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Hamlet, Prince of Denmark: A Novel
- Narrated by: Richard Armitage
- Length: 9 hrs and 40 mins
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Hamlet, Prince of Denmark: A Novel
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Summary
It is a tale of ghosts, of madness, of revenge - of old alliances giving way to new intrigues. Denmark is changing, shaking off its medieval past. War with Norway is on the horizon. And Hamlet - son of the old king, nephew of the new - becomes increasingly entangled in a web of deception - and murder.
Struggling to find his place in this strange new order Hamlet tries to rekindle his relationship with Ophelia - the daughter of Elsinore’s cunning spy master, a man with plots of his own. Hamlet turns for advice and support to the one person he can trust -- Young Yorick, the slippery, unruly jester, whose father helped Hamlet through a difficult childhood. And all the while the armed forces of Fortinbras, prince of Norway, start to assemble, threatening to bring down Elsinore forever.
Beautifully performed by actor Richard Armitage ("Thorin Oakenshield" in the Hobbit films), Hamlet, Prince of Denmark takes Shakespeare’s original into unexpected realms, reinventing a story we thought we knew.
A. J. Hartley is the New York Times best-selling author of the Will Hawthorne fantasy series and several thrillers, as well as the Darwen Arkwright books for younger readers. He is the Russell Robinson Distinguished Professor of Shakespeare at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
David Hewson is the best-selling author of more than 20 novels, including the Nic Costa crime series and a trilogy of books based on the hit Danish television show The Killing. His most-recent novel, The House of Dolls, begins a new series set in Amsterdam.
Richard Armitage is known to movie audiences around the world as "Thorin Oakenshield" in the trilogy of films based on The Hobbit. Born in Leicester, England, and trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, Armitage has performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company, and created memorable roles on Robin Hood, North & South, and other British TV series.
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What listeners say about Hamlet, Prince of Denmark: A Novel
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- bookylady
- 07-07-14
A compelling audiobook with a brilliant narrator.
What made the experience of listening to Hamlet, Prince of Denmark: A Novel the most enjoyable?
I listen to many audiobooks and this is amongst the best I have ever listened to. The range of voices and accents that Richard Armitage found for this story was amazing; even the female voices were interesting and believable. The humour and shades of light and dark were fascinating and mesmerising and the quality of the narration made this clever retelling of Hamlet truly memorable.
What was one of the most memorable moments of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark: A Novel?
It's hard to pick out just one moment but I think the section where Ophelia writes to her brother about the plot to kill Old Hamlet was very moving and Richard Armitage managed to convey the difficulty of her personal situation very skillfully.
Which scene did you most enjoy?
The whole fencing match scene between Hamlet and Laertes and the simultaneous poisoning and death of Gertrude was brilliant.
Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
I listened to the book during a 12 hour drive home from holiday and it had me gripped all the way. The story was dark, sad and moving but there were great moments of humour too. I laughed out loud at some of Yorricks' antics and cried (literally) with Gertrude and Ophelia's love and hopes/fears for Hamlet.
Any additional comments?
The afterword by the authors was a great addition. Really interesting information about the odyssey of Shakespeare's play and the history/myths behind it.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Miss J. King
- 18-11-14
Lovely Richard Armitage
What made the experience of listening to Hamlet, Prince of Denmark: A Novel the most enjoyable?
'Hamlet' is one of my favourites and read by my favourite actor.
Have you listened to any of Richard Armitage’s other performances? How does this one compare?
no but I will
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Lizzie Webster
- 12-10-15
? A different Hamlet!
intriguing adaptation beautifully told by Richard Armitage. who's acting range is remarkable! i highly recommend this your time will not be wasted!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Candice
- 08-12-16
bring Shakespeare to life- again
This is the second time that I have read a Shakespeare a novel by AJ Hartley and it's phenominal. This is Shakespeare for the modern day, so it brings the play to life, it's well worth the read and essential to any library.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ian Tomkins
- 06-03-24
Great narrator for an interesting story
Really enjoyed the narration. A different perspective on the normal retelling of Hamlet. Well worth a listen
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Dorothea
- 26-05-14
Thrill and joy
Would you consider the audio edition of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark: A Novel to be better than the print version?
I think a print version would be a different thing, with perhaps different qualities. But this audiobook is amazing, it's somehow more than just a read book. It is like a very long movie with your imagination as screen.
What did you like best about this story?
I like very much how the characters are discribed and how they are presented, each one in a very special way. And I like the story itself. It's known for a few hundres years, but now told in a very exciting way. It captured my attention all the time, for more than nine hours.
What about Richard Armitage’s performance did you like?
I find it very impressive, how he manages to give character and emotions to the different persons in the book with just his voice. As I knew him before only playing male roles I find it surprising and amazing how well he does the female voices. Great as Ophelia and as Gertrud!
Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
The story didn't make me laugh, it's not funny. It is very tragic, as the original story is as well. A lot of murder and treason. And the story also didn't make me cry. Perhaps I read to many detective novels, to be shocked by such a story.But I felt joy, listenig. It sounds as if the authors may have had some joy, writing the story and Richard Armitage as well doesn't sound bored at all, telling it.
Any additional comments?
It's interesting to read David Hewsons blog in addition because he gives some intersting informations about the story itself and about writing it.
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5 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Muddy_B
- 20-01-22
Loved it as new rendition that is accessible
As in my title. Loved it. Excellent narration and story. Would listen again as it is so good
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 08-11-20
Amazing
This is such a good play, and Richard Armitage is superb. The way he brings each character to life and with the seamless change of voices is a tribute to his brilliance
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ali J
- 21-10-18
Richard Armitage voices are superb and draw you into the tale
I listened the Hamlet the novel on audio books as I could never get to grips with reading the olde English language. Richard Armitage’s performance as all of the characters is amazing. I enjoyed the book very much and would recommend it highly.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Boris R.
- 19-07-15
Excellent
Good story. Peerless performance. I'm after Richard Armitage's other performances and Hartley's and Hewson's other books now.
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