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Hadrian's Walls Audiobook
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(3.01) - 345 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Robert Draper's critically-acclaimed debut novel explores the bonds of friendship and and the limits of loyalty. As a 15-year-old boy, Hadrian committed murder to save his friend Sonny's life and is sentenced to 50 years in prison. As the years progress their mutual dependence on each other twists their friendship into a question of who owes what to whom.
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"This is a pretty decent sort of historical fiction novel. It's pretty similar to what you would get if you read a King Arthur novel, but without any of the magic. The Celtic traditions are part of the story, and so is the whole discussion of the Roman empire. This book takes place about the time Rome's influence in Britain was beginning to end. I thought it was pretty well written, but not a 5 star book."
— Nathaniel (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“Robert Draper has made an exciting debut. He’s got a good ear for the tones of the region and a sharp sense of how the oppressiveness of it adds its weight to the actual oppression that is his theme. I hope he finds many readers.”
— Larry McMurtry -
“Hadrian’s Walls, is…a deft, occasionally ingenious novel.”
— New York Times Book Review -
“[A] scorching, Faustian first novel…Draper skillfully balances his stark portrayal of Shepherdsville’s environs and feckless inhabitants with the affecting drama that unfolds among the central characters. His ambitious novel explores the irony, pathos and contradictions both of freedom vs. captivity and of good vs. evil.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review) -
“In his cool, prosaically loping fiction debut, Texas journalist Draper easily entraps the reader in a Lone Star State prison town …[Hadrian’s Walls] provides sooty, ragged, fearsome reading pleasure…A breezy encounter with human darkness, carried on by the lilt of Draper’s choice prose.”
— Kirkus Review
Hadrian's Walls Listener Reviews
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" I've never read anything from the Roman occupation of England. This book seemed to do a good job of portraying both the Celtic and Roman cultures, as well as describing the wall that spanned Britian in that era. A Roman heiress is captured and becomes a part of the Celtic community. "
— Stephanie, 2/17/2014 -
" Pretty good historical fiction about the clash of Roman imperialism and Celtic culture North of Hadrian's Wall in what is now Scotland. The romance between the Roman aristocrat daughter and the Celtic chieftain makes for a rousing story that brings the history to life. "
— Colby, 2/17/2014 -
" An interesting historical fiction from ancient times. Nothing too spectacular, but definitely entertaining enough if you're looking for a fun and semi-educational read. It get's a 3.5 star rating from me. "
— Adrienne, 1/30/2014 -
" Very well written. Adventure, deceit, mystery and intrigue combine to make a fast read. "
— Anthony, 1/20/2014 -
" Good historical fiction set in 3rd Century Britain. It is a story of love, betrayal and adventure set amidst the conflict between Romans and Celts along Hadrian's Wall, which was meant to separate the barbarians from the civilization of the time. "
— John, 1/18/2014 -
" I read this a while ago because I trust Julia Smith's recommendations! I thought it was a good historical fiction book too. I didn't even know about 'the wall' before this! "
— Jolene, 12/30/2013 -
" Nice writing, but too much romance. Also, eventually, the overomaticized ancient Celtic way of life got to me. Sorry. "
— Gigi, 12/28/2013 -
" Mystery, war, love and history...all happening 1,700 years ago. "
— Gary, 12/26/2013 -
" I enjoyed this book more and more as I read. The setting was very different than anything I had ever read and it was fun to learn about ancient Rome and Britannia I found the back and forth of the inquiry and then the actual events frustrating at first, but then fell into the rhythm. "
— Suzi, 12/9/2013 -
" Im a sucker for historical fiction... "
— Belfield, 11/6/2013 -
" Loved it, Dietrich's best work that I've read so far. The action was well plotted, the history was interesting, the description was adequate without being too dull, and there was so much going on that the reader is constantly uncertain of where loyalties lie. A really fun and captivating read. "
— Shiela, 10/2/2013 -
" I'm striking out here with a string of bad reading choices. This one is a period romance masquerading as a rollicking Roman military novel. Blech. "
— Don, 8/2/2013 -
" Not very interesting to me. Rushed through the last predictable part. "
— Jerome, 5/29/2013 -
" A bit slow, but the historical subject matter is fairly interesting. "
— Joe, 9/11/2012 -
" Meh. Not bad, but too romance-laden for my taste. I mean, I'm all for hunky barbarians with modern sensitivity to sexual equality and an amazing ability in the sack - I'm just not sure I believe in them historically. "
— Dale, 8/7/2012 -
" I got a little more than halfway through this book and realized I just don't care how it ends or what happens to its characters. It's not bad, just not gripping. "
— Megan, 11/8/2011 -
" Not very interesting - plods along at a pedestrian pace. All too predictable. Shame, because I've really enjoyed his writing in the past. Stay away from this one, though. "
— Mic, 10/30/2011 -
" The story is just so-so but I gave it a 4 because of the historical aspect of the Celts, which I found very interesting. "
— Betty, 10/9/2011
About Robert Draper
Robert Draper has been a national correspondent for GQ for the past decade, and prior to that was senior editor at Texas Monthly. He is the author of several books of nonfiction and lives in Washington, DC.
About Pete Bradbury
Pete Bradbury has appeared both on and off-Broadway and at many of the leading regional theaters across the country in plays ranging from Shakespeare and Molière to Edward Albee and David Mamet. He has also been seen on the CBS miniseries Sally Hemings. A former company member of the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, Bradbury received his training in their three-year advanced program. He lives in New York City with his family.