Silas Marner

By: George Eliot

Narrated by: Anna Bentinck

Here is a tale straight from the fireside. We are compelled to follow the humble and mysterious figure of the linen weaver Silas Marner, on his journey from solitude and exile to the warmth and joy of family life. His path is a strange one; when he loses his hoard of hard-earned coins all seems to be lost, but in place of the golden guineas come the golden curls of a child - and from desolate misery comes triumphant joy.

Download the accompanying reference guide.Public Domain (P)2014 Naxos AudioBooks

Unforgettable classic

I’d never heard of this story- after listening to it, I can say from here on out I will consider it a favorite. I was a bit intimidated by some of the old language at first, but gradually adjusted to it, and am glad I didn’t abandon it for that reason. It’s a wonderful story and I highly recommend it!

Too busy to read Middlemarch?

George Eliot wrote Silas Marner a decade before she undertook Middlemarch. There are several themes in SM that are also used in Middlemarch - religious fanaticism, gambling problems, horse trading, village life. But SM is definitely easier to digest if you want a taste of George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans) without a huge commitment. I love her descriptions of friendship and family. She takes a deep dive into what family really means - is blood really thicker than water? I grew to love our hero in the story - Silas - in spite of his awkwardness and austistic tendencies.

With all the audio versions of Silas Marner to choose from, I would recommend this one for sure!

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves George Eliot and classic British literature, of course, but I would also recommend it to anyone who isn’t sure they will like Victorian literature, because the writing might be denser the subject matter might be up skipper. This book is neither! The writing is deeply moving and beautiful and highly observant, but it’s plenty accessible to a 20 for century reader, and the subject matter makes this book a page turner! I fell for Silas Marner himself right away… Such a special, dear and endearing character! And without giving anything away, the issues this book addresses are as relevant as they ever were. Even though Silas Marner isn’t a book for children per say, my little nine-year-old girl listen to it with me, and even if maybe she missed some of the grown-up points that went over her head, she love the story and related to it amazingly well – it is, after all, about an alternative Family, from a time when such things are virtually unheard of. And the near raider, With her clear voice and acute awareness of the characters feelings, Brings The story into living color from start to finish!

Better than anticipated

I chose to read this book to meet a reading challenge prompt and kind of expected a book I would just need to get through, but I was pleasantly surprised. I really enjoyed the story and appreciated how good was rewarded in the end and the bad performers got there due without a preachy tone.

Terrific narration of a classic novel.

This is a beautiful story with almost a fable-like quality to it. The possibilities of family, community, faith, industry, and class are explored here as well as the potential of love to transform and transcend them all. The journey from beginning to end is not only entertaining and thought-provoking, but heartwarming. Anna Bentinck's reading has a rich quality and draws you snugly into the tale and up to Silas' warm hearth.