I’ve only started listening to audiobooks in mid-2009 but now I can’t imagine my literary life without them. I listen to them during my daily commuting, showering, cooking, cleaning and often a bit before going to sleep.
Over two years and 100 audiobooks later, I’m ready to make my first list of favorite narrators. I’d love to know about your own choices, so let me know if I’ve missed any good ones.
(if you click the links you’ll be able to listen to samples of the books)
I know that for most Americans Jim Dale in unbeatable, but for me Fry is the voice of the Harry Potter books. They’re still my favorite audiobooks of all time. His voice is so rich and you can tell he’s also in love with the books. Also, if you’ve listen to his podcasts (I particularly recommend the one called “Language”), you know he’s passionate about his native-tongue and its nuances.
I never get as emotionally involved with audio as I do with a paper version (I suspect it’s because there’s an intermediate between me and the story), but to this day these are the only audiobooks that made me cry. I’ve also listen to Fry read Stories of Anton Chekhov and Montmorency: Thief, Liar, Gentleman and he never disappointed.
Other audiobooks in the wish-list: The Fry Chronicles by Stephen Fry, Stephen Fry Presents a Selection of Oscar Wilde’s Short Stories, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams (for a re-read).
My favorite actor-cum-narrator. He’s funny, great with accents and has a wonderful voice. I listened to him read Scott Westefeld’s Leviathan trilogy and loved it so much that, although I was dying to read the last book, I waited until the audiobook version was available.
Audiobook wish-list: Macbeth: A Novel by A. J. Hartley and David Hewson, Specimen Days by Michael Cunningham.
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Would I’ve liked Lolita (sample *goosebumps*) as much as I did without Irons’ deliciously-creepy narration? Probably not. Also heard to him read Brideshead Revisited and James and the Giant Peach and again got the feeling I appreciated the books much more because of him.
Audiobook wish-list: The French Lieutenant’s Woman by John Fowles.
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Robert Whitfield (aka Simon Vance)
He’s a heavy-weight audiobook narrator, who read about 800 audiobooks and received awards I didn’t even know existed like the Audie® Awards. I first listed to him read Scaramouche and immediately downloaded Captain Blood, also by Rafael Sabatini. Whitfield will forever be associated in my mind with a good sword-buckling adventure, but I’ve recently listen to him read A Week in December by Sebastian Faulks and he was once again flawless.
Audiobook wish-list: His Majesty’s Dragon by Naomi Novik, The Difference Engine by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling, The Prestige by Christopher Priest, The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas, Barchester Towers by Anthony Trollope, The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters, Titus Groan by Mervyn Peake
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First listened to Steven Crossley in Enduring Love by Ian McEwan (one of Stephen King’s top 10 audiobooks) and more recently in To Say Nothing fo the Dog by Connie Willis.
Both books have quirky and eccentric characters which I think Crossley nailed perfectly.
Audiobook wish-list: A Room with a View by E. M. Forester (re-read), Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson
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There’s only one woman in this list. I don’t really have an explanation for it, it’s just my honest experience with audiobooks so far, which might change as I get to know more narrators. Still, Nadia May is one of the best and a pleasure to listen every single time (her voice makes me think “She must be a good person, I want her over for tea”). I’ve heard her read Agnes Grey, Elizabeth and Her German Garden, The Scarlet Letter and The Sultan’s Seal by Jenny White.
Audiobook wish-list: A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous Fourteenth Century by Barbara W. Tuchman, The Wings of the Dove by Henry James, Emma by Jane Austen (re-read), Till We Have Faces by C. S. Lewis, The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Armin, Parnassus on Wheels by Christopher Morley, Howards End by E. M. Foster (re-read)
(Note: I’ve only heard the following two narrators read one book each, but it was such a great experience that they have to be in the list.)
Matthew MacFadyen could read the phonebook and it would sound like Shakespeare. And you know what’s even better? Matthew MacFadyen actually reading Shakespeare.
I’ve no doubt it was because of him that I gave five starts toThe Coma by Alex Garland. The only reason why I haven’t listen to more of his audiobooks it’s because he hasn’t any (sniff), unless you count the one single but glorious chapter of Pride and Prejudice.
Someone please give the man a book and a microphone!
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My best audiobook of 2011 was read by Michael Page: The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch. His voice is extremely versatile, not only in giving a distinct personally to each character, but also in being able to jump from comedy to drama without loosing a beat. Also think this is a case of the perfect match between narrator and book. Just like Robert Whitfield, Michael Page is probably at its best with an old-fashioned adventure book.
