The Little Prince Audiobook
Written by: Antoine de Saint-Exupery
Narrated by: Humphrey Bower
Length: 2 hours
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date: 03-27-09
Publisher: Bolinda Publishing Pty LTD
Although I am a big fan of adult-oriented books, I do like to delve into more youthful materials from time to time. There is nothing better than stepping back into your youthfulness and reliving the books and tales, which made your childhood so amazing and memorable. This is one of the reasons that I decided to relive Antoine de Saint-Exupery’s The Little Prince in audiobook form. The magnificent little novel might be short and to the point, but it hits that point with a powerful impact and will stick with you for many years to come. The enchanting tale is undeniably charming and is a family-friendly adventure, which can be enjoyed by anyone, regardless of age.
I was very surprised and incredibly thrilled to find out that the book was now available in audiobook form. Once I found it, I knew I had to check it out right away. The audio book is narrated by Humphrey Bower and was originally released in 2009. So, does the audiobook live up to the quality of the original? Below, you’ll learn about my experience, so you can make that determination for yourself!
The Narration
In the past few years, the audiobook market has gained an immense amount of success. More and more performers have been able to focus entirely on the audiobook market, while still gaining popularity and immense profits. In fact, some narrators have been able to make a career out of audiobooks and Humphrey Bower has undoubtedly done just that! Bower has been in the industry for quite some time and he has worked on a massive number of audiobooks. He has worked on books, such as A Shorter History of Australia, The Story of Danny Dunn, The Man Who Knew Infinity, and The Power of One.
When comparing those massively lengthy novels to The Little Prince, there is truly no comparison. The Little Price is just 2 hours in duration, but Humphrey never rushes towards the finish line. Instead, he plows along at an enjoyable pace and gives the listener plenty of time to ingest the information and reflect, before he continues forward. The entire 2 hours is truly a blessing and passes by a little too quickly honestly. The time spent with Humphrey was very enjoyable and I would recommend experiencing it more than once. It is truly that good.
When exploring The Little Prince in its entirety, you will find that the book is truly dependent on its narrator. It has a few quirky characters, but the narrator remains the central figure and is the backbone of the story. He is responsible for pushing the pace and forcing the story along in the right direction. In the audiobook form, this responsibility falls directly in Humphrey Bower’s lap. The good news is that Humphrey is a truly professional and he handles the responsibility, without any difficulties whatsoever. He manages to keep the story flowing steadily, without ever slowing things down or forcing them to speed up unnecessarily.
Also, each of the characters is easily distinguishable. Bower puts a unique twist on each of them, so the listener has very little difficulty attempting to figure out precisely who is speaking at any given time. The unabridged audio is only 2 hours and that is truly a shame, but 2 hours for the story is truly perfect. During this period of time, I never once heard anything that could be classified as a blemish or flaw. Much like Humphrey’s performance, the audio is superb and truly immaculate.
All in all, I definitely enjoyed Humphrey’s audiobook performance and felt that it did enhance the story substantially. He helped to bring the characters to life, immerse me into the fantasy and pushed the pace at an enjoyable rate.
The Story
When speaking of classic tales with a bit of sleepy time excitement, one will immediately think of The Little Prince. Children around the globe have enjoyed this wonderful fable for many decades and never tire of it. Antoine de Saint-Exupery puts his master story telling skills to work in this fantastic tale about a destitute pilot with a huge imagination.
When the story opens up, the reader is immediately introduced to a narrator that admits to having the capability to altering other’s interpretation of specific events. The author does a fantastic job creating characters with personalities that are undeniably interesting. A pilot finds himself stranded in a barren desert, where he meets a little boy, who becomes known as the little prince.
The pilot works diligently to prove a point that he made earlier into the story. He does this by creating drawings of specific creatures, animals, and inanimate objects. The little prince and pilot form a personal friendship that just feels right. The prince takes his time telling his life story to the pilot, which revolved around the many adventures that he had taken throughout his lifetime.
It is hard to determine, whether or not the little prince with a figment of the pilot’s imagination, but you will need to read the book to find out an answer for yourself.
Overall
When it comes down to it, The Little Prince is definitely a timeless classic, which can be enjoyed by almost anyone. Whether you’re twelve or forty, this is a book, which cannot be ignored. The tale of The Little Prince is undoubtedly charming and will definitely bring on the waterworks, despite being short and somewhat whimsical. Once you’ve opened yourself up to the extraordinary tale and have begun experiencing the story, you will not be able to stop, until the very end.
Now, there are plenty of different ways to enjoy The Little Prince, but I found the audiobook to be a tad more special than the other alternatives. The source material has remained unchanged, so it still hits all of the right spots. However, the addition of Humphrey Bower definitely takes things to a whole new level. His delivery and pacing are right on the money. So, if you’re looking to experience The Little Prince for the first time or just want to relive the tale, you should definitely give the audiobook a listen.