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The Devil and Tom Walker Audiobook
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(3.28) - 21 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Sinister early American satire from Washington Irving (April 3, 1783 – November 28, 1859) author of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Rip Van Winkle. The classic short story “The Devil and Tom Walker” is the dark and eerie tale of a foolish man’s greed, hypocrisy and ambition . Puritan writing at its finest. Tom is a debased man, miserly and cruel to his fellows, and even to his wife. The Devil, shows him a grove of rotting trees, representing souls. They make the customary deal, with Walker becoming one of the richest men around and Walker begins to work at keeping his soul, despite a lifetime of usury and the dark deal to which he agreed. If you're a fan of works like "The Scarlet Letter," this is just right for you. A definitely religious message, but with enough horror and fantasy to draw in even an atheist reader.
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"I can't believe I have never read this (or seen a movie that does it justice, or payed attention to the real tale). I started off reading this thinking it was a ghost story or scary etc. It's just a fun little tale. If you think you really know the story, maybe read it again. "
— D. (5 out of 5 stars)
The Devil and Tom Walker Listener Reviews
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" I was a bit disappointed in the book. There was very little story to it. It was all setting up the book. The movie was much more detailed. "
— Kara, 4/21/2011 -
" A wonderful little vignette. Very rich and clever. "
— Julia, 4/19/2011 -
" I enjoyed this more than Rip Van Winkle. I definitely wasn't cheering for Ichabod though. Is that mean? At any rate, I see why this story has survived so long and with such popularity. "
— Christie, 4/17/2011 -
" Ok. a lot shorted than expected. The film seems to be loosely based on the idea of the story rather than the story itself. A good quick read though "
— Tom, 4/17/2011 -
" Really short yes I know, but I'm still in my Halloween reading mode, so sue me. Not much to say except that it will always be my favorite American short story / folk tale. Made me watch the Disney cartoon when I was done :) <br/> <br/> "
— Misty, 4/11/2011 -
" Whaaaaat? This story was more focused on the "love" part than the actual headless horseman. Colour me disappointed! "
— Kajsa, 3/30/2011 -
" A very quick and interesting read. I enjoyed it, and we've heard of the Headless Horseman all our lives. This is where he comes from. Great for Halloween, and could be a fun page turner for families during the season. Makes you want to carve your pumpkins. Enjoy! "
— Carol, 3/26/2011 -
" Not much of anything really happens. "
— Sean, 3/20/2011 -
" I read this the other day because it was short and sitting there on my Kindle! This story has always freaked me out!!! But it was nice to read it as an adult, absorb all the descriptive language and be impressed with how well Disney did with the cartoon! Check this one off the list. "
— Diana, 3/17/2011
About Washington Irving
Washinton Irving (1783–1859), American essayist, novelist, and historian, was born in New York to a wealthy merchant. He studied law, but because of his delicate health, his family sent him on a tour of Europe, where he collected material later used in his stories and essays. The first American author to achieve international fame, his literary career served in many ways to consolidate the cultures of the United States and Europe.