Nightmare Alley

By: William Lindsay Gresham

Narrated by: Adam Sims

Nightmare Alley is American author William Lindsay Gresham’s first and best-known work. The novel - most admired by noir fiction fans - was published in 1946, adapted into a film in 1947 starring Tyrone Power and subsequently printed as a graphic novel by Spain Rodriquez. During the 1940s Gresham worked as an editor for a genuine crime pulp magazine in New York, during which period he wrote this book; characters range from hustlers to Machiavellian femme fatales in a dark world of show business. Stan Carlisle is an ambitious ‘carny’ who eventually becomes a spiritualist for the rich and gullible. It appears that the world is at his feet, but not everything is as it seems….

Download the accompanying reference guide.©1946 Brandt & Hochman Literary Agents (P)2011 Naxos AudioBooks

I could not stop listening

Big big fan of the Tyrone Power Joan Blondell movie just stumbled across the book. I absolutely loved it and the narration was some of the best I've heard.

Great narration

Sims does a fantastic job with the characters. The story really comes alive. The book itself holds up really well for 1946 noir. This is worth full price.

Rather lengthy but excellent writing with incredible characters and had seen the movie

Unique Storyline as well as characters and very descriptive writing. I had seen movie seen which correlated

starts good

then drags a bit after. makes some confusing jumps in time. great narrator. its ok.

superbly surprised

This book is great. The story is HA HA( Not) funny. And they ending, I will listen again, just for the end.!
Well worth it!
ALL OF IT!.

Carny Chaos

I don't know if I really like this one or not. it is very well written with detailed visuals. the scene segues are a little tough to catch and you have to pay attention to follow the thread of the plot and who going where. it took me a while to get used to Mr gresham's writing. the finale befits the story. I thought the narrator was really excellent. it's the late 1940s and the world was certainly different.

very nice noir

Classic style, amazing narrator, sorry has interesting turns. Reminds me of James M. Cain's stories.

Classic Noir

Where does Nightmare Alley rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

One of greatest psychological thrillers, both of its time and ours.

What about Adam Sims’s performance did you like?

Excellent characterization of each voice. Realistic not cartoonish. A perfect match of voice and text.

Any additional comments?

This is a book for adults that implies much without being graphic. It is a dark, dark, look into human nature-- a cynical, and keenly observed depiction of greed, ambition, deception, and ultimately self-destruction. Plus, Gresham provides a personally researched glimpse inside the now almost-gone world of the carnival midway, not to mention the old tricks psychics still use to this day, to exploit the gullible and desperate.

Great read

Great escapist entertainment, so long as you can handle the dark side. It deserves classic status,

Step right up, ladies & gentlemen...

Where does Nightmare Alley rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It's in my top 5.

What about Adam Sims’s performance did you like?

There's a moment where Stanton loses it for a bit and starts laughing. I've listened to that part in this over and over. It was a caliber of performance that I've never even seen in stage plays. I was in awe of the entire thing.