Orwell Collection
Animal Farm & 1984
By: George Orwell
Categories: Literature & Fiction, Classics
The Selfish Gene
By: Richard Dawkins
Narrated by: Richard Dawkins, Lalla Ward
Richard Dawkins' brilliant reformulation of the theory of natural selection has the rare distinction of having provoked as much excitement and interest outside the scientific community as within it. His theories have helped change the whole nature of the study of social biology, and have forced thousands to rethink their beliefs about life.
Interesting, but too many post-scripts
By Hailey Spillane on 08-09-17
A Flaw in Human Judgment
By: Daniel Kahneman, Olivier Sibony, Cass R. Sunstein
Narrated by: Jonathan Todd Ross
From the best-selling author of Thinking, Fast and Slow, the co-author of Nudge, and the author of You Are About to Make a Terrible Mistake! comes Noise, a revolutionary exploration of why people make bad judgments, and how to control both noise and cognitive bias.
Another masterpiece from Kahneman
By JDM on 05-21-21
By: Daniel Kahneman, and others
By: Frank Herbert
Narrated by: Scott Brick, Orlagh Cassidy, Euan Morton, and others
Here is the novel that will be forever considered a triumph of the imagination. Set on the desert planet Arrakis, Dune is the story of the boy Paul Atreides, who would become the mysterious man known as Maud'dib. He would avenge the traitorous plot against his noble family and would bring to fruition humankind's most ancient and unattainable dream.
This classic deserves better
By Matthew Salvo on 07-01-21
By: Andy Weir
Narrated by: Ray Porter
Ryland Grace is the sole survivor on a desperate, last-chance mission - and if he fails, humanity and the Earth itself will perish. Except that right now, he doesn't know that. He can't even remember his own name, let alone the nature of his assignment or how to complete it. All he knows is that he's been asleep for a very, very long time. And he's just been awakened to find himself millions of miles from home, with nothing but two corpses for company.
Pure Science Fiction
By Leif on 05-04-21
By: Arthur Conan Doyle, Stephen Fry - introductions
Ever since he made his first appearance in A Study In Scarlet, Sherlock Holmes has enthralled and delighted millions of fans throughout the world. Now Audible is proud to present Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes, read by Stephen Fry. A lifelong fan of Doyle's detective fiction, Fry has narrated the definitive collection of Sherlock Holmes - four novels and four collections of short stories. And, exclusively for Audible, Stephen has written and narrated eight insightful introductions, one for each title.
Chapter Guide!
By Katya Rice on 05-25-18
By: Arthur Conan Doyle, and others
Narrated by: Benjamin May
George Orwell's timeless and timely allegorical novel - a scathing satire on a downtrodden society's blind march towards totalitarianism. The book tells the story of a group of farm animals who rebel against their human farmer, hoping to create a society where the animals can be equal, free, and happy. Ultimately, however, the rebellion is betrayed, and the farm ends up in a state as bad as it was before, under the dictatorship of a pig named Napoleon.
Chapter 7 is full off mistakes that were not edited out
By AMB on 07-21-21
Bill Gates, Big Pharma, and the Global War on Democracy and Public Health
By: Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Narrated by: Bruce Wagner
The Real Anthony Fauci details how Fauci, Gates, and their cohorts use their control of media outlets, scientific journals, key government and quasi-governmental agencies, global intelligence agencies, and influential scientists and physicians to flood the public with fearful propaganda about COVID-19 virulence and pathogenesis, and to muzzle debate and ruthlessly censor dissent.
Could be shorter
By Evan Snow on 01-03-22
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
By: Douglas Adams
Seconds before the Earth is demolished to make way for a galactic freeway, Arthur Dent is plucked off the planet by his friend Ford Prefect, a researcher for the revised edition of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy who, for the last 15 years, has been posing as an out-of-work actor.
Fun nonsense
By Randall on 04-25-09
George Orwell's nineteen Eighty-Four is one of the most definitive texts of modern literature. Set in Oceania, one of the three inter-continental superstate that divided the world among themselves after a global war, Orwell's masterful critique of the political structures of the time, works itself out through the story of Winston Smith, a man caught in the webs of a dystopian future, and his clandestine love affair with Julia, a young woman he meets during the course of his work for the government.
interesting, very interesting
By kirk on 06-12-21
Lord of the Rings, Book 1
By: J. R. R. Tolkien
Narrated by: Andy Serkis
In a sleepy village in the Shire, a young hobbit is entrusted with an immense task. He must make a perilous journey across Middle-earth to the Cracks of Doom, there to destroy the Ruling Ring of Power - the only thing that prevents the Dark Lord Sauron's evil dominion. Thus begins J. R. R. Tolkien's classic tale of adventure, which continues in The Two Towers and The Return of the King.
