The Napoleon of Notting Hill

By: G. K. Chesterton

Narrated by: Frederick Davidson

In 1904, Great Britain was at the height of its prosperity; but G. K. Chesterton saw the drudgery of capitalism and bureaucracy eating away at the eccentricity and spontaneity of the human spirit. In The Napoleon of Notting Hill, his first novel, Chesterton creates a witty satire of staid government, set in a London of the future. Auberon Quinn, a common clerk who looks like a cross between a baby and an owl and is often seen standing on his head, is one day told that he has been randomly selected to be His Majesty the King. He decides to turn London into a medieval carnival for his own amusement - with delightful results.

Public Domain (P)1988 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Pretty good

It was a fun story, full of interesting ideas and lovable characters. It got a little philosophical, but overall it is just a good story. Also the narrator was great.

Interesting

To say the least. A tangled web and definitely a piece of the times. GK has quite the way with words and spinning of tales. Who or what are the two different sides in this tale? An allegory for life or maybe mankind or something else? What you make of it is what it probably is.

The Napoleon of Notting Hill

It has been hard to follow the story and difficult to keep track of the characters

Nobody does it better.

Makes me feel sad for the rest.
Nobody does it half as good as you.
Baby, you’re the best!

Well written

Is very well written but not that interesting unless you happen to live in London.