Wonderful narration, not the full text though...

Being a fan of Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame, I was pleased to find this reading my Derek Jacobi! He does a lovely job of narrating and capturing the various character's personalities. I was only saddend to find out (due to not paying attention) that this is not the full text of the book, but a 1hr condenced dramatized version. I would love to hear Jacobi read the full book!

5 people found this helpful

You Cannot Edit Pefection

What more could one ask for? Perhaps the most enduring work of the 20th Century, innocently unpretentiously disguised as a children’s book and arguably the best actor of our time who is willing to read it, masterfully, for us. And someone else who blows it.

It needs to be redone, just as it was originally, with Derek Jacobi…but it must in no way be edited. It is not a work that can be edited, or specifically, elided, any more than Shakespeare can. Can you imagine the listeners’ disappoint when Toad quickly bargains for the horse without that poetic description of the Gypsy’s stew? It is life without breath or marrow. What is it about? There are countless other butcheries done by some madman who doesn’t understand the work at all. Just as it’s spiritual twin, the Odyssey while depicting action, eschews it. The ideal state is peace, ease and contemplation…return to Ithaka. And some fool with scissors has decided, “Well let’s trim this down to what happens.” So we are left with plot, that is, almost nothing, except Jacobi’s curtailed brilliance.

Keep everything that has been done, but add back everything that belongs there. There is no partial perfection, and here you have two perfect actors. It were as though someone had painted wide black frames on the scenes of the Sistine Chapel and said to you, “Here, focus on what’s important.” The point of great art is that everything, and nothing is important. It all fits flawlessly, indispensably together.

Re-record it. For the sake of posterity. When will Jacobi come again? When will Grahame come again?

3 people found this helpful

Not as advertised!

What is this? It’s neither dramatized with the actors listed nor an unabridged reading by Derek Jacobi as I had hoped. It is Jacobi, who does a great job, but someone has edited it so that it’s choppy and confusing. All the story development and character development are gone! I compared it to my paper copy, and massive chunks are missing! I wish it wasn’t too late to return it to Audible, because I feel like I’ve been had.

2 people found this helpful

good performance

fabulous performance but very abridged. I missed some of the descriptions and storyline that was cut out to make it move faster.

Brilliant but sadly abridged

This version is brilliant. Sadly abridged but Derek Jacobi is masterful. The accents and intonations, songs and timing.Jacobi embodies each and every character.

B A Uu T Full

Loved the story and the reading was just perfect for the story. I'm 35, but I'm feeling 7 right now :)

What a treasure!

I grew up with the stories of Ratty, Badger, Mole and, of course, Toad. I have named all my houses "Toad Hall" to remind me that life is meant to be enjoyed and friends are the salt to keep the flavor fresh and fun. At 67, I suppose I should become stodgy and earnest, but what's the point? Derek Jacobi relates the tale the way it was meant to be and I have found yet another reason to appreciate his mountainous talent. Great thanks to all involved in this treasure.

Love this story

What did you love best about The Wind in the Willows (Dramatised)?

It was lovely listening to all the different voices.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Wind in the Willows (Dramatised)?

Rat and Mole being on the River

What does Sir Derek Jacobi bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

His ability to change from character to character.

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

I would've loved to but it's not feasible.

Always great.

Have loved this book since I was a child and to hear it read to me once again, now I'm old, well, was simply delightful. Well done!