The Return of the Native

Hardy's classic unfolds slowly and atmospherically, guided inexorably toward its conclusion by a master storyteller. Narrator Patrick Tull would seem to be a great choice, given his gravelly British accent and his excellent character voices. His effort falls short, though, because he speaks too quickly and in too low a register for listeners to understand him. Part of this might be a technical issue; the tapes seem to have been recorded at a very low volume, so increasing the volume also increases the tape's hiss. Tull, though, is responsible for being too conversational and too concerned with getting the accents right, rather than focusing on diction. R.I.G. (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine

In future times, when people want to know what life was like before the Industrial Revolution--what it was to truly see the stars at night, to live within the pulse of Nature's rhythms--they will read Thomas Hardy, or they may listen to Alan Rickman's superb presentation of Hardy's tragic novel. Rickman's voice is masculine and seductive; yet by altering tempo, modulating tone, he becomes Hardy's women and children, utterly compelling as he projects all ranges of emotion. His individualizing dialogue of the human-sized characters, that country chorus who form the backdrop of normality for Hardy's titanic lovers, is brilliant. Hearing it sent me to the library for another Wessex novel. E.J.M. Winner of AUDIOFILE Earphones Award (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Clym Yeobright, native of Egdon Heath, returns from the bright society of Paris and, as any reader of Hardy knows, all is not smooth. He is quickly taken by and marries the one woman he should not--Eustacia Vye. The suffering that follows is mitigated somewhat by the ending, but more by the mastery of Alan Rickman's reading. At the start, Rickman senses the voice for each character in Hardy's fictional world, and he maintains each character's personality throughout. He even manages to project Hardy's subtle shadings of tone with the rhythm and tempo of his narration, throwing in a song here and there because, in spite of his gloom, there is a festive strain to Hardy, as well. If you have a hard time reading this classic English writer, this is how to do it. P.E.F. (c) AudioFile, Portland, Maine

A story of isolation, passion, and misplaced lovers, Hardy's classic novel is moving and enigmatic. The almost druidic nature of the fictional Egdon Heath sets an ominous atmosphere that permeates the novel. Nicholas Rowe's narration is both subtle and resonant. He has a soft, melodic way of speaking that resonates with Hardy's vivid descriptive style. Rowe's steady pace throughout the reading allows the listener to take in the complex images that Hardy creates through meticulous diction. Rowe also captures the characters expertly. The passionate Eustacia speaks hurriedly and emphatically while the removed Wildeve embodies disinterest and brevity in his speech. Through Rowe's compelling performance, this production is a masterful portrayal of Hardy's haunting novel. D.M.W. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine