Love Letters of Great Men Audiobook, by Ursula Doyle Play Audiobook Sample

Love Letters of Great Men Audiobook

Love Letters of Great Men Audiobook, by Ursula Doyle Play Audiobook Sample
FlexPass™ Price: $11.95
$9.95 for new members!
(Includes UNLIMITED podcast listening)
  • Love your audiobook or we'll exchange it
  • No credits to manage, just big savings
  • Unlimited podcast listening
Add to Cart
$9.95/m - cancel anytime - 
learn more
OR
Regular Price: $14.95 Add to Cart
Read By: Anton Lesser Publisher: Macmillan Audio Listen Time: at 1.0x Speed 2.17 hours at 1.5x Speed 1.63 hours at 2.0x Speed Release Date: November 2008 Format: Unabridged Audiobook ISBN: 9781427206718

Quick Stats About this Audiobook

Total Audiobook Chapters:

38

Longest Chapter Length:

11:53 minutes

Shortest Chapter Length:

02:02 minutes

Average Chapter Length:

05:17 minutes

Audiobooks by this Author:

1

Publisher Description

Remember the wonderfully romantic book of love letters that Carrie reads aloud to Big in the recent blockbuster film, Sex and the City? Fans raced to buy copies of their own, only to find out that the beautiful book didn't actually exist. However, since all of the letters referenced in the film did exist, we decided to publish this gorgeous keepsake ourselves. Love Letters of Great Men follows hot on the heels of the film and collects together some of history's most romantic letters from the private papers of Beethoven, Mark Twain, Mozart, and Lord Byron. For some of these great men, love is "a delicious poison" (William Congreve); for others, "a nice soft wife on a sofa with good fire, & books & music" (Charles Darwin). Love can scorch like the heat of the sun (Henry VIII), or penetrate the depths of one's heart like a cooling rain (Flaubert). Every shade of love is here, from the exquisite eloquence of Oscar Wilde and the simple devotion of Robert Browning, to the wonderfully modern misery of the Roman Pliny the Younger, losing himself in work to forget how much he misses his beloved wife, Calpurnia. Taken together, these letters show that perhaps men haven't changed all that much over the last 2,000 years--passion, jealousy, hope and longing still rule their hearts and minds. In an age of e-mail and texted "i luv u"s, this timeless and unique collection reminds us that nothing can compare to the simple joy of sitting down to read a letter from the one you love.

Download and start listening now!

"The letters in this book demonstrate true romance. This is not your Twilight triangle. These letters are sent by men to their lovers or wives. These people are separated by war or just distance in general and it's just beautiful to see how true love made its way through the envelope. "

— Lindsay (5 out of 5 stars)

Quotes

  • “Anton Lesser reads these extraordinary missives in his mellifluous, British-brushed voice...A perfect Valentine gift to give or get.

    — BookPage
  • Anton Lesser narrates with energy and sensitivity to the text, shifting his delivery to match the tone of each letter.... A great collection with a great narrator. Don't wait until Valentine's Day for this one!

    — AudioFile
  • Under the bright sun, lie back, shut your eyes, and listen to the lovesick likes of Beethoven, Keats, and Napoleon. Whether the missives are stoic or sweetly goofy, British stage actor Lesser gives them timeless resonance.

    — O, The Oprah Magazine, named one of four "terrific audiobooks

Awards

  • Among shortlisted titles for Audie Award Finalist, 2010

Love Letters of Great Men Listener Reviews

Overall Performance: 3.46153846153846 out of 53.46153846153846 out of 53.46153846153846 out of 53.46153846153846 out of 53.46153846153846 out of 5 (3.46)
5 Stars: 6
4 Stars: 7
3 Stars: 7
2 Stars: 5
1 Stars: 1
Narration: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Story: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Write a Review
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " I'm not quite sure what I had expected from this book when I picked it up on a whim. That's why, I think, I'm not really sure what I think of it. There were some of the letters that were immensely sweet and loving, and some that were hardly love letters at all. There were some letters that were truly written by great men and some that were just written by men. Funnily enough my favourite was actually one of the letters that wasn't a love letter; the letter written by Daniel Webster to Josephine Seaton. I found it quite endearing and heartfelt. So all in all it was a pleasant read but not a great one. "

    — Maja, 2/12/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Loved this collection of letters!!! Such good choices, put together so well! "

    — Ania, 2/9/2014
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " I enjoyed this book but couldn't rate it higher simply because I mean it is just a collection of love letters. Some made me laugh out loud. Some of the history was interesting. Some of the letters were a bit dry. "

    — Angela, 2/6/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Saw this book on Sex in the City movie and had to read it. Does not disappoint. "

    — Lynne, 1/9/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Because of this book I started to love Keats, so I owe it SOMETHING "

    — Marina, 12/22/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " What can I say, I'm a sap for romance! "

    — Aida, 12/19/2013
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5

    " Possibly the best thing about this were Mozart's 'almost obsessively scatological' jokes. "

    — Isabelle, 12/16/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Nice little bedtime reading.... "

    — Jo, 11/29/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " bought with a giftcard from bertrand "

    — Inês, 9/6/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " This book was cited in the Sex and the City, so I thought I'd give it a read. It's interesting how much more feeling comes across in letters something that our technology advanced world is missing. "

    — Deb, 7/27/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Very cute read for the summer or on the beach, I loved the collection. "

    — Jessie, 7/19/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Wonderful book and letters. So romantic! Love it! "

    — Monica, 1/15/2013
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " meh. skimmed it and tossed it aside. "

    — Claire, 11/14/2012
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " It's more entertaining than I thought it would be. However, I thought the book might have been better if some of the responses have been included. "

    — jen8998, 1/31/2012
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " I bought this as a Valentine's Day gift for my hubby. Has some interesting letters, and some unexpected ones. He likes it, and that's what counts. "

    — Kishanna, 9/3/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " It's amazing how in the past it was with the art of writing letters how people fell and stayed in love. "

    — Yessy619, 6/9/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Gostei bastante do livro, de conhecer as "lamechices" de alguns notáveis! Ainda me ri com algumas dela... "

    — TaniaM, 4/24/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " This book is definitely for keeps. This reminds me how powerful a love letter can be because it tells you who you are, raw and naked, or who you preferred to be. I definitely loved Beethoven's love letter to his Immortal Beloved. "Ever thine.. ever mine.. ever ours..." "

    — Carmela, 3/21/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " I wish there had been more. I couldn't stop smiling while reading it. "

    — Olivia, 3/20/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " So interesting to me to learn how people lived their lives in the 16,17,18th centuries. Very eloquent writing. Writing to one another was really all they had and they made it count! "

    — Trina, 2/21/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " An amazing collection of love letters penned by some of the most impressive men in history. Touching and insightful, the language of both ancient and modern times filled my romance perscription entirely. "

    — Helena, 2/7/2011
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " A bunch of real love letters which are not so lovely. "

    — Faizah, 10/11/2010
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " In my opinion these letters were okay. Don't think I would title this book "Love Letters of Great Men" "

    — Karen, 5/7/2010
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " I enjoyed this book but couldn't rate it higher simply because I mean it is just a collection of love letters. Some made me laugh out loud. Some of the history was interesting. Some of the letters were a bit dry. "

    — Angela, 5/3/2010
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " bought with a giftcard from bertrand "

    — Inês, 5/2/2010
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " It's amazing how in the past it was with the art of writing letters how people fell and stayed in love. "

    — Yessy619, 4/8/2010

About Anton Lesser

Anton Lesser has, as an associate artist with the Royal Shakespeare Company, played many of Shakespeare’s most demanding roles, including Troilus (Troilus and Cressida), Edgar (King Lear), Petruchio, Romeo, and Richard III. He is a frequent radio contributor and has recorded many audiobooks, including much of the work of Charles Dickens. Lesser’s narration has won him seven AudioFile Earphones Awards.