Silas Marner

In her lifetime, Marian Evans (1819-80) was celebrated under her pen name of George Eliot as England's greatest living novelist. Today, she is known primarily as the bane of school kids who, having SILAS MARNER thrust down their throats, learn to despise the written word. Dove seeks to make palatable the dreaded tome, about a reclusive miser redeemed by the orphan girl he raises, by engaging Stephanie Beacham to narrate its cassette version. And what a job she does! Thoroughly nuanced and idiomatic. Unfortunately, sloppy editing destroys most of her rhythms and blunts the power of her performance. However, Beacham so excels that one willingly endures the botched surgery on her pauses to hear her breathe dimensional life into the old bogey-book. If you're a former school kid wondering just what the heck makes this novel living literature, you may find out by picking up this audiobook. Y.R. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine

This classic story of guilt, innocence, and the power of love, with its diverse cast of characters, is a challenging audio production. The capable Andrew Sachs provides a steady, enjoyable reading. His light British accent carries the story, which is set in early nineteenth-century England. Faced with depicting young and old, gentlepeople and common folk, Sachs provides genuine characterizations. He handles the variety of dialects masterfully and with clarity. Most enjoyable is his vocalization of Eppie, a sweet and charming characterization that reflects the light she brings into Silas Marner's life. J.J.B. (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine

What a pleasure revisiting Silas Marner in audio and hearing those hearty English country folk come alive once again! Andrew Sachs is simply magic. Listen to old Squire Cass bluster angrily at his hapless son, Godfrey, and to the throaty laugh of the hearty Miss Priscilla, easy and happy in her role as homely older sister. The gentle Dolly Winthrop cautiously helps Silas dress Eppie, his newfound gold, the orphaned child who has fallen asleep at his hearth. But Sachs's greatest achievement is Silas himself. At the outset, his voice, made broken and pathetic by his closest friend's betrayal, is barely audible. With the loss of his money and the arrival of Eppie shortly after, some of it gradually returns. But only when threatened with her loss does Silas's voice finally bloom. Thus, pace and tone are maintained by Sachs's reading of Silas, whose redemption is both audible and palpable. P.E.F. (c) AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine

Pigott-Smith brings a solid reading of Eliot's story of recluse, Silas Marner, and Eppie, the child he befriends. His voice is clear and appealing and will hold the attention of listeners throughout. R.F.W. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine

In Eliot's classic, a bitter man finds happiness in the adoption of an orphaned child. Narrator Anna Bentinck's pleasant cadence immediately draws listeners into the story. Because Eliot includes a diverse cast of characters, from illiterate farmers to country squires, Bentinck is frequently called upon to deliver unique accents and personalities. She does so splendidly. At one moment, she portrays the cautious yet thoughtful weaver, Silas Marner, and at another, the bold and provoking young squire, Dunstan Cass. Bentinck seamlessly executes conversations between characters so that the dialogue flows naturally. The novel delves into the secrets and passions of human nature, and Bentinck's energetic, sincere reading animates Eliot's touching story. D.M.W. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine

Those fortunate enough never to have been required to read Eliot's classic in high school will find delight in choosing voluntarily to immerse themselves in this performance by Derek Perkins. He brings out Eliot's wit and compassion, as well as the psychological acuity that led Trollope to call her "the first of English novelists" of her day. The story takes place mostly in narrow geographic bounds, so there is not much variation of accent, but Perkins makes all the characters distinctive enough for the listener to follow the story. Marner himself is particularly affecting, a man who understands loss and betrayal, and has learned to recover from both. D.M.H. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine