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Faust

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Faust

By: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Narrated by: Auriol Smith, Gunnar Cauthery, Stephen Critchlow, Hugh Dickson, Anne-Marie Piazza, Sean Barrett
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Summary

Faust is one of the pillars of Western literature. This classic drama presents the story of the scholar Faust, tempted into a contract with the Devil in return for a life of sensuality and power. Enjoyment rules, until Faust’s emotions are stirred by a meeting with Gretchen, and the tragic outcome brings Part 1 to an end. Part 2, written much later in Goethe’s life, places his eponymous hero in a variety of unexpected circumstances, causing him to reflect on humanity and its attitudes to life and death.

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

Public Domain (P)2011 Naxos Audiobooks Classics Scary

Critic reviews

Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award

"If it’s been a while since you tackled Goethe’s Faust - like, forever - don’t wait a moment longer. John R. Williams’s sparkling English translation is delightful, full of wit and delicious rhymes, and would be reason enough to fling yourself at it, but this full-cast production more than doubles the pleasure.... The performances are marvelous, and the sound effects clever and often gorgeous (the choir!).... What a great theatrical experience." (AudioFile)

“Listen straight through and you get a vivid experience of the Faust drama in ways you would not get in any other form. The English translation is mellifluous and not stilted, and the recitation is terrific. Anyone who has appreciated the various settings of Faust by Gounod, Berlioz, Schumann, etc., will revel in the full drama enacted in the spirit Goethe intended.... Highly recommended.” (Grego Applegate Edwards, Gapplegate Classical-Modern Music Review)

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The classic done in a consumable and entertaining way. So much so that I've listened to it many many times. Totally brilliant.

Amazing!

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The individual performances were fantastic and when I realised that it would not follow the Part one translation which I had, I could relax into it and enjoy it. The only reason I have marked it one star down for Story is the known and acknowledged uniqueness of Part Two. I was pleased to have trotted through all the Gods and the divine Helen and come to the final scene when Faust wins his pact as he was unable to be satisfied and was spirited away in death.
It was great and I am glad I listened to both parts although I have only read Part One. I thought the chorus subtly used but the witches grated a bit (which I suppose they are meant to do).

That Faust is a performance

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highly recommend this audio story. the narrative was incredibly captivating and I continued to listen on for hours.

incredible

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Like the story and the ideas but the peformance made it hard to follow and frankly kind of tedious. Would definitely have preferred something closer to the original

Performance ruined it

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I Think this goes better as a drama than a book. It makes the story etc. flow making it easier to follow.

A modern classic

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