The Swiss Family Robinson

By: Johann David Wyss

Narrated by: James Conlan

The Swiss Family Robinson has delighted generations of readers with its exciting tale of a family which, though shipwrecked, displays “the right stuff” and builds a charming colony that later, they do not want to leave. Cut off from the comforts and companionship of other humans, they use a familiarity with natural history and biology to find the resources and build the tools to construct a canoe, weave cloth, irrigate a garden, and turn an immense hollow tree into a lofty house with a spiral staircase. They domesticate buffaloes, wild asses, and monkeys, establish farms and plantations, and finally, have a terrifying encounter with natives from a nearby island.

Public Domain (P)2011 Cherry Hill Publishing

Uplifting, informative and compelling

Honest presentation of the book. Lots of family love and faith. Compelling problems and answers to prayer. Great book

Preach, kill something, lecture, kill something...

Any additional comments?

I remember loving this book as a child, but I now suspect that the book I read back then was a greatly abbreviated version that left a lot out. The father spends all of his time preaching at and reprimanding his kids, the kids spend all their time killing every bird and animal in sight, and the mother's just a background character put there to worry and cook. I gave up halfway through the book because I just couldn't bear to hear yet another sermon or another description of a creature's death.

This book is not unabriged!

What disappointed you about The Swiss Family Robinson?

This audio book claimed to be unabridged but whole sections were left out, names changed, etc. This was not what I was expecting when I bought it.

Has The Swiss Family Robinson turned you off from other books in this genre?

I still love classic literature but I will be more careful in the future to make sure what I pay for is truly unabridged.

What didn’t you like about James Conlan’s performance?

The narrator was monotone and pompous sounding. He made this book sound boring and the characters arrogant.

Any additional comments?

I wish I could return this book. I will not ever listen to it.