Thank goodness that's over.

If this book wasn’t for you, who do you think might enjoy it more?

People 100 years ago. There's no question about it, this (and the other better-known Haggard books) were ground-breaking, and must-reads for people like me who want to know the origins of the Lost World genre better. But they don't write them like that any more - thank heavens!

What was most disappointing about H. Rider Haggard’s story?

The fact that there were so many words for so little happening.
Also, I don't think the descriptions were that great. A few times with Haggard, I have found myself drifting off when he's describing a temple, or a rock formation or whatever. So I rewind and listen again... and I still have only the vaguest idea of what he's describing. I don't have that problem with many other authors.

Which character – as performed by B.J. Harrison – was your favourite?

Oddly enough, the monk who insisted on making the same joke over and over again.
The character performances were generally okay, except for Ayesha, who would have been better voiced by an actual woman. She sounds too much like a man trying to do a woman's voice - which is often, but not always, a problem with male readers.

What character would you cut from Ayesha?

Characters weren't the problem. It was the word count that needed cutting. At about 40% this could have been a tight, succinct little read. The whole of the first two She stories could have made a book of about 250 pages or 8 hours.

Any additional comments?

I'm kind of curious about the next book - She and Allan - as it must be a fairly unusual instance of a crossover between two series. But I think I need a long break from Haggard first.

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Great story spoiled by dreadful narration

What disappointed you about Ayesha?

The American narration.I expect English classics to be narrated by an English narrator.His pronunciation of Ayesha as" Easher" is unforgivable.Why did no-one correct him?l Other mispronounciations,such as "buyer" for "bier" grated on the ear. I almost gave up listening.

What other book might you compare Ayesha to, and why?

I compare it to "She".I purchased "Ayesha" because I enjoyed the first book.

Who might you have cast as narrator instead of B.J. Harrison?

Any English narrator with the sense to pronounce the name of the main character and other words in the story correctly.

What character would you cut from Ayesha?

None of them.Do not use this narrator for classic English literature.

Any additional comments?

Be more selective in you choice of narrator for the appropriate "voice of the book".

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