2009 Audies – Two Books: One Category

Although I had two books in the running I was only going to win once as they were both in the Classics category… Of course, I could have come out with nothing – but Dickens came through and I won with Great Expectations.

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

From AudioFile magazine:
This classic about young Pip’s aspirations to become a gentleman and wed Estella and fate’s different designs for him is familiar to many as a television drama and a movie. Simon Vance brings a whole new dimension to the story as he imbues each character with a unique voice, and with exquisite diction provides listeners with a totally new experience. Every detail, every nuance is accorded importance, and lines, even paragraphs, that might have been skipped when reading the book to oneself, or omitted entirely in film, are given their due in this performance. Vance takes the work of the great writer and delivers it to listeners with a full cast of authentic characters and terrific attention to the writing itself. S.S.R. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award, 2009 Audies Winner © AudioFile 2008

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

From AudioFile Magazine:
One of the most famous of the original nineteenth-century gothic horror novels, this story follows glamorous and youthful Dorian Gray, who becomes corrupted by the fear of his own mortality. Soon, he discovers that while his portrait may age, he will not, a knowledge that leads to his ultimate downfall. Simon Vance’s portrayal of each character is spot-on. His Lord Henry is casual, dismissive, and haughty. His Basil Hallward, the artist infatuated with Dorian, comes across as timid and pitiful but always endearing. Best of all, Vance’s Dorian Gray exudes youth and impetuousness at the beginning, but quickly darkens once the character’s madness takes hold. While at times seeming the slightest bit rushed, Vance nonetheless finds the essence of each character, making Wilde’s work a delightfully creepy listen. A.H.A. 2009 Audies Finalist © AudioFile 2008