The Book of Wonder


Read by Greg Elmensdorp

(4.2 stars; 50 reviews)

In The Book of Wonder, Lord Dunsany invites listeners to escape the mundane and embark on a journey through realms of imagination and enchantment. This collection of short stories transports you beyond the familiar streets of London into fantastical landscapes filled with magic, adventure, and the extraordinary.

Dunsany's prose is rich and evocative, weaving tales that explore the boundaries of reality and the allure of the unknown. Each story is a portal to a different world, where mythical creatures and surreal experiences challenge the limits of human understanding and ignite the spirit of wonder.

With its blend of fantasy and philosophical musings, The Book of Wonder stands out as a seminal work in the genre, showcasing Dunsany's unique voice and imaginative prowess. Perfect for those seeking a respite from the ordinary, this audiobook promises to inspire and captivate, inviting listeners to dream beyond the confines of their everyday lives.

Chapters

Select a chapter to play

Preface & The Bride of the Man-Horse 12:06 Read by Greg Elmensdorp
Distressing Tale of Thangobrind The Jeweller 9:36 Read by Greg Elmensdorp
The House of the Sphinx 6:47 Read by Greg Elmensdorp
Probable Adventure of the Three Literary Men 9:50 Read by Greg Elmensdorp
The Injudicious Prayers of Pombo the Idolater 9:08 Read by Greg Elmensdorp
The Loot of Bombasharna 10:50 Read by Greg Elmensdorp
Miss Cubbidge and the Dragon Of Romance 7:35 Read by Greg Elmensdorp
The Quest of the Queen's Tears 13:00 Read by Greg Elmensdorp
The Hoard of the Gibbelins 10:29 Read by Greg Elmensdorp
How Nuth Would Have Practised His Art Upon the Gnoles 12:01 Read by Greg Elmensdorp
How One Came, As Was Foretold, to the City Of Never 12:00 Read by Greg Elmensdorp
The Coronation of Mr. Thomas Shap 11:41 Read by Greg Elmensdorp
Chu-Bu and Sheemish 10:41 Read by Greg Elmensdorp
The Wonderful Window & Epilogue 14:10 Read by Greg Elmensdorp

Reviews

Book of Wonder


(5 stars)

This is my absolute favorite audiobook!! Listening to Lord Dunsany being read is like hearing a dream unfold. I listen to it before bed at night because it is simply facinating to hear the tales' intricate details and nuances. If you ever enjoyed your own imagination, this audio book is great for a lulling tale during a rainy Sunday at home.

A good book


(3 stars)

You need to be patient with this one: it's like Lovecraft in that the author has never met an adjective he can't fit in somewhere. The stories are good, but deliberately don't have satisfactory narrative forms, which makes them more like the abrupt folktales sometimes found in oral collections. The read is lingering and monotonous. During the first story I wanted the reader to do more with his voice, but from the second onward, it had an odd effect on me, like a person chanting a story they had spoken thousands of times before, which added fidelity to these stories of unknown gods, so I grew to really like it, as one of those choices I did not know I'd enjoy until I tried.

I'm sure it's good reading...


(3 stars)

I'm sure this book is good to read, but as an audio book it doesn't seem to work quite as well. Dunsany's prose (lengthy, complex sentences) is a little too much to track through completion. The reader does a fine job, but is generally a bit monotone and the pacing is a little slow for me. I also think I'd pronounce if you were the words differently but that's more personal than incorrect. Overall a good listen but probably a better read.

Greats stories, Great reader


(5 stars)

I think the reader is under rated, after reading others reviews. His reading style matches the stories very well, and people should be thankful that someone spent their time to make this audiobook. The stories themselves are compact and perfectly crafted, I enjoyed hearing them again and again. Wish I could hear him read- A Dreamers Tales, by Lord Dunsany.


(5 stars)

I don't think there's a best way to narrate Dunsany, but i think Greg really did a great job. his style is kind of detached in a way I felt made the fantastic nature of the stories seem dreamlike

far out !


(5 stars)

A magical mix of fantasy and myth. Let your imagination free. I thought the reader did a great job in tone and clarity and was disappointed he hadn't recorded any more.

Just wanted to say that I personally LOVE this reader's style.


(5 stars)

Somewhat agree with "thecrwth"


(3 stars)

While I didn't notice the 'popping mouth malady' that "thecrwth" mentioned, it was read with a dry delivery that did not linger enough on Dunsany's great words. Dunsany, and especially this book, deserve a reader, an actor, of high merit; not a well intentioned amateur. Still, I will not let my disappointment that the 'Book of Wonder' was not done all justice, lead me to insult a reader who obviously loves Dunsany as much as I do. In a world in which Dunsany is an obscure little known author, it seems overly cruel to castigate someone for trying to spread 'wonder' to others.