She: A History of Adventure

By: H. Rider Haggard

Narrated by: B.J. Harrison

Legends tell of an ancient sorceress who has learned the secrets of immortality. She rules over a lost people deep in unexplored Africa. She can slay at a glance, and her beauty is so legendary that no man can look upon her and keep his own will. Leo Vincey learns of a quest that has haunted his family for generations. He is to go to find this all-powerful woman, and discover the secret of eternal life.

Public Domain (P)2010 B.J. Harrison

A product of it’s time

I listened the whole way through. But it was not always pleasant. This book is definitely a product of its time. Racist, misogynistic, and imperialist. However the reader did a great job. I found his voice easy to listen to and the character voices pleasant and unobtrusive.

Too many words.

H. Rider Haggard tended to use 100 words where 5 would do. This book could have done with a good deal of editing to make it half its length or less. I understand it was originally serialized, so perhaps he was paid per word. Other than the long drawn out scenes where he waxed poetic over every minor detail, it was OK, I suppose. It exposed every major bigotry of the era: race, sex, class, religion, etc.. It is a good study of the zeitgeist of the late 19th century, if nothing else. The narrator was good.

The Story that Began It All--Read So Beautifully!

I first heard of "She" from Rumpole of the Bailey, then seeing that B. J. Harrison performed the book, I had to listen to it. Indeed, the book has become one of my favorites.

As you listen to She, you will be able to trace the inspiration of many works of art, such as J. R. R. Tolkien's Galadriel and the ring of power, Oscar Wilde's Dorian Gray, even the Goa'uld of the TV series Stargate. The story is also deeply philosophical, making you pause and wonder about the power of beauty to beguile and initiate love, the true force of love, our mortality or immortality, and the nature of She herself, who beguiles us, the readers, even when she seems at her cruelest (notice, I say "seem" because what you think you know about morality seems to extend in her presence).

B. J. Harrison is at his best when he reads classic literature that requires high emotion to come across as believable. He achieves this difficult goal. Beyond his soothing voice, his performance of each character--and most especially She--is a treat to experience.

Highly recommended!

She

I found this was an amazing book, and brought me around to the 1933 movie. Both the movie and the audible book were excellent. I hope you take the time to listen this audiobook that I gave five stars to.

The mystery of 'She' continues

This popular work from the 19th and 20th Century is credited by other very well known authors as being an influence on their own works. Graham Green, Henry Miller, J R R Tolkien are among those mentioned in Wikipedia.
'She' is now available to read free online. Having B.J.Harrison read it to me is just wonderful and certainly worth the few dollars asked.
This work also throws some light on the mysterious feminine presence in the male where the feminine is projected outwards onto another almost ageless beautiful and terrible woman.
'She' is really an adventure story. Chests with scrolls, pottery and a letter.A record of a 2000 year search, passed from father to son. Kind of..if you liked Indianna Jones..you could like this one. Its very British and not politically correct these days and does reveal some of the prevailing bias of the times in which it was written. 'Indianna' would most certainly have read Haggard.

thrilling tale, beautiful performance

a great adventure story (as the subtitle implies) coupled with a brilliant performance. Delightful dialog between characters as well.

Don't look here if you are wanting criticizem

What did you love best about She: A History of Adventure?

I enjoyed the entire book. But I loved how the author's descriptions made me feel like I was in the thick of it.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Asher. She was very fascinating and I found myself simply wanting to believe in her.

What about B.J. Harrison’s performance did you like?

I like how although he made a wonderful performance he still never got in the way of the story.

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

I enjoyed the scenes involving the pillar of fire as these were exciting. There are many exciting moments in this book.

Any additional comments?

I passed this book up several times. So glad I read the comments and went for it.

Best Narrator, riveting story.

I couldn't get enough of this book. The narrator was genius, and I ended up making sure I downloaded his version for the follow up book. I was swept away into Victorian escapist fantasy and wanted to stay forever. I wish there were more books like it.

Classic tale, horrible narrator

What made the experience of listening to She: A History of Adventure the most enjoyable?

H. Rider Haggard's adventure stories are full of antique exposition, yet still have the power to suck a reader into an ancient world of adventure. It takes a narrator comfortable with the language and characters of this kind of work to make the text an effortless listen for modern ears. This narrator, B.J. Harrison, not only has an American accent, but "reads" instead of narrates, and delivers stiff, stilted sentences. The only other version Audible offers of "She" has a better narrator, but is abridged. Too bad! A classic story of adventure, and the many variations of how men and women define "love" and "life."

An exquisite listen!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I already have, when I was about the halfway point of the book. It's a delightful listen and the narrator does such a beautiful job representing each character. The story itself is an adventure one could only dream of.

What was one of the most memorable moments of She: A History of Adventure?

The fight scene between the savages that tried to eat one of their companions via "hotpot" and Holly, Leo, and Job.

What does B.J. Harrison bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He brings out each character's personality that I wouldn't have quite given them had I merely read it. He paints life into them.