The Voice of the Poet: W.H. Auden [Audiobook, Unabridged] [Audio CD]

W. H. Auden (Author, Reader)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 16, 2004 | Series: Voice of the Poet

Some of the most enduring poetry of the twentieth century, read by the legendary Auden himself. This collection features such favorites as "As I Walked Out One Evening," "Musee des Beaux Arts" and "The Shield of Achilles," among many others.

A companion book is included with these never-before-released recordings.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

W. H. Auden (1907-1973) was one of the wittiest and most worldly of English poetry's great twentieth century masters. His work ranges from the political to the religious, from the urbane to the romantic. He is also, with his exhilarating lyrical power and his understanding of love and longing in all their sacred and profane guises, an exemplary champion of human wisdom in its encounter with the mysteries of experience. More than any other poet, Auden used his poetry as an instrument to study the massive forces, dramas, and upheavals of the twentieth century, and his work displays an astonishing range of voice and breath of concern.

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Publisher: Random House Audio (March 16, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0739308068
• ISBN-13: 978-0739308066
• Product Dimensions: 5 x 0.8 x 7.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #359,543 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #50 in Books > Books on CD > Poetry & Drama
  • #56 in Books > Books on CD > Literature & Fiction > Poetry
  • #68 in Books > Books on CD > Literature & Fiction > Drama

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding!, March 18, 2004

By 

J. Ott "John Ott" (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Voice of the Poet: W.H. Auden (Audio CD)

Not all poets make great readers of their own work. But Auden's voice-- so warm, so musical, so passionate-- is a joy to listen to. The recordings, done in many places over many years, are of a varying quality. But in each the voice comes shining through.

The poem selections are top-notch across the board, containing such favorites as "As I Walked Out One Evening," "Fish in the Unruffled Lakes," "Musee des Beaux Arts," four sonnets from "In Time of War," "Under Which Lyre," "The More Loving One" and "The Shield of Achilles." The CD version is supposedly abridged, but it is 57 minutes compared to the Audio Cassette version's hour. This also comes with a book containing the final text of the selected poems (sometimes slightly different than what he reads). The book also contains a nice introduction and background on Auden by poet J.D. McClatchy.

My favorite tracks have to be "Under Which Lyre," read with such wit that it made me laugh several times, and the powerful "Friday's Child". I believe one can listen to a streaming version of "Under Which Lyre" on poets.org -- although it sounds much better on this CD since streaming audio is generally scratchy. It could give you an idea if this CD is right for you.

This could hardly be bad when it contains such great poetry, but it manages to be appropriate for both long-time Auden fans and those who are just beginning. An outstanding product. 5/5 stars.

11 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Voice of the Poet: W.H. Auden, August 10, 2005

By 

J. Preston (Cheshire, United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Voice of the Poet: W.H. Auden (Audio CD)

This a an excellent collection of auden's poetry, read by the poet. The CD is well recorded and presented in an attractive package, and comes with a book of the poems on the CD in words.