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Earthly Powers

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Earthly Powers

By: Anthony Burgess
Narrated by: Gordon Griffin
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About this listen

Kenneth Toomey is an eminent novelist of dubious talent; Don Carlo Campanati is a man of God, a shrewd manipulator who rises through the Vatican to become the architect of church revolution and a candidate for sainthood.

These two men are linked not only by family ties but by a common understanding of mankind's frailties. In this epic masterpiece, Anthony Burgess plumbs the depths of the essence of power and the lengths men will go for it.

©1980 Anthony Burgess (P)2014 Audible Studios Classics Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction

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Critic reviews

"Crowded, crammed, bursting with manic erudition, garlicky puns, omnilingual jokes... which meshes the real and personalised history of the twentieth century." (Martin Amis)
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I first read this novel some twenty years ago and loved it. It's a better version of Any Human Heart (and preceded it). Burgess had an extraordinary mind and it is very much on display in this book. I like the narration, but it is rather spoiled by technical issues. You can hear where the narrator has re-recorded sections (sometimes within a sentence). The technical side of the recording seems very unprofessional. I wish it could be recorded again, but properly this time.

A classic. Well read, but with recording issues.

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 I read this when it was first published. Loved it then, maybe more so now.

Wonderful capolavoro.

To start with I wasn’t keen, but once we got going it turned into a riveting yarn. So good to read a properly grown up book ably read by a serious narrator. Bravo,

Wonderful

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I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book, but it has proven to be one of the finest audiobooks that I have ever listened to - in both content and performance. I saw a couple of poor reviews and feel that these critiques are persnickety and do not give credit to the outstanding performance and pacing of the speaker. Absolutely fantastic.

Fantastic

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I read this book in the late 80s, I think, and it became one of my favourite books. I’m weaved historical events with a fictional life in literature. When I saw it available as an Audible title I eagerly purchased it. The reader captured perfectly my idea of the protagonists’ voices. I enjoyed every minute of this title. It is long, involved and thought-provoking but worth it.

Amazing story and performance

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This book has sat on my shelves unread for decades, until I succumbed to the Audible reading.

Many people will know the infamous opening sentence, which I was aware of beforehand. I wonder if Mr Bugess threw it in there to shock, drawing in some readers and putting off others.

The opening is set in the present day, while the story then relates matters chronologically of a small group of characters throughout the 20th century, It throws in real-life political and literary persons, which I imagine gave Mr Burgess great pleasure.

It must take great imagination to create such a work and it is testament to the author that you are sad to reach the end.

I thought the most brilliant sections dealt with both world wars and their aftermaths. The rest of it is "only" wonderful.

Wonderful and utterly brilliant in parts

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A classic writer who presents the fragility, capriciousness and beautiful complexities of human nature without inhibition. All our vulgarities and beauties are laid bare and with both humour and empathy the life of an imagined human is presented for our consideration.
It is hard to comprehend the controversial nature of Burgess’ writing now - clearly an author before his time: the bravest type of author there is.
The narrator is also a craftsman who is able to bring this piece of art to life.

Indefinable

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Sadly, the reader is appalling. If I had not read the book already and did not know how good it is I should have turned it off. Painful.

Poorly read

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Fine, thought provoking novel. Beautifully written and beautifully read. I totally disagree with the previous reviewer who castigates the narrator. To my ear he was clear, all words pronounced according to Received Pronunciation, except for dialect, and foreign words annunciated correctly: just perfect!

Fine work beautifully performed

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Horrendously dull. Badly paced. Nothing worthwhile happens in terms of events, exchanges, or internal monologue.

I love literary fiction. I love satire. I hate this book.

Utter Waffle

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