Audiobook wish-list: Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson, The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy, Red Seas Under Red Skies by Scott Lynch, The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas (Page or Whitfield? Decisions, decisions…)
Honorable mentions:
- John Castle (Frenchman’s Creek by Daphne du Maurier)
- Jonathan Cecil (all P.G. Wodehouse’s Jeeves novels)
- Anton Lesser (Ruby in the Smoke by Philip Pullman, but I like the samples of him reading Shakespeare)
- Cassandra Campbell (The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot and Can’t Wait to Get to Heaven by Faniie Flagg)
- Dave John (Starter for Ten by David Nicholls)
- Ian Carmichael (Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K Jerome and I’d like to try his narration of Lord Peter Wimsey’s novels)
- Juliet Stevenson (Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen)
- Jim Dale (Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne, have Peter and the Starcatchers series in the audio TBL and heard he did a great job with The Night Circusas well)
- Nigel Graham (Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott)
57 comments
Comments feed for this article
February 1, 2012 at 2:59 am
Jenny
I don’t listen to audiobooks very often so I can’t weigh in very well, but I will just say a huge YES to Stephen Fry. I thought he was miles better than Jim Dale with the Harry Potter stories, much closer to my own imagination of the books. I could listen to him read Harry Potter all day every day.
February 1, 2012 at 9:33 am
Alex
There is a video on YouTube comparing the two voices reading the same HP chapter and I would still go with Fry, hands down. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJobfh62WAo
February 1, 2012 at 4:36 am
Risa
I’ve only ever tried one audio book, and that too a book in the public domain read by a volunteer. However, I’ll keep these names in mind. I’m surprised you haven’t mentioned Richard Armitage in your list…I’ve read at other blogs on audio books that he’s a good reader. …
February 1, 2012 at 9:35 am
Alex
I tried the volunteer thing once and gave up. It’s a huge difference. As mentioned on twitter: Richard Armitage reads audiobooks and no one told me before?! I need to get me one of those FAST!
Thanks for the heads-up 🙂
February 1, 2012 at 12:00 pm
Risa
You’re welcome. 😀
February 1, 2012 at 7:19 am
Castallia
Thanks for this list; I’ll definitely keep it for future reference!
My favorite audio book narrator is Ralph Cosham; he has an amazing voice and great phrasing; I’d listen to anything narrated by him!
February 1, 2012 at 9:37 am
Alex
I’ve listened to Ralph Cosham read Frankenstein and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and really enjoyed him. I think I must listen to him read more modern stuff to add him to the list above.
February 1, 2012 at 9:13 am
Leeswammes
You know, I have probably listened to 2 audiobooks ever, but I loved reading your list of favorites. It’s probably also something to do with the fact that most of these are well-known people anyway, but it was certainly fun to read.
I’m not an auditive person, I get distracted by my own thoughts too much, so it’s something I can only listen to if there is nothing else going on (a long car journey for instance).
February 1, 2012 at 9:39 am
Alex
Yes, I know a lot of people have that difficulty and get distracted very easily. I’ve noticed that I cannot listen to audio while shopping. Then I feel that the same area of my brain is in use and the two activities are fighting for attention 🙂
February 1, 2012 at 12:03 pm
Risa
I feel exactly the same way! Also, when I’m just sitting relaxed and listening to an audio I fall asleep!!….I missed out on quite a bit of the only audiobook I listened to. I finally I had to get myself a copy of the novel online and read it through again… heheh…
February 1, 2012 at 9:22 am
Liburuak
My favourite is definitely Stephen Fry, hands down. That man has the most amazing voice. I haven’t been a big audiobook person up to now, but your list makes me want to listen to more.
February 1, 2012 at 9:40 am
Alex
Once you pop, you can never stop! Try Fry’s podcasts. he hasn’t done one in a long time, but the archive is still worth it.
February 1, 2012 at 4:07 pm
farmlanebooks
What a wonderful list! I don’t listen to enough audio books to have favourites yet, but agree about Stephen Fry and Jeremy Irons. I keep seeing Vance mentioned in audiobook posts so I know he’ll be good – I just need to get around to finding one of his books.
February 1, 2012 at 5:33 pm
Alex
I think Vance has the perfect voice for books that involve accents and lots of action, like the Sabatini books.
February 1, 2012 at 5:26 pm
cecille
Such a wonderful list. My favorite is Matthew Macfadyen. He should really do more audiobooks. You are so right when you said he could read the phonebook and make it sound like Shakespeare. His voice is just so beautiful that it takes you into a trance. He could probably hypnotize me into jumping off a bridge and I wouldn’t mind at all.
February 1, 2012 at 5:36 pm
Alex
Hi Cecille, glad to “meet” another fan of MM voice 🙂 There must a petition somewhere we could sign to get him to read more!
