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The Swiss Family Robinson
- Narrated by: Frederick Davidson
- Length: 10 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Children's Audiobooks, Action & Adventure
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What listeners say about The Swiss Family Robinson
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Margaret
- 19-09-14
appalling narrator
What would have made The Swiss Family Robinson better?
A different narrator. You cannot change the story but the narrator read this as a diary not a novel. Perhaps this was as it was meant to be read but a less conceited and pompous approach with a more interesting narrator would have been a great improvement.
What was most disappointing about Johann David Wyss’s story?
Not disappointed in story, wanted to read the original as opposed to the Disney Film version.
Who might you have cast as narrator instead of Frederick Davidson?
Davina Porter for one. I am amazed at how many voices she can do and how she injects feeling into the narrative (Diana Gabaldon novels).
What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?
Apathy
1 person found this helpful
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- Love to read
- 19-08-14
Dated Rubbish
What disappointed you about The Swiss Family Robinson?
Almost everything ,the basic idea of a family of Robinson Crusoes on a desert island is a good one but oh boy! Didn't he get it wrong
Would you ever listen to anything by Johann David Wyss again?
Not if it is on this level
Would you be willing to try another one of Frederick Davidson’s performances?
Not if I was paid to listen,he was dreadful.A would be Brian Sewell soundalike who pronounced shone to rhyme with mown.He also kept pausing when a pause wasn't called for,asthma or lack of technique ?to call his voice pompous& boring would be an understatement
If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from The Swiss Family Robinson?
Every new animal,bird,reptile or whatever the first reaction even among the children was to kill it,I'd edit all those out.Every subject under the sun that was mentioned Papa was a world class expert on it & gave the reader/listener a full lecture on it,boring & incredibly irritating.
Any additional comments?
I read the book many years ago when the glaring improbability of the story didn't register with me.A tropical island with animals who didn't belong on the same continent let alone an island.The same island is almost a floating supermarket everything you need on the shelves.A man who although his actual calling is never mentioned is a genius at everything he attempts,I was expecting him to instal double glazing & Central heating at any moment.A awful,unbelievable piece of tripe.
2 people found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 23-09-21
Not just unrealistic but humourless
I read this in translation into Swedish as a kid, in an abridged form, so I thought I knew what I was getting. Not so. The Swedish translator had managed to inject some humour and common humanity into the dad-narrator, but the father in this version is a truly dreary being, taking all interest out of the story with his incessant preaching. The island is an improbable place, inhabited by penguins and flamingos, but I was prepared for that. However, the family's outlook on life, in which wildlife is only interesting if edible, together with the complete lack of humour, made me give up halfway through chapter 2. (That's where the eldest son returns to camp, hiding the piglet he has shot behind his back and pretending he hasn't found anything; when he shows the piglet, his father says "I am glad to see the result of your prowess, my boy, [...] but I cannot approve of deceit, even as a joke; stick to the truth in jest and earnest.”)
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- B. Junkin-Mills
- 29-12-04
A review from my (10 year-old) son:
"Mom - quick, go to the audible website and give this one 5 stars. I loved it!"
19 people found this helpful
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- Ron
- 28-01-05
Great Story, recording has flaws
The story is a classic and well worth listening too. My son really got into it and started looking for excuses to go for car rides (which is where I keep my iPod). The only fault I can give is in technical merit... there are numerous repeats, some up to a minute long. If not for that, this would be a five star review.
9 people found this helpful
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- Douglas
- 02-01-13
An Entertaining Novel...
which extols the virtues of moral behavior toward other humans and animals as well as industry and critical thinking in tight situations. Wyss devised this novel as something of an instructional manual for right living, a kind of didactic Robinson Crusoe, to be read and followed by his sons, but the wonderful adventure makes this also an entertaining and enjoyable read. A great classic for both children and adults!
8 people found this helpful
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- S. Spencer
- 12-02-16
One of my favorite books of all time
Would you listen to The Swiss Family Robinson again? Why?
Sure. I love this story and have read it several times as a child and as an adult. I purchased the audio book to keep up with my son who is reading the book for school. It is unabridged, as far as I can tell, and has chapter divisions the same as other less edited versions of the book (44 chapters, rather than the 20-something in some other versions) which makes it easy to follow along.
What did you like best about this story?
The story and the language are old-fashioned, of course, and our modern sensibilities may be offended by some of the action in the story. You have to read it from the perspective of a fairy tale: yes, we as modern people know that kangaroos and penguins and tigers don't live on the same island and yes, we as modern people know that the killing of whales is horrible.
There are tons of reviews who are quick to point out how horrified the reviewer was by the blatant sexism and the overt "christian-y" tones, not to mention how the family seems to kill practically every animal it comes in contact with. To this I say, get over it - if you can. There is so much to this story that is lovely and educational and inspiring. If you are truly offended that the Mother does all the sewing, doesn't go on all of the adventures and never has a name (The Father never has a name either, funny how that never pops up in any reviews) or that monkeys die, or that kids have (gasp) guns that they use, then this book is not for you.
What about Frederick Davidson’s performance did you like?
I chose this version because it was not abridged and because the chapter divisions matched the chapters in my print version. The narrator was a second thought, but it turned out pretty well. You can hear the papers in the background and there are some awkward pauses, but his accent is a nice touch.
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
As a child, I loved this book because I wanted a pet monkey and to live in a tree house and a crystal cave. As a mother re-reading this book ( who would also still love to live in a tree house, but no monkeys, please) I was particularly moved by the beginning of the book when the father seems to accept that he and his family were maybe going to die in the storm that was destroying their ship around them. I don't remember who said it, but there is a quote I read once about how a great book grows with you, and that you should read a great book as a child, as an adult and then again when you're old - it is certainly true with this book.
Any additional comments?
This book is not politically correct. It isn't even biologically correct. It's not a survival manual, it's not a realistic portrayal of hardship. It's a fairy tale; a lovely story about a family living on a magical island without the interference of society. I would move to New Switzerland in a heart beat and take my sons (and livestock, tools, seeds, etc. with me.)
3 people found this helpful
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- Jen F
- 22-07-21
WARNING-This versos is not UNABRIDGED as it states
We listened to this while following along with a hardcopy unabridged version. The chapters are differently sectioned on the audiobook and sometimes several paragraphs are skipped. We now must find an actual unabridged audiobook.
2 people found this helpful
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- Justin S.
- 21-01-22
Intolerable Narrator
The Swiss Family Robinson is a classic story. I absolutely hate this narrator's voice. He talks through his nose and sounds so snooty. I can't get through even a few sentences without cringing.
1 person found this helpful
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- Jo
- 10-09-21
Seriously?
if they didn't have good luck, they wouldn't have any luck at all. way too many fortunate incidents. not enough drama.
1 person found this helpful
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- Parent of 5 year old, novice gardener
- 15-08-21
kids did not enjoy narration
we stopped listening after a few minutes as kids did not enjoy the narrator voice.
1 person found this helpful
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- Curtis D.
- 05-12-05
A literary classic, but I was disappointed.
The story disappointed me because things always seem too convenient and coincidental. I guess I'm just used to a little more hardship and struggle for this to appear realistic.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the story, and was able to stay interested, but I guess it just was not _compelling_.
I also found the reader to be a bit dull, probably a good choice for a classic, but I think the story would benefit from a different reader, which are available here.
3 people found this helpful
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- BambiLU72
- 16-08-22
A classic for a reason.
This is still such a beautuful, wholesome story of family cheerfully making do in all situations, and working hard together to carve out a good and full life. A delightful listen.