The 42nd Parallel

De: John Dos Passos

Narrado por: David Drummond

This first entry in John Dos Passos's celebrated U.S.A. trilogy paints a grand picture of the United States at the dawn of the twentieth century.

©2010 John Passos (P)2010 Tantor Media

Perfect Narrator for this book!

This book is a great American classis and an essential read. Thank you Narrator for doing an impeccable job in bringing the stories and characters to life. I am definitely moving on to 1919 and happy that David Drummond narrates that one too.

I loved the history embedded in good stories

This is my second time through so that I can now continue and finally finish the series. It’s a beautiful piece of literature.

A Diego Rivera painting in written form

Where does The 42nd Parallel rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Completely unique. The techniques utilized to fine effect by Dos Passos create a surprisingly modern and cinematic feel, especially considering these books were written 80 years ago! In particular, Dos Passos encapsulates visual and audible elements into his prose. The audible parts of the writing, especially newspaper headlines, radio messages, and popular songs, make this a wonderful choice for a book to be listened to as opposed to being read. It is a gift that narrator David Drummond rises brilliantly to the occasion (God this would be a terrifying book to consider reading - and singing - aloud). All this and the 42nd Parallel happens to be one of the most famous books of the 20th Century.... I have read of Ernest Hemingway's respect for Dos Passos. Since that was an exceedingly small camp, as Hemingway seemed to actively hate most writers, I had looked forward to listening to my first Dos Passos novel. I was not disappointed. Throughout the 42nd Parallel, I heard echos of Hemingway dialog and situations. Other writers and artists also. Joyce in particular. And painters. One might do worse than characterizing this novel as a Diego Rivera painting written in prose.

The other side of WWI and more

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, but after that friend had read the triogy. It's easier to let the long stories unwind after you have the basics down about the character arcs and the vast plotline the trilogy takes in over so many years

What was one of the most memorable moments of The 42nd Parallel?

Mac's initiation on the road with a traveling salesman in Wisconsin unfolds wonderfully, I wish Dos Passos kept the lighter tone for more of his characters to come in the trilogy; it would have helped.

Have you listened to any of David Drummond’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I liked his reading of the whole USA trilogy. It is part of a whole, and Drummond keeps it flowing,

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

No, I liked it. Dos Passos brought a detached presence to much of his prose, and it shows. It does distance a reader or listener from the events, on the other hand. Drummond does his best to engage you, but it can be difficult as the relentless fates channeled by the trilogy continue on.

Any additional comments?

Probably more valuable, like Sinclair Lewis, for the life of Americans after WWI as recorded, than for the actual stories. Almost a century after the events, it still speaks for the hopes of the little men and women and how they are crushed or warped or abandoned in the rush for survival and wealth

An American classic.

No doubt, I difficult work to narrate but this is very well done, thank you for preserving this American classic!