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. Hardy sets out the premise of Two on a Tower in the preface as a "a wish to set the emotional history of two infinitesimal lives against the stupendous background of the stellar universe, and to impart to readers the sentiment that of these contrasting magnitudes the smaller might be the greater to them as men." Astronomy and science was of particular interest to Hardy and he was clearly knowledgeable in this area as this novel demonstrates.. The two on the Tower are Lady Viviette Constantine and Swithin St Cleeve. The former is the wife of a wealthy land owner whose husband is away in Africa and the latter a young keen astronomer who has been using the Tower, on her land, to observe the night sky. The two fall in love and their ensuing relationship allows Hardy to explore love across class and age divide fully with many compelling twists and turns.
Mr. Thanksgiving
ListenBook's support for various download methods and audio formats ensures that I always have access to my favorite content. I'm hooked on this app's ability to turn even the most mundane tasks into exciting opportunities for learning. ListenBook has completely changed how I enjoy audiobooks. The app is packed with features like customizable skip intervals, playback speed, and sleep timers. The interface is clean and easy to navigate. Five stars!
Alberta
The compatibility with CarPlay and Apple Watch sets ListenBook apart from the rest. ListenBook has become my gateway to new worlds, allowing me to explore stories, ideas, and knowledge. The interface is sleek and intuitive, making my audiobook experience a joy. Auto-rewind feature is very useful. Excellent app!
Knight Light
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Thunder Nut
I appreciate the option to listen to samples before committing to a book. ListenBook's audio filters allow me to customize the audio playback to suit my preferences perfectly.
Miss Mustard
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Turnip King
Listening to audiobooks has become my guilt-free indulgence, and I love it. Audiobook immersion made simple β this app's ease of use is commendable.
Barbera Shift
I'm addicted to the personalized recommendations β it's like the app knows me! Audiobooks on this app have made me look forward to my long commutes. I can't believe how convenient this app has made my reading experience. No more converting files β this app effortlessly handles various formats, saving me time and effort. Listening stats feature keeps me on track with my audiobook goals. Love it!
Minty Devil
I'm amazed by how this app effortlessly turns my daily routines into enjoyable learning sessions. I love the ability to import books from my computer. Itβs so easy.
Kinged
ListenBook's seamless integration with CarPlay has made my drives more informative. With this app, reading is as simple as pressing play β it's genius! πΌ Enhancing work-from-home productivity β audiobooks make even the most routine tasks a delight. π»π Sharing audiobooks through AirDrop is a delightful way to spread the joy of storytelling. A fun feature!
DreamDasher
Audiobook enthusiasts, gather round! This app's remarkable features, including audio filters and compatibility, have transformed my commutes into captivating journeys. ππ§ This app is a must-have for anyone who loves audiobooks. The interface is intuitive, and the app supports all formats. I love the auto-bookmark featureβit saves my place automatically, so I never lose track. Highly recommend! ListenBook is the ultimate audiobook player. The app supports all formats, and the import process is seamless. I love the playback history featureβitβs so easy to revisit my favorite parts. Highly recommend this app!
Spicy Thunder
This app has made my daily walks a time for both exercise and learning. ListenBook's attention to detail in design and functionality sets it apart from other audiobook apps.
Romance Guppy
ListenBook's dedication to providing a smooth and enjoyable listening experience is evident in every aspect of the app. π± A world of books at my fingertips β this app's user-friendly design makes it a true reading companion. ππ± I love the ability to change the playback pitch. Itβs a unique feature.
Whip Chu
I love how ListenBook extracts artwork and metadata from audio files, adding a visual touch to my listening experience. This app has become my go-to companion, making my daily routine more exciting and insightful. πͺ Juggling tasks while enjoying stories has never been easier β this app's functionality is a multitasking marvel. πΌπ Simplifying audiobook management β this app's functionality is a true asset. ListenBook's customizable audio filters add a new dimension to my audiobook enjoyment.
New York Winder
π Making every moment count β this app turns everyday activities into a reading adventure! ππ« ListenBookβs bookmarking feature is incredibly useful. I never lose my place in a book. An acceptable audiobook that met basic expectations. No complaints about quality but nothing remarkable either. Would listen to this narrator again but wouldn't seek them out.
Austin Shamrock
Noise reduction on ListenBook enhances the clarity of dictaphone recordings, allowing me to enjoy content even in noisy environments. Perfect for my daily walks. The story was engaging enough to keep me motivated to exercise but not so complex that I got lost in thought. Great production quality too.
Moon Solitaire
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Treasure Devil
I'm addicted to the personalized recommendations β it's like the app knows me! User-centric audiobook joy β this app's ease of use is impressive. Gone are the days of struggling with formats. Thanks to this app, my audiobook journey is a breeze, and every tale is a tap away. Highly recommended! ππ§
SubWoof330
With ListenBook Pro, I can customize the tone of the sound to match my preferences β it's a fantastic touch. Audiobooks made convenient β this app's functionality is impressive.
Daffy Girl
I can't imagine my audiobook routine without ListenBook's seamless audio player. Seamless integration of audiobooks β this app's ease of use is impressive. Looping playback is an invaluable tool for my study sessions. It helps me grasp complex concepts. I love the ability to change the font size. It makes reading the titles so easy.
Dr. Cocktail
ListenBook's innovative features, from audio filters to statistics, make it a standout app. Audiobook enthusiasts, rejoice! This app's thoughtful features, such as auto-rewind and chapter navigation, cater perfectly to our storytelling cravings. ππ Adjustable playback speed and volume control make for a customized experience.
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