The Moonstone
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The Moonstone
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Narrated by:
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Peter Jeffrey
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By:
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Wilkie Collins
About this listen
Exclusively from Audible
Considered the first full-length detective story in the English language, T.S. Eliot described The Moonstone as 'the first and greatest English detective novel'.
The stone of the title is an enormous yellow diamond plundered from an Indian shrine after the Siege of Seringapatam. Given to Miss Verinder on her 18th birthday, it mysteriously disappears that very night. Suspicion falls on three Indian jugglers who have been seen in the neighbourhood. Sergeant Cuff is assigned to the case and though it looks simple nothing can be taken for granted.
The story is recounted by several narrators including the bemused butler, the love-sick housemaid, the enigmatic detective Sergeant Cuff and the drug-addicted scientist, who in turn, speculate on the mystery.
This enthralling tale of romance, theft, and murder inspired the detective genre. In a sense, Collins wrote the rulebook on detective stories as many features of The Moonstone have become conventions in the literature of others.
Charles Dickens was a close friend and mentor of Collins, and the two collaborated together on drama and fiction. The Moonstone, as well as some of his other work, was first published in Dickens' journals.
Narrator Biography
Beginning his career on stage, Peter Jeffrey became a recognisable face on British television while enjoying thirty years with the Royal Shakespeare Company as well as working with all the other great British theatre companies. He was soon in demand for television character parts, playing roles in shows such as The Saint (1964-1965), The Avengers (1966-1968) and Doctor Who (1967 and 1978) as well as being involved in many BBC Radio 4 audio dramas such as The Pickwick Papers. Though a versatile actor, he was often cast in roles of authority such as Inspector Carter in Dixon of Dock Green (1966) but occasionally guest starred in comedy roles such as "Napper" Wainwright in Porridge (1975). He continued to act during his final years, with roles in the BBC adaptation of The Prince and the Pauper (1996), The Scarlet Pimpernel (1999) and Where the Heart Is (1999).
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What listeners say about The Moonstone
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Jenny
- 04-02-10
The original detective story brought to life
This is the first audiobook I've listened to for a long time. In the past I'd always found them inferior to "the real thing" but this one has totally changed my mind. Wonderfully narrated in a way that transmits the pace and energy of the story, this audiobook is excellent. I don't know whether books written in the Victorian era especially lend themselves to this format, I suspect that they do. I'm going to test my theory with some Dickens next!
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20 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Mirium
- 24-03-09
First-class
A first-class reading of an old favourite. The story rambles on a bit compared to modern detective fiction, but when it's writing as good as this, who cares? Peter Jeffrey's voices and accents are spot on.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Margaret
- 07-10-18
THE NARRATION BY PETER JEFFREY BEATS THEM ALL
After a few aborted attempts, finally settled down to this version by Peter Jeffrey, having returned the other multiple cast of narrators version. I prefer his voice, and now the Moonstone has been added to my top ten novels of 60 years of reading. I will now try The Woman in White narrated by Ian Holm.
The right reader is of paramount importance.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Kaila L. Pettigrove
- 16-12-20
Brilliant
WC's wit, sarcasm and storytelling are difficult to match. I'm not usually a reader of mysteries for their own sake...but this story and its characters captivated me. As usual... Peter Jeffrey's narration was impeccable. It's almost as though the story was written with his voice in mind.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- mrssharpe
- 10-09-16
The Moonstone
Excellent story wonderfully told by the late Peter Jeffrey. The book is certainly a classic, witty in places, tender in places, and at times the crime seems to take a back seat, and we are caught up in the universal story of people and their lives, and then the crime is dropped back in and the hunt resumes.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Kate Armes
- 11-03-24
Brilliant!
An amazing story beautifully told. Very long but it kept me gripped to the end.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Lesley Heggie
- 26-02-24
The Moonstone
Read this book about 30 years ago and enjoyed it. Thoroughly enjoyed hearing it again.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- De Wair
- 04-06-17
Fabulous and atmospheric.
The narrator is excellent and the story, while of its time, is still gripping and entertaining. The portrayals of characters through first person narratives is, at times, highly entertaining. Overall a thoroughly enjoyable listen.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- deathlizard
- 18-01-19
A true classic with a performance to match
One of my all time favourite books, Jeffery is perfect as all the narrators. He brings all the characters to life, his Betteridge is spot onf and his Miss Clack brings all the humour of the second narrative to the fore. I knew the ending and still found the "reveal" a jaw dropping moment. A wonderful book, and a great example of how an audio book can bring something new to the text.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- rebecca
- 14-08-18
moonstruck
can't believe I left it so long to listen to this. loved it and found it a humourus and intriguing tale.
the amourus looks of Rachel at the end make me feel a bit queezy tho!
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