the absence of a score, or with no budget for original music, you can also hear a jazzed up rendition of a Bach organ work too, which at least, is contemporary to the period in which Gulliver's Travels was written. The acting is convincing, with good expressive character personification. Some of the more salacious moments in Swift's tale have been edited out, presumably to shorten and package the book for the modern audience. Imaginative visceral sound effects work well to create images in the mind and seem to heighten the dramatic tension. This is entertaining radio drama and a good interpretation of a highly controversial, bizarre book, that in this shrunk down format will still capture the listener's imagination.

Abridged dramatisation of Swift's classic.

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As fine a radio adaption of swifts masterpiece that you’ll find. Matthew broughton shows a real understanding of the original book and brings out its humour, wonder, excitement and savage indignation brilliantly in this 3 part drama. It’s also awesomely acted. Well done to all those involved

Superb

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A great rendition of this classic
Brilliantly performed and produced.
Highly engaging and an absorbing listen.
Recommended.

A BRILLIANT CLASSIC witty, vivid and engrossing

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This is simply the most wonderful adaptation of Swift’s vision I have come across. The horror creeps upon the listener and the descent into madness is masterfully played by Arthur Darvill. I admit the unconventional opening is a bit much for us purists but the journeys themselves are brought to life so wonderfully I can forgive.

The Most Marvellous Adaptation

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The production is well done and the quality is great, but I bought this intending to listen to it with my young son and expecting it to be like the children’s classics version I had as a child, not realising that the original story is very dark and the content is not suitable for a younger audience. Other than that, the production is to a high standard and I would recommend it for teenagers and above.

Not suitable for children

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