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Centaur
- Narrated by: Stephen Hogan, Julie Maisey
- Length: 9 hrs and 19 mins
- Categories: Biographies & Memoirs, Sports
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Summary
Random House presents the audiobook edition of Centaur by Declan Murphy and Ami Rao, read by Stephen Hogan and Julie Maisey.
Winner of the General Outstanding Sports Book of the Year award.
Shortlisted for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year award.
As heard on BBC Radio 4: Midweek.
Coping with your own death, when you are not yet dead, is a strange thing...
A natural on a horse since he was able to walk, and imbued with a pure love of riding, Declan Murphy became one of the most brilliant jockeys of his generation before his world came crashing down at the final hurdle of a race at Haydock Park. His skull shattered in 12 places, he was believed to be dead, the last rites were read and the Racing Post published his obituary. Miraculously, and the word is not used lightly, he survived and defied medical thinking in recovering to the extent that 18 months after his fall, he was able to saddle up for one more race. As usual, he won.
For 23 years, Declan has been unable to tell his story, to bring to words existence on the frontier between life and death, to describe the incredible bond between man and horse. But now, in an extraordinary collaboration with Ami Rao, she has helped him find those words, a way to piece together what happened before, during and after, what it all meant and what it means to us all. It is a story of triumph, fear, love and loss, by turns primal, heartbreaking and inspirational, and ultimately, it is the story of hope, and of life.
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What listeners say about Centaur
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- john mcneill
- 23-07-20
absorbing. would give six stars if I could.
Declans story is heartwarming, engrossing, genuine man of courage enjoyed book greatly will listen again. thank you Declan and ami. the narrator gave a genuine feel of Declan reading the book.
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Derek A. de la Harpe
- 28-12-17
Interesting story but madly irritatingly told
If this book wasn’t for you, who do you think might enjoy it more?
Don’t know but nor for me...
Has Centaur put you off other books in this genre?
Not at all...AP McCoy’s autobiography is riveting.
Did Stephen Hogan and Julie Maisey do a good job differentiating each of the characters? How?
Yes
What character would you cut from Centaur?
Not applicable: this is a biography.
Any additional comments?
This is a very interesting story but I was unable to complete listening. In fact, had I not been so interested to know what happened, I would have given up chapters earlier. But, in the end, the manner in which the story is told and Murphy’s self-congratulatory tone proved to be too much and I decided I would rather not know what happened than continue listening any further.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Rachael
- 18-05-17
Best autobiography I've listened to
Extremely well written, powerful in its honesty and moving. I will listen again and probably again.
1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mr Neil Merryweather
- 12-05-17
Amazing story superbly read
Any additional comments?
I've listened to several hundred audio books over the past 25 years and can honestly say that this is the best. The story is told extremely skilfully but what sets it apart is the quality of the narration which was simply sublime. Throughly recommended.
1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 07-05-17
'A man for all seasons'!<br />
As a school-boy, in his native Limerick, one sees in young Declan a precocious horseman who could 'make his pony talk'.
In adult life the reader meets a litany of emotions and sentimens; ambition, success, love, pain but above all Hope, Determination and The Will to Live.
From start to finish a Gripping Story!!!
Paddy Carey
1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Janet H
- 11-08-17
Simply Amazing....
Would you listen to Centaur again? Why?
Wow, what a story - or 'account' perhaps that should be, as this is a work of fact, not fiction.
What was one of the most memorable moments of Centaur?
Many memorable bits - the 'what ifs'...... he had not been riding at a racecourse so close to the hospital, his parents had flown, the doctor wasn't on call - and so many more.
What about Stephen Hogan and Julie Maisey ’s performance did you like?
Beautifully narrated. Soul-baring, soul searching, funny, sad, amazing. Always thought jockeys were a different breed...... this books confirms it.
Any additional comments?
This was recommended as holiday reading in one of the Sunday supplements.... they said if you can only take one book, take this. Quite right.