Macbeth: A Novel

By: A. J. Hartley, David Hewson

Narrated by: Alan Cumming

Length: 9 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's summary

Macbeth: A Novel brings the intricacy and grit of the historical thriller to Shakespeare’s tale of political intrigue, treachery, and murder. In this full-length novel written exclusively for audio, authors A. J. Hartley and David Hewson rethink literature’s most infamous married couple, grounding them in a medieval Scotland whose military and political upheavals are as stark and dramatic as the landscape on which they are played.

Macbeth is a war hero and a patriot, doing everything in his power to hold together Duncan’s crumbling kingdom, which is beset by sedition from within and with threats from overseas. But when Duncan, contrary to ancient Scottish tradition, turns to building a family dynasty instead of rewarding those who have borne the brunt of the fighting, Macbeth and his powerful wife, Skena, make plans of their own, plans designed to hold both the nation and their strained relationship together. Sinister figures who claim supernatural knowledge spur them on, but the terrible outcome is as much about accident and failure as it is malevolence. Soon Macbeth and his wife find themselves preeminent in all the land, but struggling to hold themselves and their country together as former friends turn into bitter and deadly enemies.

This is Macbeth as you have not heard it before: fresh, edgy, and vital. It is a story of valor in battle, whispering in shadows, witchcraft in the hollows of an ancient landscape, and the desperate struggle of flawed people to do what they think is right.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

A. J. Hartley, a professor of Shakespeare at the Univ. of North Carolina-Charlotte, is the author of the “Will Hawthorne” fantasy series as well as several thrillers.
David Hewson is the best-selling author of 16 novels, including the Rome-based “Nic Costa” crime series.

ABOUT THE NARRATOR

Alan Cumming stars in CBS's The Good Wife, for which he received an Emmy nomination, and is the host of PBS’s Masterpiece Mystery. He was honored with the 2011 Audie Award for Best Male Narrator.

The Irish folk song “She Moved Through the Fair” is performed by Heather O'Neil of the Irish Repertory Theater.

©2011 A.J. Hartley, David Hewson (P)2011 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Not only is the novel an amplification of Shakespeare's famous tragedy, but it also fills in many of the gaps and gives a new perspective on Macbeth….Alan Cumming reads in a luscious Scottish brogue, which adds authenticity to the narration. His subtle changes of voice for different characters provide a full cast for this story of ambition and hubris. This is a wonderful novel of the human condition, read with ardor and enthusiasm.” ( AudioFile)

An interesting experiment

You always remember your first--and way back in 5th grade, Macbeth was my first venture into Shakespeare. Miss Weil loved Shakespeare and she introduced her class to the magic. Macbeth--in iambic pentameter-- was our 5th grade play. It is still my favorite Shakespeare. That said, I was just not sure how I would react to a novelization of the story.

Surprisingly, I stuck it out to the end-- and surprisingly, I didn't hate it. I didn't love it entirely either but that was because there were places where I just didn't agree with Hartley and Hewson's interpretation of events and motivations. However, I learned a lot about the historical background of the play and perhaps got a better idea of what life was like in those times. In short, it gave me a better understanding of the play.

Nonetheless, the novel stands on its own; its a good read. You don't need to know Shakespeare's play to get through the story. You don't have to be a Lit. major to enjoy it. In fact, you might even be better off not arriving with so much baggage.

Finally, kudos to the narrator Alan Cummings--and to the person who chose him. The book may have been written in prose but it read like poetry. Not since I heard Lisette Lescat read the 'No.1 Ladies' Detective' series have I heard such a perfect pairing of material and reader.

Fantastic all around - The BEST

This is without a doubt the best way to introduce Shakesper - I've read seen just about every interpretation of Macbetha dn this is by far the best. Makes it come alive, somehow even makes it relevant to today.

Makes Macbeth accessible to everyone

This was surprisingly good. Given the expert execution of the story by Shakespeare in his play, I was betting that the novelized version wouldn't be able to do as well. I was wrong.