February 1, 2012 at 10:08 pm
Joanna
Hey thanks! I’ll definitely browse around soon – I’ve never done a classic on audio, maybe that’s where I should go next.
February 2, 2012 at 9:51 am
Alex
Next time we meet you can borrow some 😉
February 2, 2012 at 12:05 am
Mady
Great post! *Almost* makes me want to try and read another audiobook ;), but I’m conviced that my brain needs images, otherwise my own thoughts surpass the audiobook and feels just like a waste of time for me.
Anyway, can you imagine that while reading the paperbook of Lolita I felt that I was almost listening to Jeremy Irons? Must be the fact that I’d seen the movie with him! 🙂
Actually I’ve realised I may try again an audiobook soon!… I’ve started walking between home/work (35/40 minutes) a few days a week and I guess I could try audiobooks then. I just need to get my iPod working and then I’ll ask you for tips 🙂
February 2, 2012 at 9:55 am
Alex
Walking to work sounds perfect for audiobook, especially because it’s a route you know and you wouldn’t be so distracted. Try it with a good one (J Irons for example :)).
February 2, 2012 at 1:36 am
Shannon (Giraffe Days)
This list is fantastic, Alex, and SUCH a big help to me – I’m so unsure about the actual narration that I shy away from audiobooks almost entirely. I think I’d do better with British narrators; just more familiar with their pronunciations whereas with the American ones the (to me) weird way they pronounce some words really distracts me from the story.
I have to bookmark this post so I can use it as a reference. And I saw the comment about Armitage – mmmmmmmmmm….. I wonder what he’s read?
(I can totally understand Jeremy Irons doing such a great job of Lolita because he was wonderful in the film!)
February 3, 2012 at 5:31 pm
Alex
I only started listening to audiobooks so late because my first few experiences were bad. Mostly with public domain audios read by non-professional. A good voice/diction is soooo important.
Apparently Armitage read three books by Georgette Heyer. I’m not a huge fan, but will listen to them anyway just because of him!
February 2, 2012 at 1:04 pm
Larissa
Thanks for the list!
I only ever read one audiobook, and keep hesitating for more but am a bit lost as to what, who, etc.
I heard a lot of good things about Stephen Fry reading HP, but I wonder: should I re-read the whole thing? It’s quite a long commitment. But maybe some day. In the meantime, I’ll let you chose for me! 😉
February 3, 2012 at 5:32 pm
Alex
I’ve re-read them in audio just 2 years ago and feel I need to do so again very soon.
February 2, 2012 at 8:41 pm
Rikki
OK, I never listen to audio books because I just am not that interested in listening to someone read to me. But your post made me want to go and get one.
February 3, 2012 at 5:33 pm
Alex
My advice is to start with the (almost) sure-wins, like Fry’s Harry Potters. Those got me hooked.
February 3, 2012 at 5:26 pm
Linda
I am another great fan of Matthew MacFadyen’s delicious, silky voice. Have you heard his ads on Classic FM?. He does have another audio book, “Stories We Could Tell” by Tony Parsons, available at Amazon.uk. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stories-We-Could-Tell/dp/B002SQ1JDQ
February 3, 2012 at 5:33 pm
Alex
He has another audiobook!! It’s not available on audible that’s why I didn’t know about it. Thanks for the heads-up.
February 3, 2012 at 9:18 pm
Melissa
I’m a huge fan of some of these narrators and I’ll be checking out the others you suggested. I loved Irons reading of Lolita.
February 7, 2012 at 11:59 am
Alex
Then try him reading Brideshead Revisited. Not as good as Lolita, but a not-so-good Irons is still a good Irons.
February 4, 2012 at 11:39 am
Kailana
What a great idea for a post! I had planned to get into audiobooks a bit more this year, but I am not off to a good start… When I do I will save this post for reference, though.
February 7, 2012 at 12:00 pm
Alex
Baby steps 🙂 It was the Harry Potters that really got me hooked on the who audio thing. I think it also helped that I’d read them before.
February 4, 2012 at 7:35 pm
Arti
This is an amazing post! I don’t think I’ve come across a list like this one: Best Audio Book Narrators. Thanks for all the work that goes into preparing this. I listen to books on and off, some I find is good but some others are just awful. So, glad to have this list for future reference. I’ve recently listened to The Piano Teacher by Janice Y.K. Lee, and find the voice of Orlagh Cassidy very effective and unassuming. Have you heard any of her recording?
