This is one to get

Would you listen to The Jewel in the Crown again? Why?

I would listen to this again as it seems so rich in human experience that I expect to find more in it every time I read it.

What other book might you compare The Jewel in the Crown to and why?

It's often compared to A Passage To India, but Paul Scott's knowledge and interest in both India and the Raj clearly dwarfs Forster's. Forster's book is largely satire (and written long before the tragedies Scott describes), whereas Scott's much longer work feels populated with real people in serious situations.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me laugh and cry, in equal measure.

Any additional comments?

Sam Dastor was born to narrate this book -- his astonishing mastery of a wide range of British and Indian accents, as well as characters, is unparallelled in my experience. Please somebody persuade him to perform the last three books in the series. I cannot imagine anyone else ever coming up to his standard.

11 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Great Audio Book!

This is an engrossing story and the narrator gives a fantasic performance, with a different voice for each character. I wish he did the rest of the series but this seems to be the only volume available with him. Well worth listening to.

11 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

An achievement by any standard

Broad and deep with great vision,empathy,and intellect. A cut far above comparable novels in every sense. Skillfully read.

5 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Terrific narrator and great novel

If you have ever wanted to read the Raj Quartet, The Jewel in the Crown narrated by Sam Dastor couldn't be better. His rendition of the characters' voices as well as their accents is so good that much of the time I forgot that this was the same narrator doing all the different voices. Now that I have listened to the first book in the Quartet, I plan to read the other three. My preference would have been to listen to the rest of the quartet as audiobooks, but unfortunately the samples of Richard Brown reading have convinced me that I would not like his narration at all. Oh, to have the rest of the Quartet read by Sam Dastor! Audible, are you listening?

11 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Favorite brought to life

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, a wonderful experience.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Jewel in the Crown?

Kumar interviewed in prison while Lady Manners watched.

Which character – as performed by Sam Dastor – was your favorite?

All

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

See above memorable moment

Any additional comments?

Have always loved these books. A wonderful read.

4 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Outstanding

Any additional comments?

An outstanding performance of a complex, multicultural, layered novel. Hoping Sam Dastor will record the rest of the quartet.

3 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

My favorite books

What did you love best about The Jewel in the Crown?

This novel and the ones that follow are about as nearly perfect as books could be for me. The story is compelling, the characters are unforgettable, the history is fascinating. I have read all these books before (The Raj Quartet) and have watched the PBS series probably twenty-five times and I have never tired of them.

What did you like best about this story?

The characters in this novel are simply unforgettable: Daphne Manners, Hari Kumar, Ronald Merrick, and so many more.

Any additional comments?

I listened to an earlier sound recording of this series, and this one is far superior. The reader is awesome at becoming different characters in a completely believable fashion.

2 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

one of my favorite reads!!!!

Couldnt wait to hear it read to me..much more vibrant when read how it was written.. Enjoyed the TV series as well. .off to the next books..ENJOY!

Gives a frank portrait of the Raj and racism

I so enjoyed the film adaptation of the book, and the original story was even better, made real and richer by the excellent narration.

A masterpiece of television, now a listen to it.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Those who enjoyed the ITV television series will enjoy this in equal measure. Sam Dastor knows his characters. Having backpacked around India in the 60's and early 70's when the British Raj was still fresh in the minds of that land, it is easy to follow and understand Sam Dastor in character.

What other book might you compare The Jewel in the Crown to and why?

Heat and Dust and The Far Pavilions were also masterpieces of British television. These three tales were for many their first taste of British Raj. I first backpacked to India in 1969 before returning to do my GCE A ‘Levels including English Literature. On the syllabus was A Passage to India by E.M. Forster. What a treat and piece of cake. Researching, I found Walt Whitman's 'Passage to India' in the Oxford Book of English Mystical Verse, and that Forster had indeed borrowed the title.

Have you listened to any of Sam Dastor’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have to thank Audible.com for introducing me to Sam Dastor, starting with The Buddha and the Sahibs, Kim, and The Story of India. Is this a trick question? All Sam Dastor's performances are absolutely outstanding.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Too late! The Jewel in the Crown (1984) is a British television serial about the final days of the British Raj in India during World War II, based on the Raj Quartet novels (1965–75) by British author Paul Scott. Granada Television produced the series for the ITV network.

Any additional comments?

We are blessed indeed that Audible continues to bring us these gems. As for myself, my life is enriched thereby.