In the preamble the authors explain their reasons for expanding the story into a novel. In this, they do very well and round out the characters and back stories even more. I think the characters to most benefit the story are the 3 hags, as they are really brought to life in this book.

The other benefit of this version of Macbeth is the ease of reading/listening. If Shakespearean prose has kept you away from these works before, have no fear here and experience why this story has such power even after all this time.

The narrator was ideally suited to this book. His accent, inflection, and cadence made the experience very pleasurable. All this make this book highly recommended!

Wow!! Really good! Excellent!

What an amazing book! The authors of this really transformed a Shakespearean play into a fascinating, accessible historical novel. The performance is extraordinary. The authors use lyrical prose that flows naturally, as opposed to a rigid adherence to awkward Shakespearean dialogue.

It's just a really great historical novel. I listened in one sitting!

I had read much of Shakespeare's work, but somehow I never read Macbeth. So it's a double treat for me!

I hope to see more from this writing team!

Shakespeare's genius . . . in normal language!

If you could take one of the best dramas of all time, the genius of Shakespeare's tragic characters, and some exciting historical elements, and imagine it as a "screenplay" of sorts, you could easily end up with something like this novel. For those who love the plot twists of Shakespeare but are exasperated with "Elizabethan English" written in iambic pentameter (what?!), this book is the perfect solution. Authors Hartley and Hewson take the best parts of the classic story and infuse them with a modern tempo and exciting language,

Many characters, especially Lady Macbeth but also many minor characters, are far more detailed in this version of Macbeth. The dialogue is tense and realistic, the characters flawed and gritty, and the actions scenes vivid and electric. Even the three witches each get their own personalities and back stories. Whether you are a fan of Shakespeare, or just a fan of good historical drama, this book will not disappoint. I am even inspired to go back and re-read the play, knowing I will have a much deeper understanding after having listened to this novel!

A superb novelization!

Macbeth has always been my favorite Shakespeare work, except perhaps Henry V. The fact that Star Trek spoofed Halloween in their only "holiday episode" doesn't hurt. I felt transported back to those troubled times in Scotland. The weird sisters were spooky, Macbeth a dedicated patriot who went too far. Lady Macbeth, who had personal demons that ripped a hole in her soul that couldn't be mended. The sights, sounds, smells - everything from that time and place are here. The descriptions of the land, the sea, the plant life - outstanding. I do understand those who complained about the length of the novel versus the play. I think some of the aftermath of Duncan's death could have been trimmed, but not a lot. To use the movie rating scale, in case you're not familiar with the story, it is a "hard" R - lots of explicit violence, explicit or implied sex, adult themes such as power and how to hold it. Last but certainly not least, Mr. Cumming's performance was impeccable. Despite its mature nature, I heartily recommend it.

Shakespeare is applauding!

This adaptation is absolutely BRILLIANT! Hartley and Hewson make Macbeth extremely readable and accessible. I wish this outstanding book had been available when I studied Macbeth in high school. Alan Cumming brings the characters to life - he's remarkable! Overall, this is a "can't stop listening" kind of book. I look forward to listening to it all over again.

Wow!

Fabulous in every way! One of the best narrations ever! These guys should turn all of The Bard's plays into novels!

could not stop listening

What did you love best about Macbeth: A Novel?

this is an amazing telling of Macbeths story. We may think we know the story from reading Shakespeares version but after listening to this retelling of the story you really can get into the characters, especially the three witches.

Which character – as performed by the narrators – was your favorite?

The three witches come to life in this telling.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The ending is so compelling-taking you years into Scotland's future.

Excellent Performance of a remastered Classic

What made the experience of listening to Macbeth: A Novel the most enjoyable?

Alan Cummings performance brings this story to life and he does a wonderful job with the various accents and voices that makes it exceedingly engaging and enjoyable, despite knowing the story already.

Which character – as performed by the narrators – was your favorite?

Alan Cummings did all the characters, but I especially enjoyed his Banqo. He even managed the womens voices, which is often the downfall of a male narrator.