Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia


Read by Martin Geeson

(4.3 stars; 86 reviews)

In this enchanting fable (subtitled The Choice of Life), Rasselas and his retinue burrow their way out of the totalitarian paradise of the Happy Valley in search of that triad of eighteenth-century aspiration - life, liberty and happiness.

According to that quirky authority, James Boswell, Johnson penned his only work of prose fiction in a handful of days to cover the cost of his mother's funeral. The stylistic elegance of the book and its wide-ranging
philosophical concerns give no hint of haste or superficiality.

Among other still burning issues Johnson's characters pursue questions of education, colonialism, the nature of the soul and even climate alteration.
Johnson's profoundest concern, however, is with the alternating attractions of solitude and social participation, seen not only as the ultimate life-choice but as the arena in which are played out the deepest fears of the individual: "Of the uncertainties of our present state, the most dreadful and alarming is the uncertain continuance of Reason.” (Summary by Martin Geeson) (5 hr 30 min)

Chapters

01 - Chapters I-IV 29:55 Read by Martin Geeson
02 - Chapters V-VII 17:45 Read by Martin Geeson
03 - Chapters VIII, IX 16:51 Read by Martin Geeson
04 - Chapters X-XII 29:34 Read by Martin Geeson
05 - Chapters XIII-XVI 22:58 Read by Martin Geeson
06 - Chapters XVII-XX 18:35 Read by Martin Geeson
07 - Chapters XXI, XXII 14:39 Read by Martin Geeson
08 - Chapters XXIII-XXVI 19:14 Read by Martin Geeson
09 - Chapters XXVII, XXVIII 13:32 Read by Martin Geeson
10 - Chapters XXIX, XXX 17:25 Read by Martin Geeson
11 - Chapters XXXI-XXXIII 12:15 Read by Martin Geeson
12 - Chapters XXXIV-XXXVII 23:50 Read by Martin Geeson
13 - Chapters XXXVIII, XXXIX 24:34 Read by Martin Geeson
14 - Chapters XL-XLIII 16:46 Read by Martin Geeson
15 - Chapters XLIV, XLV 15:16 Read by Martin Geeson
16 - Chapters XLVI, XLVII 23:52 Read by Martin Geeson
17 - Chapters XLVIII, XLIX 13:42 Read by Martin Geeson

Reviews

That would be a shame... (Updated)


(4 stars)

I found M Geeson's voice excellent, as I indicated in my review of Zastrozzi. I actually hated the book, but the reader did a wonderful job. I am partial to mysteries and sci-fi so if you would read some of those... :-) I think I'll download this book even tho it's not my genre, and give it a listen. Will post updated review when I am done. Update - Yep, this book is definitely not my genre. It was an okay book as far as the story line goes, but it did not draw me in because the story wasn't light enough. It addresses some deep philosophical issues such as what is happiness, and how does logic affect grief. The reader was fine, and the quality of the recordings was excellent, so if you like philosophy wrapped in a bit of a story, you may like this one. Story = 3 Reader = 5 Overall Rating = 4

Martin Geeson has a great voice. 100% Proper.


(5 stars)

The book is good and filled with food for thought. Here's a quote from the book: All that Virtue can afford is quietness of conscience and the prospect of a happier state. This may enable us to endure calamity with patience; but remember patience must suppose pain. -Nekaya Rasselas Prince of Abyssnia by Samuel Johnson


(5 stars)

Don't give up M. Gesson. You are an amazing reader and I have read many things of yours. You are one of my favourite.

Sincerely, folks: "It's difficult to criticize the work of a volunteer, but..."


Many thanks, Parsnip, for your courteous comments. If you link to cmih's earlier reviews you'll find him/her an interestingly constituted character. First there's the fulsome praise for the "generosity" of the volunteers; then comes the mean-spirited denunciation of a named individual, with the evident intention to stamp out further participation by that person. I almost prefer straightforwardly destructive reviewers to someone who pretends to be struggling against their natural sense of fairness and decency. I feel tempted, on the same basis, to apologise to cmih for the nausea induced by my voice! After a very productive first year reading for Librivox, I have found my confidence failing as I try more difficult and challenging material. I record far less and have long fallow periods. When I find glib or sneering people going out of their way to advertise to others how unpleasing, affected or unsuitable they find my voice, I feel like giving up altogether.

already hooked


(5 stars)

M. Geeson, bravo! I have no idea what possessed that purveyor of a mean-spirited review, but when I heard the opening lines I was both relieved and excited to carry on. I am pedantic enough to suppose that Samuel Johnson would have wanted to be recorded by a reader with quality diction, the Kings English, and dramatic flair, and so far I applaud all three as manifest in your narrational skills. Perhaps that other person posted a hoax review? Please, sir, do keep reading. I will post another when I am finished. Read it through. The art of the philosophical novel is not much appreciated these days; the prince and princess are mostly passive while others relate pilgrim journeys and adventures. Samuel Johnson continues to be relevant and incisive. I appreciate the reader very much.

fascinating


(4 stars)

Martin Geeson's well written plot summary hooked me into listening to a book that seemed like a dusty artefact at best. Not so! Well worth a listen. Martin Geeson is one of the readers who delivers professional level solo readings on Librivox.

A fine reading


(4 stars)

The narrator's voice reminds me of A. A. Milne, reinforcing the mock-fairy tale theme of Johnson's work.


(4.5 stars)

This was an enjoyable book to listen to. It runs deep and is thought provoking. It's sort of like a dream in the way life is sort of like a dream. I liked also how people came into their lives to answer the questions at hand or at least to lead to the next question. Thank you for another great selection and great reading Martin.