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Killing Mr. Watson Audiobook
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(3.03) - 631 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
When Peter Matthiessen was 17, he was told the story of Edgar J. Watson, a popular and successful planter who had been murdered by his neighbors in 1910. This novel is Matthiessen's attempt to piece together the life of a mysterious man who became a legend, and the dangerous legend that destroyed him. During the Reconstruction Era, Edgar Watson grew up in the South at the mercy of a brutal alcoholic father and a vindictive mother. Witnessing the horrors of slavery, bilked out of his inheritance, and blamed in his youth for a murder he didn't commit, E.J. developed a reputation for violence that preceded him everywhere he went. Finally, it brought him to a tragic and bloody end as his family watched in helpless horror. Borrowing an old local tale about a man who was killed by his neighbors, Matthiessen creates a powerful character. George Guidall's excellent reading brings this moving tragedy home to us with a passion.
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"I loved this book. Not only does the frontier of South Florida come alive, so do the "types" of people who lived there during the turn of the centry, people who are truly relegated to such a harsh climate. Watson's story is told by the people with whom he's interacted- their varying perspectives showing that the truth lies within each of us, as we all will wield our own stories about every person and every event."
— Lindsey (4 out of 5 stars)
Killing Mr. Watson Listener Reviews
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" I love the tales of old Florida... "
— Danielle, 2/16/2014 -
" This is a great read... part fact, part fiction... about life in the Keys in Florida, in the late 1800s. "
— Jitte, 1/26/2014 -
" Interesting tale about rough life in the Everglades early in the 20th century and some of the characters that defined the time "
— David, 1/26/2014 -
" I'd say zero stars but then you might think I never finished this piece of tripe. Just because someone has a pen and some paper and lots of time doesn't mean he can write. This was poorly written, poorly edited, and devoid of any true interest. I slogged through it our of determination but this is living proof that you don't need to buy a book because you saw it promoted at a half-ass museum in the Everglades. "
— Scott, 1/20/2014 -
" One of the best novels I've read in years. "
— Russell, 1/18/2014 -
" I had a hard time with this book. For historical content it was very good. Life in the Ten Thousand Islands of southwest Florida was very hard, like frontier hard. The author did a great job or research on the area. What I didn't like and had trouble with was the characters. I could look past the racism of the times, but the people themselves had no substance. "
— Jay, 1/7/2014 -
" First part of a trilogy "
— Faye, 12/27/2013 -
" Exciting to read about locations right here. But a lot of characters, so kind of confusing. Great, scary story. "
— Krista, 12/27/2013 -
" A mind-blowing study of the American psyche. "
— Nikolai, 11/24/2013 -
" Technically superb, though some of the voices tend to sound the same. "
— Taylor, 10/30/2013 -
" Excellent book! Takes place in the Florida everglades in 1910. A fictionalized telling of the death of Edgar Watson. Makes you feel like you are right there in the everglades back in 1910. It's told by several different characters but never Mr. watson himself. "
— Maria, 10/26/2013 -
" Brilliant. Scary. Smart. Heartbreaking. "
— Anne, 8/10/2013 -
" This is great book for people who like brilliant writing. "
— Tenderfoot, 7/14/2013 -
" This is a hard book. Don't get those who think Matthiessen is wonderful. It was intersting and the environmental aspects are good but was a hard read. Was not interested in reading other parts of the series. "
— Sherry, 3/12/2013 -
" The copy I had did not have a map, which would have helped greatly "
— Chris, 11/23/2012 -
" Killing Mister Watson by Peter Matthiessen (1990) "
— Steve, 7/31/2012 -
" I liked this book. It's a slow read because it is a nuanced picture of a man - good and evil - told in the vernacular of late 19th century "frontiersmen" in Florida. Also there are many characters and it gets a bit confusing. Writing is brilliant. "
— Cynthia, 6/3/2012 -
" A journey into the heart of darkness. "
— Ben, 6/3/2012 -
" I actually listened to this on CD in my car. Wasn't real impressed with it. "
— Theresa, 4/18/2012 -
" Anything by Peter Matthiesen is worth reading and this deep dark book will take you to world you know is real but a place you'll never go or want to. It may take a few pages to get to the rhythm of the prose but once you're hooked, you'll never forget it. "
— Kc, 2/28/2012 -
" I really liked this book but it's probably because I live in south Florida. It would be a tough book to get through if you don't have any interest in the region. "
— Jeff, 11/24/2011
About Peter Matthiessen
Peter Matthiessen (1927–2014) was the author of more than thirty books, including the New York Times bestseller The Snow Leopard. He was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters in 1974. He was cofounder of the Paris Review and won two National Book Awards, the 2000 Heinz Award in the Arts and Humanities, and the 2010 Spiros Vergos Prize for Freedom of Expression.
About the Narrators
Barbara Rosenblat, one of the most awarded narrators in the business, was selected by AudioFile magazine as one of the Golden Voices of the Twentieth Century. She has received the prestigious Audie Award multiple times and has earned more than fifty AudioFile Earphones Awards. She has also appeared in film, television, and theater, both in London’s West End and on Broadway.
George Guidall, winner of more than eighty AudioFile Earphones Awards, has won three of the prestigious Audie Award for Excellence in Audiobook Narration. In 2014 the Audio Publishers Association presented him with the Special Achievement Award for lifetime achievement/ During his thirty-year recording career he has recorded over 1,700 audiobooks, won multiple awards, been a mentor to many narrators, and shown by example the potential of fine storytelling. His forty-year acting career includes starring roles on Broadway, an Obie Award for best performance off Broadway, and frequent television appearances.
Mark Hammer has had long and distinguished career in the theater. After earning an undergraduate degree from Stanford University, he completed an MFA degree at Catholic University. For twenty-three years after that, he served on the drama faculty at that university and as co-chairman of its MFA acting program. For the last sixteen of those years, he was also a member of the resident acting company at Washington, DC’s Arena Stage. There, he had significant roles in both classic and contemporary dramas. He was twice nominated for the Helen Hayes Award for his performances in Cloud Nine and The Wild Duck. He has also appeared in several Broadway plays. Hammer was proud to be chosen to narrate the opening film of the permanent exhibit for the National Holocaust Museum.
Norman Dietz is a writer, voice-over artist, and audiobook narrator. He has won numerous Earphones Awards and was named one of the fifty “Best Voices of the Century” by AudioFile magazine. He and his late wife, Sandra, transformed an abandoned ice-cream parlor into a playhouse, which served “the world’s best hot fudge sundaes” before and after performances. The founder of Theatre in the Works, he lives in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.