Confessions, volumes 1 and 2


Read by Martin Geeson

(4.5 stars; 109 reviews)

“Thus I have acted; these were my thoughts; such was I.”

Rousseau’s lengthy and sometimes anguished dossier on the Self is one of the most remarkable and courageous works of introspection ever undertaken. Some readers may be repelled by his tendency to revel in embarrassing accounts of humiliation and fiasco, as if he were striving too hard to achieve an ultimate nakedness, a nakedness of the soul perhaps. Others may recall the compulsive self-searching of the narrator of Proust’s A la recherche du temps perdu, who also rather dwelt on the co-existence in the individual of the vile and the virtuous.

The two opening volumes of the Confessions, presented in this inevitably censored edition of 1903, deal with the author’s childhood and callow adolescence.

Here he is... (Summary by Martin Geeson)

(5 hr 10 min)

Reviews


(5 stars)

martin geeson, is the only librivox reader I listen to.

Candidly...


(0 stars)

My thanks to Alcmaeonid for providing that link. (The Project Gutenberg version I used also claimed to be "complete".) I would undoubtedly switch translations if I carried out my original plan of recording Books 7-12 next year. However, the snide crack about my voice and suitability has struck to the heart of my self-confidence and made me feel disgusted with the idea. If I were a professional voice artist I would be able to take this in my stride, no doubt.

Job Well Done!


(5 stars)

I have greatly enjoyed your reading of Concessions so far and look forward to the other parts. I love books, and while my current schedule doesn't allow much time for peaceful reading, I do have ample time for listening. Librivox and the excellent, dedicated volunteers such as yourself have been a godsend. I do hope you will reconsider and finish recording the other parts of this work. In my opinion, you have done a first-rate job so far!

Good read!


(5 stars)

Love Martin Geeson's readings and this is no exception! Interesting autobiography from 1700s anyway, but Geeson's inflections bring it to life. Looking forward to the rest of the volumes.

interesting


(5 stars)

To have a confession like this had to have been so groundbreaking at the time. This has a somewhat similar feel to Proust's great autobiography. Both, I believe, paved the way to deeper introspection into one's condition and inner world and, I'm sure, the psychoanalytic work of Freud and others. Confession is, after all, a path to deep healing.


(5 stars)

Me too! It was one of the most enjoyable books I've listened to from Librivox. I thought the reading perfect, beautifully accentuating Rousseau's meanings and humor. Thank you very much indeed for doing the reading, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Great reading!


(5 stars)

I don't know about you first reviewer, but I totally loved the reading.

An Honest Account, Well Read


(4 stars)

Mr Martin Geeson has brought an otherwise painfully authentic account to life, and made Rousseau's famous book even more intriguing. Please don't be discouraged by those who don't know how to appreciate you, Mr Geeson! I hope you can continue to pursue what you love to do; bless you!