Once on a Time


Read by LibriVox Volunteers

(3.9 stars; 17 reviews)

When the King of Barodia receives a pair of seven-league boots as a birthday present, his habit of flying over the King of Euralia's castle during breakfast provokes a series of incidents which escalate into war. While the King of Euralia is away, his daughter Hyacinth tries to rule in his stead and counter the machiavellian ambitions of the king's favourite, the Countess Belvane. Written in 1917, Milne's own introduction begins 'This is an odd book', and indeed it is very difficult to classify. Ostensibly a typical fairytale, it tells the story of the war between the kingdoms of Euralia and Barodia and the political shenanigans which take place in Euralia in the king's absence, all supposedly rewritten by Milne from the writings of the fictional historian "Roger Scurvilegs". Milne created the story to contain believable, three-dimensional characters, rather than the stereotypes which will satisfy children. Hence the book introduces us to a princess who is far from helpless; a prince who, whilst handsome, is also pompous and vain; an enchantment which is almost entirely humorous; a villain who is not entirely villainous and receives no real comeuppance; a good king who isn't always good; an evil king who isn't always evil, and so on. The result is a book which children may not enjoy as much as adults. The book was written by Milne partly for his wife, upon whom the character of the Countess Belvane was partially based. (Summary from Wikipedia) (5 hr 40 min)

Chapters

01 - Preface 3:46 Read by Julie Bynum
02 - Chapter 1 - The King of Euralia has a Visitor to Breakfast 13:33 Read by Rachel LaDue
03 - Chapter 2 - The Chancellor of Barodia has a Long Walk Home 9:46 Read by Barry Eads
04 - Chapter 3 - The King of Euralia Draws his Sword 13:58 Read by Barry Eads
05 - Chapter 4 - The Princess Hyacinth Leaves it to the Countess 13:56 Read by Julie Bynum
06 - Chapter 5 - Belvane Indulges her Hobby 15:08 Read by Julie Bynum
07 - Chapter 6 - There are no Wizards in Barodia 12:57 Read by Julie Bynum
08 - Chapter 7 - The Princess Receives a Letter and Writes One 15:53 Read by Patti Cunningham
09 - Chapter 8 - Prince Udo Sleeps Badly 12:30 Read by Patti Cunningham
10 - Chapter 9 - They are Afraid of Udo 12:12 Read by Catharine Eastman
11 - Chapter 10 - Charlotte Patacake Astonishes the Critics 20:26 Read by Evelyn Clarke
12 - Chapter 11 - Watercress Seems to go with the Ears 15:15 Read by Perez
13 - Chapter 12 - We Decide to Write to Udo's Father 19:42 Read by Evelyn Clarke
14 - Chapter 13 - "Pink" Rhymes with "Think" 19:13 Read by Evelyn Clarke
15 - Chapter 14 - "Why Can't you be like Wiggs?" 15:19 Read by Patti Cunningham
16 - Chapter 15 - There is a Lover Waiting for Hyacinth 4:24 Read by Barry Eads
17 - Chapter 16 - Belvane Enjoys Herself 18:08 Read by Sarah LuAnn
18 - Chapter 17 - The King of Barodia Drops the Whisker Habit 22:00 Read by Sarah LuAnn
19 - Chapter 18 - The Veteran of the Forest Entertains Two Very Young People 19:01 Read by Catharine Eastman
20 - Chapter 19 - Udo Behaves Like a Gentleman 14:20 Read by Sarah LuAnn
21 - Chapter 20 - Coronel Knows a Good Story when he Hears it 15:51 Read by Sarah LuAnn
22 - Chapter 21 - A Serpent Coming after Udo 18:56 Read by Neeru Iyer
23 - Chapter 22 - The Seventeen Volumes go back Again 13:54 Read by Neeru Iyer

Reviews

Awesome!


(4.5 stars)

This book was hilariously funny, and the voices were great! I LOVED this book. Thank You! May The Force be with you!

pretty good


(3.5 stars)

Some of the last chapters were difficult to understand due to the heavy accent of the reader.

enjoyable


(4 stars)

a simple tale that's humorous