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LibriVox recording of The Faerie Queene by Edmund Spenser.
Read in English by Thomas A. Copeland
Spenser planned a 24-book romance-epic consisting of two parts, of which he completed half of the first. The first twelve books were to illustrate the development of virtues within the individual soul, and the second twelve were to depict the application of these moral virtues to remedying evils that afflict the world. Each of the first set of quests was to begin at the court of the Fairy Queen, Gloriana, and the knights were to return thither after having defeated some foe representing a personal weakness. Having thus proved themselves, they were qualified to undertake the second quests, in the world. The neat plan becomes somewhat muddled by Book 3, which nevertheless contains the philosophical core of the poem's allegorical structure: the Platonic notion that love (grace) unifies the cosmos and draws the will, through the pursuit of beauty, into virtuous action, returning to God at last in worship. The plot structure of the poem is rich and complex, with many strands interlinked and overlapping, each replete with allegorical significance. (Summary by Thomas Copeland)
For further information, including links to online text, reader information, RSS feeds, CD cover or other formats (if available), please go to the LibriVox catalog page for this recording.
For more free audio books or to become a volunteer reader, visit LibriVox.org.
Download M4B 00-13 (173MB) Download M4B 14-27 (180MB) Download M4B 28-41 (173MB) Download M4B 42-57 (178MB) Download M4B 58-74 (183MB)
Read in English by Thomas A. Copeland
Spenser planned a 24-book romance-epic consisting of two parts, of which he completed half of the first. The first twelve books were to illustrate the development of virtues within the individual soul, and the second twelve were to depict the application of these moral virtues to remedying evils that afflict the world. Each of the first set of quests was to begin at the court of the Fairy Queen, Gloriana, and the knights were to return thither after having defeated some foe representing a personal weakness. Having thus proved themselves, they were qualified to undertake the second quests, in the world. The neat plan becomes somewhat muddled by Book 3, which nevertheless contains the philosophical core of the poem's allegorical structure: the Platonic notion that love (grace) unifies the cosmos and draws the will, through the pursuit of beauty, into virtuous action, returning to God at last in worship. The plot structure of the poem is rich and complex, with many strands interlinked and overlapping, each replete with allegorical significance. (Summary by Thomas Copeland)
For further information, including links to online text, reader information, RSS feeds, CD cover or other formats (if available), please go to the LibriVox catalog page for this recording.
For more free audio books or to become a volunteer reader, visit LibriVox.org.
Download M4B 00-13 (173MB) Download M4B 14-27 (180MB) Download M4B 28-41 (173MB) Download M4B 42-57 (178MB) Download M4B 58-74 (183MB)
Reviews
Reviewer:
Runcible
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February 2, 2014
Subject: Superlative!
Subject: Superlative!
I must add my appreciation for this terrific recording. The reader is outstanding and the Faerie Queen is difficult to read because of its old style spellings and word syntax. Thomas Copeland captures the nuances and the meaning behind the words. Simply great!
Reviewer:
Harumphrey
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January 31, 2014
Subject: An irresistible performance of Spenser's epic romance
Subject: An irresistible performance of Spenser's epic romance
What an endless work he had in hand, but Thomas Copeland has given us a masterful and complete audiobook that supersedes all others. The audio production values might be better at Audible or Downpour, but no one is apt to give a better oral performance of "The Faerie Queene," ever. (And, listeners, don't miss his readings of the Italian epics that influenced Spenser: "Orlando Furioso" and "Jerusalem Delivered," in the classic Elizabethan translations by Sir John Harington and Edward Fairfax.)
Reviewer:
poet-taster
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January 20, 2014
Subject: Epic achievement
Subject: Epic achievement
I'm only a short way into this Renaissance masterpiece, but I feel I have to say a huge thankyou to Thomas Copeland for the incredible feat of recording this work in its entirety. His immense stamina and of course his wide knowledge of the literature of this period are quite staggering.
