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. The relationship between man and trees is a recurrent theme in Hardy’s work and here in The Woodlanders it is explored in depth with the characters being fellow inhabitants with the trees and their struggles interconnected with the trees. Set in the familiar Dorset landscape this novel follows the fortunes of Giles Winterbourne, a good hearted native of the area who works as a yeoman. His childhood sweetheart Grace Melbury has been away to private school and stayed on as a governess. On her return Giles’ love for her is challenged by rival, Edred Fitzpierrs, a young and dashing doctor who wins her hand in marriage. This match is an unhappy one and affects the woodland community in this extraordinary novel.
Mad Robin
The sleek design and easy navigation are visually pleasing and user-friendly. ListenBook's support for multiple download methods ensures I can always access my favorite content. This app has become my go-to for audiobooks, adding a layer of convenience and enjoyment to my days.
Opulent Gamer
Audiobooks have turned road trips into unforgettable journeys of imagination. This audiobook app is an absolute lifesaver! It brings my favorite stories to life with unparalleled convenience. With this app, I've rediscovered the joy of literature during my daily walks – it's truly invigorating. An average audiobook experience. Nothing was wrong with it—the narration was fine, and the story was okay—but nothing particularly stood out. It served its purpose as entertainment during my commute. The narrator was good but spoke a bit too slowly for my taste. I had to speed it up to 1.2x which then made some parts sound slightly unnatural.
Mr. Wholesome
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Santa's Little Helper
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Mr. 44
This app is a must-have for any book lover on the go – it's my daily companion. The app's compatibility with CarPlay has made my road trips so much more enjoyable.
Sleek Assassin
🎶📚 Enriching my environment with the power of storytelling – audiobooks infuse my home with literary magic. 🎧🏠 Audiobook enjoyment has become an integral part of my routine, thanks to this app's seamless integration and user-friendly design. A must-have! 📖📱 Adjustable playback speed and volume control are top-notch.
Grave Scuttlebutt
I've started a book club with my friends, and this app has been our go-to source for titles. ListenBook has made me fall in love with audiobooks all over again – it's a must-have app. Audiobook multitasking made easy – this app's functionality is top-notch. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is a blessing for clear dictaphone recordings. Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is a fun way to connect over shared interests.
Tootsie Killer
I'm amazed at how this app has made my daily activities more enjoyable and intellectually stimulating. This app is my secret weapon for learning while I'm on the move. I love the auto-bookmark feature. It saves my place automatically.
Neophyte Believer
Binaural audio processing is a game-changer – my ears stay comfortable during long listening sessions. I love the chapter navigation feature. ListenBook makes it easy to find specific sections. Incredible character voices! Each person felt distinct without being over-the-top. The emotional scenes gave me chills with how well they were delivered.
Chip Queen
ListenBook's commitment to providing a smooth and enjoyable listening experience is evident in every detail. 📱 A world of books at my fingertips – this app's user-friendly design makes it a true reading companion. 📚📱 This audiobook was a fantastic listen! The narrator's voice was clear and engaging, making it easy to follow along. The pacing was just right—not too fast, not too slow. Perfect for long commutes or relaxing at home. Highly recommend! Solid performance, but not outstanding. The narrator did a fine job, though their tone was a bit monotonous at times. The story itself was engaging enough, but I wouldn’t call it unforgettable.
VisionVoyager
ListenBook's beautiful layout and quick access to chapters make navigation effortless. This app's convenience has made reading a priority in my busy schedule.
Tomcat
Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop and Sharing on ListenBook Pro is a fantastic way to spread the joy. Binaural audio processing really helps reduce listening fatigue. Great feature! ListenBook’s playback is silky-smooth. The app never glitches.
QuestQuill
ListenBook is my daily companion, turning mundane tasks into exciting audio adventures. ListenBook's audio filters and controls have turned my listening into a personalized experience. The app is so intuitive. I didn’t even need to read the instructions. ListenBook is the best audiobook player I’ve ever used. The app is reliable, fast, and packed with features like customizable themes and playback speed. The sleep timer is a lifesaver for bedtime listening. Great job, developers!
VisionVoyager
ListenBook's sleek design and easy chapter access make navigation a breeze. Shuffle playback is a fun feature. It keeps me engaged with my audiobooks.
Icy Avenger
ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature has made my dictaphone recordings much more comfortable to listen to. With this app, every moment is an opportunity to dive into a new story. ListenBook is the best audiobook player I’ve ever used. 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!
Sky
ListenBook is a game-changer – it plays a wide variety of formats without any conversion needed. 🎧 Audiobooks anywhere, anytime – this app's convenience is unbeatable! 🌟📚 Audiobook heaven! This app has revolutionized the way I enjoy stories. Its sleek design and seamless functionality make it a must-have for book lovers. 📚🎧 ListenBook's sharing options make it easy to spread the joy of captivating stories with friends.
Sky Bully
Listening to audiobooks while cooking has made meal prep much more enjoyable. I can't imagine my daily rituals without this app – it's a constant source of joy. The app's support for CarPlay and Apple Watch makes it a true companion for all occasions. I love the ability to change the playback pitch. It’s a unique feature.
California Goddess
I'm rediscovering my love for literature through this app – it's revitalizing. I'm hooked on this app's effortless downloading process – I can have my favorite audiobooks in seconds. Effortlessly managing my audiobook library – this app's design is a triumph. My daily workouts are more enjoyable now, thanks to seamless integration with Apple Watch. I love how ListenBook makes it easy to organize my audiobook library. The app supports all formats, and the import process is a breeze. The playback controls are responsive, and the sound quality is excellent. Highly recommend!
ButterQuest
I'm amazed at how this app has turned my errands into exciting reading sessions. ListenBook's sharing options make it easy to introduce others to the joys of audiobook storytelling. As someone who struggles to focus on audiobooks, this kept my attention the whole way through. The narrator's clear diction and expressive delivery were perfect.
WittyWordsmith
I used to struggle to find time for books – now, I listen while doing chores! Effortless audiobook management – this app's usability is a winner. This app is like a personal audiobook concierge! The ability to download and organize audio files effortlessly is a game-changer for my reading routine. 📱📖 The playback speed adjustment is a game-changer for busy individuals. Time saver! Solid performance overall though some character voices sounded too similar. I occasionally got confused about who was speaking in dialogue-heavy scenes.
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