Accents: A Manual for Actors [ILLUSTRATED] (Paperback)

by Robert Blumenfeld (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
A reference manual that offers instruction on how to do more than 80 accents, from Albanian to Zulu. For students as well as actors, it includes an audio CD that allows the reader to hear the various practice exercises.

About the Author
Robert Blumenfeld has been narrating books for 19 years and has recorded 280 fiction and non-fiction works. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 316 pages
• Publisher: Limelight Editions
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0879102691
• ISBN-13: 978-0879102692
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #351,705 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

151 of 153 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A comprehensive and invaluable tool for actors, October 22, 1998

By	Stephanie Cowell (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews

The range and usefulness of this book is quite astonishing. Not only does the text provide important sounds, stress and pitch and mouth/tongue positions for more than 80 accents of English as spoken all over the globe, but the author illustrates them with great versatility on the accompanying CD. I learned the difference between several Irish accents, heard a Cockney Yiddish and the same phrase spoken in several regions of the American South. It is an invaluable book for the actor or anyone who finds accents intriguing. A vibrant plus is the erudite and highly readable introductory essays to each language group which give a history of the country and its language, and include many examples of recordings and films in which you can hear fine examples of English spoken with that accent. I now understand why my Swedish daughter-in-law and Southern husband speak as they do,and am looking forward to perfecting my Dublin accent. A gift for anyone in theater or film, or anyone who is fascinated by the many ways our language can be spoken.

43 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars INCREDIBLE, February 24, 2000

By	Guy D. Wells (Hollywood) - See all my reviews

Wow, when I went looking for a book to help me learn how to do accents I had no idea I'd find this. It seems to cover just about every American accent you could want. The CD that is included with it is invaluable. Within just a few days I was speaking like an English Gentleman. I have been trying to get that accent down for years. I work in a popular cafe here in Hollywood. We get many customers from London. I can even fool them. They ask me what part I'm from. They are amazed when I turn the accent off. Then, just for kicks, I'll start talking like I'm from Kentucky or the Bronx. This book is great for everyone who wants to add spice to their personalities, not just actors. Did I mention I get more dates when I use the accents I learned from this book?

48 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Indispensable actor's resource, March 1, 2000

By	Thomas C. Wyld (Virginia) - See all my reviews

I have found "Accents" an indispensable addition to this actor's book shelf. It is careful, complete, scholarly yet a thoroughly enjoyable read. Actors facing tough accents will breath a sigh of relief when they find the enclosed CD. I've been cast as Van Helsing, the dutch professor in "Dracula" at Fauquier Community Theater, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge, some 50 miles west of D.C. After absorbing the chapter on dutch accents, reviewing the CD and practicing diligently, I feel I mastered the accent at much the same pace as memorization of the script. That competence has translated to earlier-than-normal layering of character well before opening.I also found the author, Mr. Blumenfeld, very friendly and forthcoming with additional guidance. This is a gem, and I recommend it to friends in theatre. And to those who are convinced they have an accent "down pat," compare yourself to the CD and prepare to be humbled and learn.