Two reasons to listen with Audrey: an expert guide to classic literature

In today’s post, Sally is sharing two powerful ways that Audrey's expert audiobook guides have deepened her understanding of two beloved and timeless classic novels.

Earlier this year, I listened to Far From the Madding Crowd with a friend who had never read any of Thomas Hardy’s works. I first encountered Hardy in school with his short story, The Withered Arm, and later studied him in university. Listening to the audiobook, narrated by the incredible Jamie Parker, I was captivated by how he brought the characters to life. The fabulous audiobook guide, Tracy Hayes—a Hardy expert—enriched my experience by pointing out details I had completely overlooked in my previous readings. One standout moment was when she referred to a particular chapter as "possibly the most notorious chapter in the novel". Tracy goes into a fascinating literary analysis of the scene, especially focusing on Hardy’s use of eroticism, a detail I had missed every time I read the novel. Find out more about this in our post ‘Have you read the most erotic scene in Hardy?’

Tracy’s expert commentary gave me a whole new lens through which to understand the text, and it was a revelation. I wasn’t the only one—several other listeners in our audiobook book club on StoryGraph also commented on how this expert guide brought new depth to the story, making it even more enjoyable and thought-provoking.

Listening to Far from the Madding Crowd on Audrey

One of my all-time favourite novels is Great Expectations. It was my mum’s favourite too, and I met characters like Joe Gargery, Pip, and Miss Havisham early on in life. This time, I joined an Audrey listen-along to experience the novel in a whole new way.

Anton Lesser’s narration is simply stunning—he has a way with words that makes this classic novel come alive. The expert guide, Nat Reeve, adds a layer of richness to the audiobook with insightful commentary and some memorable, personal reflections on the novel. One of the most surprising moments for me was when Nat shared a link to a video about the reconstruction of a Victorian funeral. While it may not sound like the most cheerful subject, it gave me an entirely new understanding of Victorian culture and brought the setting of the novel into sharper focus. Read more about this in our post ‘Victorians stopped the clock when someone died.’

Illustration by Marie Muravski for the Audrey edition of Great Expectations

This kind of literary exploration is what makes Audrey audiobooks so special. It’s not just about listening to the novel; it’s about understanding the context, appreciating the historical setting, and discovering details you might otherwise miss.

If you're someone who loves to dive deep into the context of classic novels, discover hidden meanings, and explore the layers of a story that make it so timeless, Audrey audiobooks are the perfect way to enrich your reading experience. The guides help you understand the nuances of the text, offering insights and background information that make the story even more compelling.