By Perilous Moo on 09-17-21
Beyond Order
12 More Rules for Life
By: Jordan B. Peterson
Narrated by: Jordan B. Peterson
In 12 Rules for Life, clinical psychologist and celebrated professor at Harvard and the University of Toronto Dr. Jordan B. Peterson helped millions impose order on the chaos of their lives. Now, in this bold sequel, Peterson delivers 12 more lifesaving principles for resisting the exhausting toll that our desire to order the world inevitably takes. In a time when the human will increasingly imposes itself over every sphere of life - from our social structures to our emotional states - Peterson warns that too much security is dangerous.
By OT-TR0 on 03-03-21
Book One in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
Narrated by: Rob Inglis
The Fellowship of the Ring, the first volume in the trilogy, tells of the fateful power of the One Ring. It begins a magnificent tale of adventure that will plunge the members of the Fellowship of the Ring into a perilous quest and set the stage for the ultimate clash between the powers of good and evil.
Audiobook version better than I had hoped
By James W. on 10-31-18
Neil Gaiman has long been inspired by ancient mythology in creating the fantastical realms of his fiction. Now he turns his attention back to the source, presenting a bravura rendition of the great northern tales. In Norse Mythology, Gaiman fashions primeval stories into a novelistic arc that begins with the genesis of the legendary nine worlds; delves into the exploits of the deities, dwarves, and giants; and culminates in Ragnarok, the twilight of the gods and the rebirth of a new time and people.
By: Ray Bradbury
Narrated by: Tim Robbins
Guy Montag is a fireman. In his world, where television rules and literature is on the brink of extinction, firemen start fires rather than put them out. His job is to destroy the most illegal of commodities, the printed book, along with the houses in which they are hidden. Montag never questions the destruction and ruin his actions produce, returning each day to his bland life and wife, Mildred, who spends all day with her television "family."
Wish I Hadn't Cliff Noted This in High School
By Joel on 03-27-17
A Brief History of Tomorrow
By: Yuval Noah Harari
Yuval Noah Harari, author of the critically acclaimed New York Times best seller and international phenomenon Sapiens, returns with an equally original, compelling, and provocative book, turning his focus toward humanity's future and our quest to upgrade humans into gods.
Good, but...
By Josh on 07-14-18
Originally published as Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
By: Philip K. Dick
It was January 2021, and Rick Deckard had a license to kill. Somewhere among the hordes of humans out there lurked several rogue androids. Deckard's assignment: find them and then..."retire" them. Trouble was, the androids all looked exactly like humans, and they didn't want to be found!
This is the original Do Androids Dream of Electric
By D. ABIGT on 08-29-10
A Guide for Occupants
By: Bill Bryson
Narrated by: Bill Bryson
Bill Bryson once again proves himself to be an incomparable companion as he guides us through the human body - how it functions, its remarkable ability to heal itself, and (unfortunately) the ways it can fail. Full of extraordinary facts (your body made a million red blood cells since you started reading this) and irresistible Bryson-esque anecdotes, The Body will lead you to a deeper understanding of the miracle that is life in general and you in particular. As Bill Bryson writes, "We pass our existence within this wobble of flesh and yet take it almost entirely for granted."
Must Read for the Sheer Fun of It
By J.B. on 10-16-19
Audible Studios presents two new recordings of George Orwell's most celebrated novels – 1984 and Animal Farm – with exclusive introductions, written and performed by Stephen Fry.
The classic dystopian social science fiction novel first published on 8th June 1949 as Orwell's ninth and final book completed in his lifetime. One of the most brilliant satires on totalitarianism and the power-hungry ever written, introducing new language as words of warning for future generations; 1984, Newspeak, Doublethink, Thought Police, Big Brother is watching you....
One of the most influential works of the 20th century. A socio-political allegory that reflects events leading up to the Russian Revolution of 1917 and then on into the Stalinist era of the Soviet Union. Set in a farmyard, where the animals decide to seize the farmer's land and create a co-operative that reaps the benefits of their combined labours. Four legs good, two legs bad....
About the narrator
Stephen Fry is an English actor, screenwriter, author, playwright, journalist, poet, comedian, television presenter, film director and all-round national treasure. Whilst at university, Fry became involved with the Cambridge Footlights, where he met his long-time collaborator and friend Hugh Laurie. As half of the comic double act Fry and Laurie, he co-wrote and co-starred in A Bit of Fry & Laurie and Jeeves and Wooster. Fry's acting roles include Blackadder, Kingdom, Bones, V for Vendetta, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows and The Hobbit trilogy. He has written and presented several documentary series and as a proudly out gay man, the award-winning Out There, documenting the lives of lesbian, bisexual gay and transgender people around the world is part of his 30-year advocacy of the rights of the LGBT community. Fry has written four novels, The Liar, The Hippopotamus (made in to a feature film in 2018), Making History and The Stars' Tennis Balls. Translated into many languages, they have never been out of print. The most recently published works are Mythos and Heroes, constituting the first two parts of what will be a trilogy retelling the Greeks myths from the Creation to the aftermath of the Trojan War. Troy was published in November 2020.
