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Memoirs of a Cavalier

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Memoirs of a Cavalier

By: Daniel Defoe
Narrated by: Sean Criseden
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About this listen

This work of historical fiction is set during the Thirty Years' War and the English Civil War. The full title upon original publication was as follows: Memoirs of a Cavalier; or A Military Journal of the Wars in Germany, and the Wars in England. From the Years 1632 to 1648. Written threescore years ago, by an English gentleman, who server first in the army of Gustavus Adolphus, the Glorious King of Sweden, till his death, and after that in the Royal Army of King Charles the First, from the beginning of the Rebellion to the end of the War.

Public Domain (P)2011 Audible, Inc. Classics War Royalty Witty England Civil War Middle Ages

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Editor reviews

This little-known historical drama by the author of Robinson Crusoe is set during the English civil war and told in first-person with attention to detail, describing the minutiae of the life of a 17th-century well-to-do British cavalier and soldier. Sean Criseden’s matter-of-fact performance gives this audiobook the feel of an actual cavalier's memoirs and not a work of fiction, which is exactly the stylistic device Defoe was attempting. An interesting mix of a coming-of-age tale and history lesson, this audiobook will be a pleasure for anyone interested in European royalty and its battles.

Critic reviews

"The pretended author, ‘Col. Andrew Newport’, a young English gentleman born in 1608, travels on the Continent, starting in 1630, goes to Vienna, and accompanies the army of the emperor, being present at the siege and sack of Magdeburg, which is vividly presented. He then joins the army of Gustavus Adolphus. After his return to England he joins the king's army, first against the Scots, then against the forces of Parliament." (The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature)
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There are currently very few Audible books as Fiction or Non Fiction covering ECW. This book was a great find.

It is a shame the book is read by an American rather than a more in character Englishman. Although he has a soft easy to listen to American accent, he mispronounces a number of British place names, such as Edinburgh, WaRwick, Derbyshire etc in way so many Americans do.

Great History of ECW

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The opening and closing music reminds me of the Hobbit.

Seriously though; I thought this was a very good book, I was a bit uncertain with the narrator being American (Not that I have anything against American Narrators, I just felt like an English Cavalier would suit an English narrator) but I quickly got used to him and really enjoyed this story of battles.
I had to continuously remind myself that this story is fiction.

Really quite good

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Throughout the audiobook, the narrator reads the pound sign (£) as 'lira'. A shocking error. Does he really think that was the currency of the UK at the time?
Also, the British place-names (which the book is full of) are mostly pronounced incorrectly and inconsistently.

A decent reader, but a number of crucial errors.

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