Listen free for 30 days
-
The Secret Island
- Secret Stories, Book 1
- Narrated by: Joshua Higgot
- Length: 4 hrs and 11 mins
Add to basket failed.
Add to wishlist failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
The Secret Island
Buy Now for £7.99
No valid payment method on file.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Listeners also enjoyed...
Summary
In Enid Blyton's classic Secret Stories, mystery always leads to adventure.
In Enid Blyton's very first full-length adventure novel, meet siblings Peggy, Mike and Nora. They live with their cruel uncle and aunt and long to escape, so when their friend Jack takes them to a secret, deserted island, they run away to live there.
But not all is as it seems on the island, and the children soon find their adventures are only just beginning....
What listeners say about The Secret Island
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall3 out of 5 stars
-
Performance2 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Danielle Maria
- 22-04-19
Devastating
I will try to convey how utterly disappointed I am with this audiobook.
As a child I was a huge Enid Blyton fan, and The Secret Island was my absolute favourite book. I still have the extremely tattered copy I first read, and it is a story that I have introduced to many children over the years. I think the themes of independence and self-sufficiency are incredibly empowering for children, and the imagery conjured up sublime. This is Blyton at her best.
I used to have an abridged version of this book on tape, read by Jan Francis (who perfectly narrated the Famous Five series). Sadly this was eaten by the tape player a long time ago. I had requested this book on Audible, and so I was very excited to learn that it had been recorded. I still cannot quite believe how badly it turned out.
Joshua Higgot is simply not suitable as an audiobook narrator. All of his female voices sound the same, like an ancient pantomime dame! The whole performance lacks emotion, and the wonder and beauty of the story has been lost.
In stark contrast, Blyton's Adventure series was released on Audible at the same time, but recorded by Thomas Judd. Oh my goodness what an incredible narrator! I was never very interested in the Adventure series, but Judd absolutely brings it to life. He is one of those rare performers who allows you to be carried away by a story, without jolting you back to reality with jarring voices or strange pronunciation. I am delighted that he has further recorded the Five Find-Outers series with which he will have you howling with laughter!
My advice is if you love, or want to love The Secret Island, stick with the book. The rest of the Secret series is not great, and I think this book works best as a standalone.
For Blyton audiobooks to enjoy I thoroughly recommend the Famous Five books (read by Jan Francis not Ann Beach) the Secret Seven series (read by Sarah Greene, not Esther Wane) and the Adventure series and Find-Outers series read by Thomas Judd.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
37 people found this helpful
-
Overall2 out of 5 stars
-
Performance1 out of 5 stars
-
Story1 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 27-03-22
PLEASE UPLOAD THE JAN FRANCIS VERSION
From his sticky saliva to lack of emotion. I can’t even listen to it.
Please upload the Jan Francis audiobook of this wonderful story. It was magical from start to finish. This is just so bad.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
7 people found this helpful
-
Overall3 out of 5 stars
-
Performance1 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- sinbad4england
- 16-11-20
Lovely story terrible narration !
This was a lovely children's adventure full of daring do, , but the narrator was so poor it spoilt what could of been a really good listen .Who does quality assure the readers ? It is very Enid Blyton lots of 'top speed ' and constantly hungry kids .If you can get past the narrator kids of all ages will enjoy the romp
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
5 people found this helpful
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance3 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Munro
- 17-03-21
Give that narrator a drink of water!
Classic story, brought me back to my childhood. It’s very difficult to ignore the narrator’s constant swallowing though...
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- miss catherine macneil
- 31-07-18
A great read
Typical EB book. Fun, exciting and a happy ending. What's not to like! Can't wait to read the next one.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 13-02-22
This is amazing 😉
I love this book it is amazing but the only issue is that you can never put it down so sometimes I either snatch it or listen to it on Audible !!!
I recommend it to anyone who is a fan of Enid Blyton
Or ADVENTURES
I LOVE IT 🥰
❤️🧡💛💚💙💜❤️🧡💛💚💙💜❤️🧡💛💚💙💜❤️🧡💛💚💙💜❤️🧡💛💚💙💜❤️🧡💛💚💙💜
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- empress
- 11-09-18
secret island
very good. loved it. so interesting narrator read nicely and was very exciting I recommend
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Joanne M
- 09-04-18
it was simply great and exciting and good reader
it was simply great and exciting and good reader, but I don't like jack but good
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall1 out of 5 stars
-
Performance1 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- L. Allan
- 28-03-23
Great Story Terrible Narration
As a child I loved all of Enid Blyton books and passed this on to my children and Grandchildren. I was really pleased to see Audible had brought out The Secret Island and started listening to it with my Grandson. It was awful. Joshua Higgot is no narrator. The children’s voices were terrible and you never know which one is speaking, unlike Jan Francis narrating the Famous Five. With Jan Francis you know which child is speaking, with Higgot you can’t tell and often it’s difficult to know an adults voice from the boys. He displays very little emotion or excitement in the voices whether it’s his own or him trying to do a child. Even his imitation of Daisy the cow mooing was laughable, the hens clucking was sad. If only they would do this audible book again with a good narrator. If Enid Blyton heard this she would be devastated.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Neil Harris
- 02-08-22
Lovely
Lovely! Best story in my life! The voice actor was great! Review by 7 and 8 yr old.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Andrew Clarke
- 13-02-22
Loved it
I’ve listened to this book over and over I could never get sick of it, it’s amazing!😄
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!