February 7, 2012 at 12:02 pm
Alex
I was actually considering listening to Cassidy reading Dune. I’m glad he has your seal of approval 🙂
February 6, 2012 at 4:03 pm
p7
Thank you for this list, this is a great list of recommendations for one like me, I’m just starting to listen to audiobooks. I’ve wanted for a while to reread Harry Potter in English, and I’d really like to try Stephen Fry as a narrator.
I think I would listen to anything Matthew MacFadyen read. That chapter from P&P was really something. 🙂
February 9, 2012 at 4:23 pm
Alex
I felt the HP audios worked especially well as re-reads. Fry is amazing.
February 7, 2012 at 4:48 am
Stephanie
Thank you for the recommendations above that will be added to the TBR or in these cases, the TBLt
Some further suggestions:
Carole Boyd – ‘Mary Anne’ by Daphne du Maurier and ‘Lady’s Maid’ by Margaret Forster (this is one reader of audiobooks where I would select the audiobook for the reader irrespective of whether I was interested in the book)
Richard Armitage – ‘Lords of the North’ by Bernard Cornwell and three books of Georgette Heyer’s – ‘Venetia’; ‘Sylvester’ and ‘The convenient marriage’
Ian McKellen – ‘Asylum’ by Patrick McGrath
Michael Kitchin – Michael Dibdin’s series of Aurelio Zen novels
Eve Matheson – ‘Ruth’ by ELizabeth Gaskell
Susan Jameson – ‘Case Histories’ by Kate Atkinson
Neil Pearson – Peter Robinson’s crime series with Insp Alan Banks
Dan Stevens – ‘My dear, I wanted to tell you’ by Louisa Young and many other titles
Robert Hardy – Patrick O’Brien’s Jack Aubrey novels
February 9, 2012 at 4:25 pm
Alex
Wow – Great list! Many thanks Stephanie!
February 9, 2012 at 7:42 pm
Lucy
I have been listening to a lot more audio over the past year, mainly YA. As a big fan of Alan Cumming I’ll have to give Leviathan a listen soon.
Thanks for sharing this great list!
February 17, 2012 at 7:30 pm
savidgereads
What a great list, and some great additional recommendations in the comments too. As you know Alex I am only just getting back into audiobooks so this is perfect and timely.
I currently want every audiobook Olivia Coleman or Miriam Margoyles have done, but how to find them?
February 21, 2012 at 11:01 am
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February 25, 2012 at 2:55 am
Jen G. (The Introverted Reader)
Thanks for the list! I’ve only started to listening to audio on my commute over the past year, and it passes the time so well! I still prefer print, but I always have an audio book ready in the car as well.
A female narrator that I would recommend is Katherine Kellgren. I liked her narration of Austenland, but I fell in love with her narration of the Jacky Faber books. She really brought Jacky to life!
March 21, 2012 at 7:39 pm
bundleofbooks
Stephen Fry all the way!!!!! But I also enjoyed Hugh Laurie reading Great Expectations a few years ago (only problem was that it was abridged, which I was unhappy about).
Joanna Lumley is also pretty good if you are in the mood. And when I was younger I used to love the audiobooks for The Chronicles of Narnia. I think they were read by Michael York.
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September 5, 2012 at 12:26 am
jv
Martin Jarvis is a notable absence. His readings of Dickens’ works are superb.
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September 16, 2013 at 7:10 am
Mick
David eddings book series “the belgariad” read by Cameron Bierle my second favorite to Stephen fry HP series.
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September 18, 2015 at 7:29 pm
Maya
I really enjoy Susan Ericksen who reads the JD Robb “In Death” series.
November 5, 2015 at 9:28 pm
ReeCee
Just a handful of my favorites:
Bronson Pinchot – The Hero’s Guide Series by Christopher Healy (YA) & The Grimnoir Chronicles by Larry Correia (SciFI/Fantasy)
Katherine Kellegren – The Royal Spyness Series by Rhys Bowen
Robert Petkoff – Immortals After Dark by Kresley Cole
Stephen Briggs – anything by Terry Pratchett
Sam Dastor – Detective Vish Puri cozy mysteries by Tarquin Hall
August 2, 2016 at 2:56 am
Ilsa
I enjoy John Lee who reads The lady from Zagreb and The other side of silence both by Philip Kerr
August 19, 2016 at 10:49 am
CA SYMINGTON
Sadly it seems Rupert Degas is missing from this list, his wonderful reading of Patrick Rofuss’ works The Name ofthe Wind and The Wise Man’s Fear is peerless. An engaging performance with a range of distinct character portrayals and accents.
August 19, 2017 at 9:51 pm
Nonie
Can I just say that nobody but nobody reads Wind in the Willows like Kenneth Williams !!!! He is absolutely wonderful ….. Robert Whitfield reading the Water Babies is too …