Sublime!

Juliette Stevenson's reading of this book is fabulous. The novel is already a favourite of mine but after hearing her talk with Graham Norton about her reading of this story I downloaded it straight away and was not disappointed. A great way to spend 15 hours of tedious driving!

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A bit robotic

Far, far better than the earlier Emilia Fox Naxos version, and for study purposes - which is why I got it; it’s convenient to have all of Austen’s novels available in versions read by the same person, but Stevenson’s narration here is a bit robotic and monotone, compared with her other narrations, especially her narration of Austen’s other novels, also done by Naxos.

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Jane Austen + Juliet Stevenson = Perfect 👌👍🏻😊😃🌸

This version is perhaps the better! Juliet Stevenson reads just fine. She is in no hurry, she reads sensually and you know exactly which character is speaking .
I listened to the performance Rosamund Pike, Rosalyn Landor, Emilia Fox, Emma Messenger.
Juliet Stevenson the best !😍

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Disappointed

After waiting some years for Juliet to read this, I am so disappointed. I listened to samples of other readers and would not attempt them - they were so off the mark - I was thrilled to find Juliet had finally given it a go but only to find her voice lacks the sweet modulation and variety and expert renditions of her many other readings. Her tones are high pitched and harsh and so similar to each other in the characters. Her version of Elizabeth Bennet is too harsh and raucous rather than lilting and enticing and fun as Elizabeth should be heard. Elizabeth is a well spoken woman, refined tones, who is capable of attracting a man like Darcy in spite of her challenging ways. A teasing gentility is more to the point - not a grating adolescent sound with high rising petulant end to her sentences. I am so very disappointed to have her not interpreted well. Mr Collins is the only one Juliet captures as he was intended - as a serious but ridiculous man - he has been portrayed by actors as a fool or comedic but he is not - he is a fool but in a heavily serious way. Jane Bennet and Elizabeth often sound the same in this version. It is hard to tell who is speaking unless you know the story well. Mrs Bennet disintegrates in this version into a caricature of herself and painfully overwrought. Darcy is not at all charming. He too should have a charm and modulated voice that entices in spite of his pride. His voice is heavy and austere. Sadly, this version is a big let down for fans of Juliet and Austen who normally go hand in hand on Audible in my library. I would have preferred a straight reading rather than the vain attempts at characterisation as they were misleading.

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