Includes original theme music by renowned composer Carly Paradis, who is known for scoring the BBC's Line of Duty and Netflix's production of The Innocents. Featuring strings performed by Robert Ames, co-founder of the world-famous London Contemporary Orchestra.
Public Domain (P)2021 Audible, Ltd
What listeners say about Orwell Collection
LCB
Orwell + Stephen Fry = PERFECTION
Everyone knows about the superb literature written by Orwell in its fable and distopia. What's incredible is that Stephen Fry's narration leads this work to a new kind of art: half literature, half theatre. It's phenomenal!
Francisco Montas
Eerily Relevant. A Must Read For All Humans.
Everything about this book is captivating. It's both groundbreaking and classic. Ahead of its time, yet timeless. From Big Brother to the Thought Police, Newspeak and Doublethink I was hooked and wanted to know more about it all.
Bjarki Ágústsson
The Awakening has started
In the light of what is happening in the world now It was time to listen to those remarkable books. Everyone should hear them with in mind that if we don't fight the evil it will come after you eventually.
The totalitarian fiction spun from Orwells realisation of the darkness brought to societies by Utopian Ideologies and what they really brought to humanity and are now as we speak overrunning the whole world.
Sad but true: Human nature is not good when not humbled with limited power.
Steven Fry is just the perfect narrator for those stories.
Outstanding performance for an incredible novel!
Stephen Fry expertly brings to life Orwell's masterpieces with an utterly captivating performance. One of the most mesmerising audiobooks I've listened to in a long time.
Amit M
Exceeded my expectations
Stephen Fry is brilliant - makes the two stories come alive without taking the focus out of the narrative.
I would like to thank Stephen Fry for narrating this book. Otherwise, I would've dropped this when I got to the middle of 1984. It was tedious to listen to, and so I imagine it would be more so if I actually read it. However, it was scary how the events in 1984 could still be applied in today's society. Some are in a smaller scale, while others are in a larger scale. The brainwashing, the tampering on documents, the lies... such events really spoke volumes to me.
However, Animal Farm was such a delight! The writing was engaging and vivid. Thus, I enjoyed listening to this a lot more than 1984.
Still, I'm giving this collection 4 stars because of George Orwell's ingenious writing.
George Orwell was very much indeed a prophet!
The narration by Stephen Fry is exceptional and his performance is worth the Audible credit alone. I had forgotten how depressing 1984 was. Perhaps for very similar reasons, I'm finding 2021 quite disturbing and depressing. The fact is, WE ARE living in ORWELLIAN times and I fear there is no turning back. Highly recommended.
Fantastic and shockingly accessible.
I expected an insightful, but rather drab/depressing, journey through two dystopian nightmares. However, whilst the subject matter is indeed heavy, I was amazed at how easy and enjoyable the listen was. It's all wheat and no chaff. I regret that I had waited until my 30th birthday to approach these stories. I needn't have been fearful!
Perhaps a lot of the enjoyment comes from Fry's fantastic performance, it's the first time listening to him narrate an audio book. I intended to only listen to an hour or so a day, but I've ended up greedily consuming the content, like a certain noteworthy pig.
Political propaganda gone mad
Before anybody even goes into the book they'll hear "The book and all the references to it are banned in China". "What an irony" you must think, "how lucky we are in democracy, how pathetic to be ignorant under a modern day dictatorship, how can anyone be robbed access to Orwell's great collection of literature"? Except the works of Orwell are not banned in China. I found Animal Farm in my school reading list as a child, I studied 1984 as a part of my literature programme at university, and I continue to listen to the audiobooks because 1984 happens to be my favorite book. We're in the information age, but who are really being firewalled? The amount of misinformation and ignorance among people under the media control are incredulous. I've been a huge fan of Stephen Fry, I loved listening to his intro to Jeeves and Sherlock Holmes, but this is most disappointing.
Asmodeous
Outstanding in every way
An outstanding narration of two very relevant books. Highly recommended. Must read. Brilliant in every way.
These books are essential reading ('or listening) and offer the reader the best audio version available on audible.
The reading of Animal Farm is perfect in every way - Stephen Fry's narration could not be bettered and the fable written by Orwell is a must read, and at once enjoyable, witty and insightful.
1984 deserves to be called a classic too and with each reading the story grows in depth and significance. Stephen Fry's narration is again impressive - perfect to the ear and flawless.
