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| The Sun Also Rises | 
| Author: Ernest Hemingway
Creator: William Hurt
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Category: Book
List Price: $34.95
Buy New: $19.84
You Save: $15.11 (43%)
New (22) from $19.84
Avg. Customer Rating:  5 reviews
Sales Rank: 359242
Format: Audiobook, Unabridged
Media: Audio CD
Edition: Unabridged
Number Of Items: 7
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.5
Dimensions (in): 6 x 5.2 x 1.1
ISBN: 0743564413
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.52
EAN: 9780743564410
ASIN: 0743564413
Publication Date: October 17, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: Brand new Item. CD, DVD, Book, VHS more than 400 000 titles to choose from. ALL days Low Price !
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Product Description
THE QUINTESSENTIAL NARRATIVE OF THE LOST GENERATION The Sun Also Rises is one of Ernest Hemingway's masterpieces and a classic example of his spare but powerful style. A poignant look at the disillusionment and angst of the post-World War I generation, the story introduces two of Hemingway's most unforgettable characters: Jake Barnes and Lady Brett Ashley. Follow the flamboyant Brett and the hapless Jake as they journey from the wild nightlife of 1920s Paris to the brutal bullfighting rings of Spain with a motley group of expatriates. It is an age of moral bankruptcy, spiritual dissolution, unrealized love and vanishing illusions. First published in 1926, The Sun Also Rises helped to establish Hemingway as one of the greatest writers of the twentieth century.
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| Customer Reviews:
 Deduct One Star for Uneven Job by Hurt May 22, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
This is one of the great books of the Twentieth Century, but the at times disappointing reading by Hurt causes me to deduct one star.
Hurt is too intrusive as a reader. He hams up the part of Michael Campbell with a thick and drunken Scottish accent. His reading makes a likeable character like Jake's buddy Bill seem like an oaf. His impression of Lady Ashley leaves one wondering why Jake or anyone else would even bother with her. Actors, of course, are supposed to interpret the work, but a lighter hand is necessary when reading a book as opposed to acting out a play. Moreover, Hurt's interpretation is unjustifiably negative. Yes, Hemingway is writing about the post-World-War-I "Lost Generation" and, yes, Jake hangs with a bunch of alcoholic wretches, but Hurt's interpretation is a bit too cartoon-like. There is more subtlety to these characters than Hurt is willing to acknowledge.
As for Hemingway's book, it's worth reading and re-reading. And this audiobook has allowed me to re-read the book easily at a later stage in life. In some ways the book does not age well. Robert Cohn is a central character, and the rank anti-semitism of the author as well as his characters is inexcusable. Cohn's "Jewishness" is totally gratuitous. Hemingway could have sketched this character without this cheap and mean-spirited use of the easy prejudices that so pervaded his time. Yes, we have to give Hemingway some slack and not judge him by modern standards; but not everyone was an anti-semite back then and a better man would have overcome this social prejudice.
On the other hand, the book is extraordinary for the muscularity of its prose. The story is told largely through dialogue and spare descriptions. It is a riveting style that draws the reader into the book and requires the reader to make many of the essential judgments about the various characters.
I can't agree with those reviewers who are left unmoved by the story. The story is quite interesting and fast moving. And it touches on the elemental themes of how to define a moral code in a lost world. Also striking is Hemingway's struggle with how to define masculinity in such a world. Jake seems to strike the best balance between assertiveness and empathy, but lacks the physical abilities. Cohn has the physical gifts but none of the emotional ones. The other characters seem to suffer from various self-destructive impulses, which seems to be a common outlet for the the masculine impulse. Perhaps the best masculine role model is the bullfighter, Romero, but there are hints that even he is prone to corruption and self-destructiveness.
I recommend the book, but see if there is an older, better reading somewhere.
 A classic author March 19, 2008
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
The review of this book should be one of great raving and wonderful words. Hemingway is a classic writer and revered by many and has earned his place in the literary world. For me, this book is very dry and drawn out. It is slow moving and the point of the story is hard to decipher.
Jake Barnes is a writer and Lady Brett Ashley is wealthy and goes through her life drinking and with no purpose. The story describes their relationship and lives. The story did not hold my attention and was not one that caused me to stay up all night to finish reading.
William Hurt is a good actor but as a reader his inflection did not work for me. I had a difficult time telling which character was which by voice alone.
All in all, I am more interested in writers of mystery, crime and science fiction than I am in a classic author.
 Brilliant reading by William Hurt December 8, 2007
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
William Hurt's narration is paced and struck me as unusual at first, but it's perfect for the material, and at the end I was so engrossed I had to immediately re-listen to the book. It's a brilliant reading of classic Hemingway.
Listening to this "Hurt" me! November 8, 2007
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
William Hurt cannot read. At all. The cadence, inflection, and emotion of Hurt's reading are inappropriate in almost every circumstance, and the accents he attempts are laughable. I pity the first-time audio listener who might mistakenly pick up this lamentable reading and be turned off audiobooks altogether. There should be a warning label, "Danger, listening to William Hurt's reading of "The Sun Also Rises" is known to nauseate expectant listeners".
On the brighter side, I have listened to many other wonderful readings of Hemingway's works including "True at First Light" read by Brian Dennehy and "A Farewell to Arms" read by John Slattery. Do yourself a favor and listen to a different reader.
I Have Heard Every Reading February 9, 2007
3 out of 5 found this review helpful
All other published readings pale in comparison to this one. After careful listening, I believe that what Charlton Heston did as Santiago in "The Old Man and the Sea", William Hurt has done as Jake Barnes. Bravo!
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