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.
Irish Dze
The ListenBook app is a must-have for anyone who loves to learn and be entertained through audiobooks. ListenBook's commitment to providing a smooth and enjoyable listening experience is evident in every detail. If you love stories but have a busy schedule, this app is your solution! πΆββοΈπ Walking my way through exciting narratives β this app makes exercise more fun! ποΈπ§ Not bad, but not amazing either. The narratorβs voice was pleasant, though some parts felt a bit rushed. The story had its moments, but I wouldnβt necessarily recommend it over similar titles in the genre.
ChatterChampion
I'm hooked on this app's intuitive features β from chapters to playback controls. π Who needs a dull commute when you can embark on literary journeys with this app? ππ Configurable auto-rewind is genius. No more confusion when I pause and resume. Playback speed and volume controls are fantastic.
180
This app has introduced me to genres I never thought I'd enjoy β it's eye-opening. The app is perfect for long commutes. It keeps me entertained for hours.
Breadmaker
π©βπ³ Turning cooking sessions into culinary adventures, complete with intriguing tales! π³π§ πΆπ Replacing tunes with stories β my house is alive with the sound of narration! π§π I can't get over how smooth the playback is. Even high-quality files play flawlessly. I love the chapter navigation feature. ListenBook makes it easy to find specific sections. The app is so reliable. Iβve never had any issues with it.
Despair
ListenBook's versatile features have made my audiobook experience more enjoyable than ever. I can't get enough of this app's user-friendly interface β it's a true delight. π Farewell, boredom during ironing sessions β audiobooks make it a breeze! ππ§ Auto-rewind feature is extremely helpful. Great functionality.
Seattle Jay
I'm hooked on this app β it's like Netflix for book lovers! The ListenBook app is a fantastic companion for my long walks, helping me learn and explore at the same time. I'm thrilled that ListenBook offers both basic and advanced features to cater to all types of users. Changing the tone of the sound on ListenBook Pro is a fun and unique feature I can't get enough of. ListenBook has transformed my daily activities into opportunities for learning and enjoyment.
Chasm Face
Effortlessly exploring new worlds β this app's design is user-centric and efficient. I never thought I'd find an app that supports such a wide range of audiobook formats. ListenBook is a true gem! ListenBookβs design is sleek and modern. The app is a pleasure to use. I love the ability to change the playback pitch. Itβs a unique feature.
Ginger Chaos
This app's ease of use has made my long drives educational and enjoyable. Supports all my playlists and bookmarks. Very convenient. Supports all my playlists and bookmarks seamlessly. Very convenient.
Despair
This app is not just about convenience β it's a gateway to new horizons of knowledge. βοΈ Who knew cleaning could be this exciting? This app turns chores into adventures! π§Ήπ°
Bad Beret
This app is not just about convenience β it's a gateway to new horizons of knowledge. This app's compatibility with different file types means that my entire audiobook collection is at my fingertips. πΌ Making work hours fly by with captivating stories β a true work-life balance! π»π A masterclass in audiobook narration! The performer maintained perfect consistency in character voices throughout while keeping the main narration clear and engaging. The production was flawless - no weird edits or background noise. I'll be seeking out more works by this narrator.
Fadey
π Whether I'm cooking, commuting, or relaxing at home, this app's seamless functionality keeps me engaged in captivating narratives. π§β¨ The automatic extraction of artwork and metadata adds a professional touch to my audiobook library.
Duchess
ListenBook's audio filters and controls have revolutionized the way I enjoy my audio content. ListenBook has turned my audio content into an immersive, personalized, and unforgettable experience. I'm hooked on this app's ability to transform my ordinary moments into exciting opportunities for learning. ListenBook is a prime example of user-centered design. It's clear that the developers understand audiobook lovers' needs. The app is very easy to use. ListenBook makes managing my audiobook library simple.
Troublemasher
I'd love to see more classic titles, but the current selection is already fantastic. Effortlessly managing my audiobook collection β this app's functionality is a winner. Sharing audiobooks through AirDrop is a wonderful way to spread the joy of storytelling.
Lord Nikon
ListenBook's compatibility with CarPlay and Apple Watch, combined with its chapters, controls, and filters, make it the ultimate audiobook app! π Ironing has become a joy with audiobooks β wrinkles are no match for these captivating stories! ππ§ ListenBook is the ultimate audiobook player. The app is packed with features like customizable skip intervals, playback speed, and sleep timers. The interface is clean and easy to navigate, making it a joy to use. Five stars!
Orange Teflon
I can't believe how much I've learned and enjoyed through this app's audiobooks. I'm blown away by ListenBook's ability to play diverse formats flawlessly β it's a game-changer. This app's ease of use has made my downtime more enriching and enjoyable. Audiobook magic at my fingertips! This app's thoughtful features, such as statistics tracking and audio filters, have added a new layer of excitement to my reading journey. πβ¨
ThoughtTrailblazer
I'm constantly amazed by the variety of genres β there's something for everyone. Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is a creative way to share the love of literature.
Alley Frog
The app's customization options allow me to tailor the listening experience to my liking. The statistics feature in ListenBook provides valuable insights into my audiobook consumption habits. The interface is clean and intuitive. I was up and running in seconds.
ShadowDancer
Mood-based playlists help me choose books that suit my current state of mind. I'm blown away by how this app has made my workouts more enjoyable and my mind more active. π Rekindling my love for reading β this app has reintroduced me to the joy of books in a whole new way. ππ₯ Adjusting playback speed has revolutionized the way I consume audiobooks. I can cover more ground while maintaining comprehension.
Genghis Glyph
Changing the tone of the sound on ListenBook Pro adds a personalized touch to my audiobook experience. With ListenBook, downloading audiobooks has become hassle-free, thanks to the various download options. ListenBook Pro takes things up a notch with unlimited audiobook length. It's a game-changer! The customizable controls and playback options cater perfectly to different audiobook preferences. Navigating through chapters has never been easier. It's a user-friendly delight.
Serendipity
I've never been this excited about my daily commute β thank you, audiobooks! Audiobook multitasking made easy β this app's functionality is top-notch. The customer support is amazing. They responded to my query within hours.
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