Best Jane Austen narration I have ever heard!

If you could sum up Emma - The 200th Anniversary Audio Edition in three words, what would they be?

Really comes alive!

What other book might you compare Emma - The 200th Anniversary Audio Edition to and why?

I have not enjoyed an audio book as much since I listened to Larkin's performance of Pride and Prejudice.

What about Alison Larkin’s performance did you like?

Often narrations of Jane Austen novels are earnest. She was not meant to be read in that way. She was meant to be read with lightness and wit - and depth. Larkin brings all this and more.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Miss Bates and Mrs Elton are both hilarious and authentic. I especially love the scene where Emma first gives advice to Harriet about Mr Martin and all the scenes where she manipulates people.Jane Austen called her 'a heroine who no one but myself will much like.'

Any additional comments?

Larkin is able to channel Jane Austen in a way that breathes new life into this already amazing book. Her reading brings this 200 year-old classic to life in a way that makes me love the book more than ever before. A brilliantly good listen!

6 people found this helpful

The best Jane Austen with the best narrator ever

Would you listen to Emma - The 200th Anniversary Audio Edition again? Why?

Alison Larkin brings new life and fun to one of Jane Austen's greatest stories. Perhaps because Larkin was raised in England and trained as an actress who has appeared in London and Broadway she is able to add a new and more dramatic interest to this wonderful tale. Because she is a best selling author herself, Larkin also knows how to build the narrative and bring out all the wit and emotional every word and scene.

What did you like best about this story?

I had never realized how much fun Jane Austen could be--and how relevant many of the situations were to the modern world today. Larkin has a way of making us interested in all the characters and every turn of the plot.

What about Alison Larkin’s performance did you like?

Larkin imbues every word with a meaning and and every character with an authentic accent that involves us and makes us a kind of eager participant in Austen's wonderful world..

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I wanted to listen to this book in one sitting, but had to come back to it a couple of times. Each time I was immediately immersed in this great creation by Larkin's unique ability to bring new life to such a classic tale.

Any additional comments?

Every fan of Jane Austen will love Larkin's narration of her work!

3 people found this helpful

Brillantly narrated by Alison Larkin

If you could sum up Emma - The 200th Anniversary Audio Edition in three words, what would they be?

Best version yet.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Emma - The 200th Anniversary Audio Edition?

There are so many it is hard to pick one, but certainly the moment when Emma realizes who she is in love with.

What does Alison Larkin bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Characterizations that are so convincing you feel like you are there. There's a lightness to her reading that makes it a pleasure to listen to at all times. Jane Austen is deeply funny - as well as moving and true. All these adjectives apply to Larkin's narration. I also really like the fact that one of my favorite New Yorker cartoonists designed the cover.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The moment when Emma realizes who she is in love with.

Any additional comments?

I came to this one after hearing Alison Larkin read Pride and Prejudice. She does an equally stunning job here. She has a gift for bringing out the wit and intelligence in Jane Austen who is sometimes read in far too serious a manner. I can't recommend it highly enough.

2 people found this helpful

Love jane Austen - thought this narrator was awful

I honestly couldn’t finish - I hate to use this word, but narrator was positively shrill. I can’t believe this one was in honor of 200 years - thankfully the story remains as perfect as ever.

1 person found this helpful

Entertaining and Becoming

I am a Jane Austen lover and really enjoyed this performance. The voice is cheerful enough to capture Emma's overall energy. The slight variations of intonation for the characters in general are well balanced and add to the narration. I particularly enjoy Mrs Elton's snobbery, Miss Bates' scattered speech and Mr Woodhouse's hypochondriac tone. Recommended!

1 person found this helpful

Totally charming

Beautifully narrated by Alison Larkin, who brings Emma alive. While not on a par with Pride and Prejudice, also beautifully narrated by Ms. Larkin, the inhabitants of High Bridge become old and beloved friends. I highly recommend this recording.

1 person found this helpful

Very well done

Very good narration. The only thing off-putting was the timbre of the narrator's voicing of the main character. The higher pitch grated on me after a while.

1 person found this helpful

Incredible performance

I am so impressed with Alison Larkins performance in this book! I love audio books, but she takes the experience to another level.

1 person found this helpful

Enjoyable Narration of a Classic

Even though I enjoy classic literature, Emma is a story that I had never read. The plot focuses on Emma, who is part of upper class society in England and likes to spend her energy matchmaking among her friends. Except, sometimes things don't go as planned, especially for the matchmaker. I realized partway through the story that the movie Clueless is (loosely) based on this book, and then through the rest of the story I kept making connections between the book and the movie.

Allison Larkin is an amazing narrator. She brings an energy to each character that makes them come to life and makes me want to keep listening to the end. I look forward to listening to more books she has narrated.

I received a free copy of this audio book at my own request and voluntarily leave this honest review. .

Great Narration!

I thought I wouldn't like one person being the voice of every character, but this was so well done!