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  • La Belle Sauvage

  • The Book of Dust, Volume One
  • By: Philip Pullman
  • Narrated by: Michael Sheen
  • Length: 13 hrs and 14 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (11,544 ratings)
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La Belle Sauvage cover art

La Belle Sauvage

By: Philip Pullman
Narrated by: Michael Sheen
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Summary

Brought to you by Penguin.

The British Book Awards Audiobook of the Year 2018

2019 CAMEO Book to Audio

Best Solo Narration - New York Festival Radio Awards

Shortlisted Best Audiobook Narrator - Audio Production Awards

Penguin presents the audio download edition of La Belle Sauvage by Philip Pullman, read by Michael Sheen.

Eleven-year-old Malcolm Polstead and his dæmon, Asta, live with his parents at the Trout Inn near Oxford. Across the River Thames (which Malcolm navigates often using his beloved canoe, a boat by the name of La Belle Sauvage) is the Godstow Priory where the nuns live. Malcolm learns they have a guest with them; a baby by the name of Lyra Belacqua....    

©2017 Philip Pullman (P)2017 Random House Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"As a reader and a fan, I was hugely excited on hearing that Phillip was returning to the story of Lyra and Dust and challenging the Authority. And, as an actor, it was a true privilege to be asked to record La Belle Sauvage, the first book of this new work." (Michael Sheen)

"The best piece of narration I've ever heard." (The Bookseller

"Michael Sheen's narration of Philip Pullman's new novel is better than an army of voice actors. His voice is impressive, from the crisp, definitive consonants of its higher registers to the rumbly bass notes Sheen summons when some menace enters the scene, to the vast, buttery expanse of his middle range." ( Slate)

What listeners say about La Belle Sauvage

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Gripping Story, Great Narrator

I’m a huge fan of His Dark Materials but when I first heard this book was in the works I was worried it wouldn’t be able to match HDM. Luckily all those fears were misplaced. The characters, story and prose in this book are beautiful, gripping and transporting.

I highly recommend La Belle Sauvage and think the narrator is one of the best I’ve heard. The characters all have their own voice and well... character. It’s easy to forget that it’s just a one-man cast. Sheen's performance transports me into a different world filled with daemons and intrigue within seconds.

I've missed this world and I'm glad to go back there.

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86 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Extraordinary

This goes straight to the top of my all-time favourite audio books.

I looked forward to the start of Philip Pullman's second trilogy, chosing to listen instead of reading La Belle Sauvage. What an excellent decision. Michael Sheen elevated this captivating story of baby Lyra to a great drama. His delivery is exceptional. Each character has a voice. The performance is enthralling: so much energy and commitment. He brings to life the passions and fears of Malcolm and Alice as they struggle to protect baby Lyra. His horrific howling hyena stirs far more than the written word could. Please ensure he narrates the rest of the trilogy.

It's a very grown up children's book. Some reviewers have expressed concern that the sexual content and occasional strong language are inappropriate. Each incidence is relevant and valid for developing children as well as for us adult readers.

I'm looking forward to the story continuing with the adult Lyra. Meanwhile I'll reread His Dark Materials.

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59 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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Extraordinary narration

It almost goes without saying that Philip Pullman's prose is always going to be hugely enjoyable. And he's chosen a really interesting plotline for the prequel - the story of baby Lyra. But I don't want to give too much away about that and spoil it for anyone. It's great. Can't wait for the next one.

The narration though - well. I can't summon up enough superlatives to sufficiently describe the quality of Michael Sheen's work on this book. It's sensitive, beautifully paced, with characterisations so finely observed that it's better than watching a film. His voicing of the villain of the piece - and his daemon - made my blood run cold. The denouement of the book had me listening, wide-eyed with fear and excitement, at two o'clock in the morning, because I just couldn't stop until I heard the end.

Honestly, possibly the best narration I have ever heard. I narrate audiobooks myself and I can only hope to begin to aspire to that kind of quality. Hats off to you, Mr Sheen. Fanbloodytastic.

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54 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Masterful Narration of a thrilling story!

It's ten to one in the morning and despite telling myself I really should stop listening and get to sleep I just couldn't tear myself away, so I listened right to the very end. Michael Sheen does an incredible job narrating this suspenseful tale; he moves effortlessly between voices, so much so that I honestly forgot they were coming from one person. I also loved the way he changed the volume and dynamic of his voice at the more action-filled suspenseful parts, it was totally thrilling listening! As for the story; it's full of familiar names and characters, and for those who remember the trilogy well, there are all sorts of little bits and pieces that add further context and richness to it. Loved the protagonists, Alice and her sass, and dear sweet gold-hearted Malcolm. I know some were disattisfied with the ending of the book but I thought it was wonderful; snappy and suspenseful like the rest of the book, and gives just enough for you to tie the threads together yourself. Can't wait to catch up with Lyra in the next installment! Thoroughly recommend this audio book!

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27 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

80% Perfect

I've been hoping it will be good and it didn't disappoint. However, too much of the book is taken up by the journey. It gets a bit repetitive... I would have welcomed more 'theory' rather than adventure, but I enjoyed it.

Oh and narration is perfect.

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24 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Pullman is back!

The best book I've encountered in a long time! Returning back to the world of Lyra and Daemons was a joy and yet there is plenty of new mystery and discovery that makes this book it's equal to the previous. Pullman has improved with age and the voice of Micheal Sheen was superb.

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17 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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What a let down!

His dark materials was fantastic - one of my favourite series. This however is a dull, dragged out tale of continuous suffering of the protagonists, which descends into plotless whimsy by the last few chapters. The premise and characters had a lot of potential but the overall impression was sadly that Pullman wanted to string out a moneyspinner with this lazy, linear, joyless story. The only plus is that the audio book is very well narrated.

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14 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Beautiful, wild and wonderful!

Wow! I loved this audiobook with a passion!

Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy holds a place among my favourite books ever, so I was waiting in great anticipation for this new story. My only reservation was that, this book would be read to me after I had read the originals the traditional way; I didn't want bad narration to ruin my experience. I simply don't have the time to read books the way I used to, so La Belle Sauvage was played during my drives to and from work.
I need not worry - the book is excellent and the narration was first rate. Michael Sheen performs the story with great enthusiasm and drama, helping to make all the characters distinct and full with his brilliantly nuanced accents and tones. Marvellous!

This book (of which this appears excitingly, to be only the first part of a new series) is related to the original three in terms of the world we see and the story arc itself. I'm sure you could read this and love it if you haven't read the HDM trilogy, but prior knowledge does add a depth and richness to La Belle Sauvage which might otherwise be missed.
I was thoroughly engaged throughout this beautiful and dramatic journey, I can't recommend it highly enough.

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11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Hurry up with the next one Phil

The narrator rocked my world, as did the book. Hope I don't have to wait too long.

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

a book of two halves

this book is in two parts. absolutely adored part 1, it set up a fascinating world and group of characters with just the right amount of nods forward to the familiar his Dark Materials trilogy. I was hooked. but part 2... seemed to flit from one fantasy to the next, never explained, barely using the world and characters from part one, and when it reached its conclusion did so abruptly. I was left deeply disappointed. It could be groundwork for ' the secret commonwealth', but if so maintaining a good narrative was lost at the expense of this groundwork and it almost (but not quite) put me off reading the next book at all.

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8 people found this helpful