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Elidor
- Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble
- Length: 3 hrs and 57 mins
- Categories: Children's Audiobooks, Literature & Fiction
Non-member price: $26.29
Editorial Reviews
Elidor, by British writer Alan Garner, first breathed life as a radio play. Following that success, it was expanded into a short children’s novel and published in 1965. Now, in this audiobook, it has returned to form as a piece to be heard. Focusing on a group of children who must have distinct voices, the audiobook makes great demands on performer Jonathan Keeble, who handles the job with agility.
Elidor borrows from C. S. Lewis by imagining a group of children who find a portal to another world. The comparison ends, however, when that world is a borderline nightmare which follows the characters back to the world we all know. Drawing heavily on folkloric sources, this audiobook is appropriate for children, but interesting to any adult.
Publisher's Summary
"Towers - like flame. A candle in darkness. A black wind."
Roland Watson wasn't expecting to see things like that when he kicked a football into a condemned church. But once inside, he is taken from the slums of Manchester to the ruins of a magical kingdom. And only he can bring back the light to Elidor.
With his brothers and sister, Roland has to solve ancient riddles and brave dark forces to save the mythical land. But he has to prevent those same forces destroying their own world, too.
Brilliantly mixing myths and fantasy with spare and acute reality, Alan Garner's third novel secured his place at the forefront of children's writing, with his work also appealing greatly to adult readers.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio.
Critic Reviews
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What listeners say about Elidor
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Steve S
- 23-02-2017
A great little book
I have fond memories of this book, having read it as a youth. I come from Manchester and know the areas mentioned in the box and I even remember the map signs that start the adventure off.
It's a faithful reproduction of the paper copy and it is well read.
The story is very atmospheric and it is one of my favourites. I have no hesitation in recommending this for all ages.
1 person found this helpful
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- ArchStanton
- 01-01-2021
Great story but
The kids’ accents were a bit hammy. I’ve read this book many times and cannot imagine their accents like this, sorry
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- Michael Norman
- 10-02-2020
Excellent
Brilliant reading of a fantastic story. I love books but am lazy at reading. I remember this story from junior school back in the day.
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- P. Saxton
- 19-07-2018
Great reading of a classic
This is great story, a classic of its type. It's an assured performance that maintains the wonder felt when first reading
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- DianaF
- 21-05-2018
Wonderful story blighted by Audible’s self advertising, again!
Great story, spare, precise but with room to breathe. Terrific vocal performance throughout.
Almost ruined by Audible’s self advertising abruptly butting in right at the end with little room to reflect on the performance, STOP DOING THIS, AUDIBLE!!
1 person found this helpful
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- wendy jane roughley
- 03-05-2017
Elidor
This is a great story but I wish the narrator had not attempted to impersonate children's voices - they really detracted from the magic of the story.
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- Avocet
- 18-01-2017
A low Fantasy Masterpiece
Far better than any of Alan Garner's other books. Vivid, exciting and wonderful. Works at several levels and
nostalgically evokes growing up in 1960s Manchester
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- Mrs H Spurr
- 15-03-2012
Enjoyable
Like all Alan Garner books at times this was hard to follow but on the whole enjoyable.
2 people found this helpful
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- Gavin F
- 21-09-2018
Ending is not as good as I would have expected
Obviously I don't want to give any spoilers for anyone pursuing this book, but what I will say is I expected a better ending if I am truthful. The story took a lot to get into but when it did get into it it was fine unfil the end, by which point I was left thinking "is that it, that was a boring ending"
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