Book description
Thomas Hardy (2nd June 1840 – 11th January 1928), celebrated poet and writer, was born in a modest thatched cottage near Dorchester in the West country, to a builder father. His mother came from a line of intelligent, lively and ambitious women so ensured her son had the best formal education available for their modest means although this ended when he was 16. He became a draughtsman specialising in the building of churches was able to give it up to be a full time writer and poet with the publication of Far From the Madding Crown which became a bestseller and like much of his work was serialised. His writing reflects his passionate beliefs for social reform and exposes the hypocrisy of the rules of the Victorian age which constrained many freedoms with convention and restricted the transcending of class boundaries. His novels are almost entirely set in rural Wessex which although fictional is clearly rooted in the SW counties of England where he was born and lived most of his life. Hardy’s writing caused controversy in his lifetime but despite this he was highly praised and showered with honorary doctorates from many universities, a knighthood, which he refused and in 1910 the prestigious Order of the Merit. Laodicean is a rarely used word these days and means luke warm or half hearted, coming from Revelations 3-16 where Christians from Laodicea were rebuked for their indifference to religion. Hardy had to remain in bed for much of the writing of this novel due to internal bleeding, so dictated it to his wife who was also his nurse. As in his life, central to the book is also a woman, Paula Power, who is caught between two worlds that of the old and familiar and that of the new and modern. Underlining this dilemma is her indecision between two suitors, Captain de Stancy who is a descendant of the owners of the castle she lives in representing the old and George Somerset a rising young architect from London. This same dilemma faced much of Victorian society as industrialisation was radically changing people’s lives and as always Hardy’s rich character study and stunning prose create a compelling atmosphere and a good read.
Cougar Fuzz
ListenBook's compatibility with CarPlay is a huge plus during long drives. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is a game-changer. It enhances the clarity of recordings and makes my listening sessions more enjoyable. I appreciate the dark mode option. It’s easy on the eyes during nighttime listening.
Saint La-Z-Boy
I can't believe how easily this app has fit into my daily routine. This app has brought back the joy of reading, no matter how busy I am. This audiobook exceeded all my expectations! The narrator's ability to convey emotion through voice alone was remarkable. I laughed, I gasped, I might have even teared up at points - all because of the incredible vocal performance. The story came alive in a way reading alone couldn't achieve.
Clover Rabbit
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Mauve Cactus
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CloudFrenzy
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Gold Bentley
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Lilac Lizard
Being able to adjust playback speed suits everyone's preferences – a thoughtful feature. 🌟 This app is a game-changer – its intuitive design and seamless functionality make listening to audiobooks a joy. 🎉🎧
Sherm
ListenBook's thoughtful inclusion of chapters, controls, and filters has enhanced my audiobook experience. Not bad, but not amazing either. The narrator’s voice was pleasant, though some parts felt a bit rushed. The story had its moments, but I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it over similar titles in the genre.
Vagabond Warrior
I love that I can download content directly from the internet within the ListenBook app – so handy! 🎧 Elevating my reading experience – this app's intuitive controls and organization features make audiobook enjoyment effortless. 📱📖 Audiobooks have never been this accessible and enjoyable. This app's compatibility with various formats and its emphasis on user experience have made it an essential tool for me. 📱🔊 ListenBook has become my workout buddy. It's seamlessly integrated with Apple Watch. The interface is sleek and modern. It’s a joy to use.
Irish Dze
ListenBook's seamless integration with CarPlay enhances my daily commute, making it a productive and enjoyable experience. ListenBook's compatibility with CarPlay and Apple Watch, combined with its chapters, controls, and filters, make it the ultimate audiobook app! ListenBook has brought stories back into my life, making every moment a new adventure. Seamless audiobook integration – this app's design is remarkable.
Cross Thread
The statistics feature is a fantastic addition – knowing how much time I spend on audiobooks is eye-opening, and ListenBook makes tracking it a breeze. Smooth playback and great sound quality. ListenBook is my new favorite app!
Twiddle Twix
Book Groups on ListenBook make it easy to categorize and access my audiobooks. ⏰ Starting my mornings with inspiration – audiobooks make waking up a joyous literary experience! ☀️🎧 I love the ability to import books from my computer. It’s so easy. The app is so well-designed. It’s clear the developers put a lot of thought into it. This app is perfect for anyone who loves audiobooks. The interface is sleek and modern, and the playback controls are super responsive. I also appreciate the cloud integration, which lets me access my books from anywhere. Great work!
Irish Dze
This app has made me appreciate the art of storytelling even more. The statistics tracking feature is eye-opening. I never realized how much time I spend on audiobooks until now! ListenBook has enriched my life with a world of captivating stories and knowledge. It's not just an app; it's a portal to endless possibilities. Automatic metadata retrieval adds a professional touch to my audiobook collection. Binaural audio processing reduces listening fatigue. Fantastic feature!
Sokol
ListenBook's support for CarPlay and Apple Watch integration has made my daily activities more seamless and convenient. Binaural audio processing is a game-changer – my ears stay comfortable during long listening sessions. Chapters make navigation a breeze. I can easily pick up where I left off.
The Beekeeper
I'm impressed by the app's compatibility with CarPlay. It keeps me entertained on long drives. The ability to download audio from various sources without syncing is fantastic. ListenBook makes it so easy.
Fl00d
Book Groups on ListenBook make it easy to categorize and access my audiobooks. This app's compatibility with different devices ensures that I can enjoy my audiobooks anywhere, anytime. 💡 Enriching my daily routines with wisdom and wonder – thank you, this app! 📱📖 Audiobooks made simple – this app's functionality is a breath of fresh air. The app's performance is top-notch. It's stable, responsive, and optimized for a seamless audiobook experience. Kudos to the developers!
StormCake
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McDreamy
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Hidden Tree
ListenBook's dedication to optimizing for iOS 16 ensures a seamless experience on the latest devices. ListenBook’s bookmarking feature is incredibly useful. I never lose my place in a book.
Granola Dove
My commutes to work have transformed into exciting journeys thanks to this app. I'm addicted to this app's curated playlists and recommendations – they're spot on. ListenBook's dedication to providing an exceptional listening experience shines through in every aspect of the app. Makes listening to audiobooks easy and enjoyable. Thank you, ListenBook! The interface is beautiful and functional. ListenBook is my go-to app for audiobooks.
Playing a wide variety of audio formats
Works on all devices with iOS 13 and newer
Huge amount of features for a small price
Frequent updates to add new features and improve existing ones
Advanced playback controls
Live sound processing
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice and noise reduction
Translated into more than 20 languages
If you love listening to fiction audiobooks, ListenBook has features to make the process easier.
Edit book data: title, author, cover
Use equalizer to make the sound comfortable for you
Adjust the playback speed
Enjoy dark and light app themes
Supported formats: MP3, M4B, AWB, FLAC, OGG audio files and many more (must be DRM free)
Auto-Bookmarks make it easy to find your place
AirPlay support allows redirection of audio output.
VoiceOver support
Dark mode for night owls
Convenient bookmarking system helps you mark the most important places.
Unlimited bookmarks for each audiobook
Put your own cover on the wager
Share your audiobook with friends
Lock-screen control
Customise app with extensive options
Sleep timer with shake to reset, set custom notification sounds, and a few unique options
Auto rewind depending on paused time, customize rewind times to your liking
Removing background noise from recordings made in classrooms and meetings
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice for a better listening experience