Brilliant writer, brilliant works and brilliantly narrated. 10/10 and a worthy credit spent. Indeed I would say these are books that must be read at least once in your lifetime and the audible narration makes the works accessible and will provide immense pleasure to any listener. One of the very best audios I have had the pleasure to own.
(Please note - There is another version of 1984 available with a narrator who I believe rivals the delivery of Mr Fry. For those interested, check out the penguin audio version (tape version available only) as read by John Nettles. Though abridged the delivery is sublime and evokes the tragedy, humanity and brutality of the story in devastating fashion and in a style acutely different to Stephen Fry. In 2021 the relaxation of licensing rights has seen a number of other readings available. If by chance the version by John Nettles is released then I urge the aficionado of 1984 to purchase this version also. In doing so you will have two authors whose narration unpicks different subtleties from the Orwell's masterpiece and the experience for the reader will be more profound).
As it stands, this production by Stephen Fry is outstanding and to have two great and important novels performed so brilliantly for the price of one credit, means the reader gets a real bargain.
Awful, don't bother, because no one at audible did
I love Stephen fry, his writing, his readings, there is nothing I love more than a Stephen fry Audiobook.
But this!!!!
He reads everything in a monotone, dull, slightly cheery (which is really at odds to what he is reading)
Doesn't even bother to alternate his voice to distinguish characters.
For the love of god!! Just buy the Simon Cowell version of animal farm and Andrew wincott version of 1984
They put in effort, all I can say thank god I didn't spend any money on this and just used a credit
The narration of Stephen Fry was, as usual, absolutely perfect. I have finished reading the book only a year ago in February 2020. At that time I was more thrilled by the personal story and the hopelessness ¨of individual struggle against fear, manipulation of thoughts and physical pain. I didn´t pay that much attention to the social theory of the Ingsoc... Thanks to Mr. Fry´s narration I could listen again to these thoughts and was shocked how up-to-current-date Orwell´s thinking was.
Great book, great narration and a good job publishing the book again at this time.
It was okay no way never as goog as I 5hought it was gonna be.
A Scott
Brilliant but scary
I've read Animal Farm a few times but realised I'd never read 1984. Stephen Fry brought these to life. Knowing what I know now makes these so scary about what could happen.
TechMinerUK
Fantastic book read by Stephen Fry
I've always heard of 1984 and Animal Farm however I've never managed to indulge in then until now.
Stephen Fry made the world's leap out and materialise in my head from the farm lands to the distopian area of Airstrip 1.
Both fantastic books that provide a great point of reflection for modern life enhanced by Stephen Fry's voice.
I would highly recommend to those politically motivated and those who aren't. Everyone should read or hear these at least once.
Really enjoyed it. Thank you all involved.
Big thanks to all those who have helped bring this together, my favourite book and my favourite narrator of audio books, was never going to be anything but good.
Splendid narration of two brilliant books, especially 1984. If you haven't read or listened to either of them, then this is exactly what you're looking for.
Brilliant and haunting a must read.
No book has made me feel like 1984 has. It will be years until I can bring myself to read these again. Beautifully written and so dark. I love it and hate it at the same time. Read it. Don't shy away.
EngSoc is here.
A truely prophetic book the descriptions and story told within we will soon see play out in our own lifetime, it has in fact already begun.
Overcome888
Sobering and still relevant
Excellent performance by Stephen Fry and in particular 1984 seems relevant to 2021 in a prescient way. Just add 'Republican' to the references to 'The Party' and it so much sounds like actual 2021 headlines
Been meaning to read both these books for a long time and now I fully understand why they are considered such great works. Stephen Fry as always absolutely fantastic.
I would love it if Stephen Fry would read every single book in my library. Excellently written stories and very powerful. Highly recommend.
please read this for yourself.
these books are more relevant than ever. freedom to think and be careful not to drink too much of the cool-aid.
Stephen Fry ist ein Geschenk
Bücher, die ich schon ewig nachholen wollte. Stephen Fry macht das ganze zum Hörgenuss 😍
Double plus good reading of a good story that dispells many untruths, would recommend. Probably worth listening to twice !
After a friend recommended a few years back that I should read 1984 I decided it was finally time to do so. Amazing book, for something written 70 years ago it has so much content that is relatable to the world we live in today. Definitely recommend giving it a go.
It's scary how relatable this book is…to today
I loved this book! Listening to the ever entrancing voice of Stephen Fry, navigating my way through the book with ease! I tried reading myself the book lol…but it's a book you can't put down and I didn't have time to read and work so listening to it was way more time friendly!
I love how Orwell blatantly points out worldly truths. Inequality in our economy. War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength. The thought police. Big brother is watching us… we try to resist and in the end we just can't. We end up liking "big brother"… A big F bomb/light bulb moment. I love this book so much!!!!!