Puck of Pook's Hill (Library Edition)

Product Description [This is the Audiobook CASSETTE Library Edition in vinyl case.] **Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award** Originally published in 1906, these ten stories and accompanying poems were intended for both adults and children. On Midsummer's Eve, Dan and Una enact A Midsummer Night's Dream three times over--right under Pook's Hill. That is how they meet Puck, ''the oldest Old Thing in England,'' and the last of the People of the Hills. Through Puck, they are introduced to the nearly forgotten pages of old England's history and to characters that can illuminate their own historical predicaments. The god Weland is freed from an unwanted heathen immortality by a novice monk, Hugh, who goes on to become a warrior and leader. The centurion, Parnesius, shows an insight that is absent from the higher echelons of the declining Roman Empire in cooperating with the Picts. Review ''The hidden history of Old England, lovingly written by Kipling for his own children, is coupled with a brilliant reading to make this one of the premier family listening events of the year. The story has everything listeners could want: enchantment, high adventure, battles, intrigue, all wrapped up in romantic poetic language . . . brought exquisitely to life by [Wanda McCaddon].'' -- AudioFile ''[Wanda McCaddon] . . . has the requisite British accent and very good judgment as to how to make the tales exciting yet believable.'' -- Wilson Library Bulletin About the Author RUDYARD KIPLING (1865-1936) was born in Bombay, India. At seventeen Kipling began work as a journalist and over the next seven years established an international reputation with his stories and verses of Indian and Army life, including such classics as The Jungle Book and Kim. In 1907, he became the first English writer to receive the Nobel Prize. From AudioFile The hidden history of Old England, lovingly written by Kipling for his own children, is coupled with a brilliant reading to make this one of the premier family listening events of the year. The story has everything listeners could want: enchantment, high adventure, battles, intrigue, all wrapped up in romantic poetic language. Through pitch and pacing alone, Nadia May conveys not only the distinct voices of the children, Dan and Una, but also those of the impish Puck and a host of characters who tell the story of those who lived near Pook's Hill. In true turn-of-the-century fashion, the book isn't the least bit politically correct, but Kipling's language fairly glows and, after all, how could he know about modern-day sensibilities? Allow yourself to succumb to the magical tale, awakened by Dan and Una on Midsummer's Eve and brought exquisitely to life by Nadia May. S.G. An AUDIOFILE Earphones Award winner (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine