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This Thing Of Darkness

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This Thing Of Darkness

By: Harry Thompson
Narrated by: Colin Morgan
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About this listen

 Colin Morgan narrates the action-packed and gripping novel of Charles Darwin's voyage on the Beagle - longlisted for the Man Booker Prize.

'A masterpiece' Bernard Cornwell

'A master storyteller' Sunday Times

In 1831 Charles Darwin set off in HMS Beagle under the command of Captain Robert Fitzroy on a voyage that would change the world. This is the story of a deep friendship between two men, and the twin obsessions that tear them apart, leading one to triumph, and the other to disaster.

'An outstandingly good first novel. A[n]... action-adventure combined with subtle intellectual arguments. The meticulous research enriches this fascinating tale' Sunday Telegraph

(P) 2021 Headline Publishing Group Ltd©2005 Harry Thompson Action & Adventure Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Sea Adventures Fiction Biography Adventure Emotionally Gripping Heartfelt
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It's not an easy listen because of the themes involved. At times it's downright depressing. But it is really well-written. Colin Morgan's narration is amazing as usual.

5*

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I started listening to this book on slow motion, but only after a few minutes I started realizing how beautiful it was! I couldn’t explain myself how a narrator could change many voices as easily! I was amazed! Colin Morgan is not a narrator, he’s the narration itself! Outstanding talent!

The best narration possible!

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What a brilliant tale - based to some degree on historical fact (I don't know how much) it ranges across a number of years and a wide cast of characters - though at its centre there are a smaller group that we follow through their journeys - in particular one Robert FitzRoy. He was an admirable man - who did what he believed to be right - sometimes at some cost to himself. The story is exciting and involving and really brings home (to me at least) how amazingly hard life was on the sea during the 19th century (and, obviously, at many other times). The experience is only improved on by Colin Morgan who is an extremely captivating narrator - he brings a great story to life and I will seek out other books he has narrated.

I was surprised to discover that This Thing of Darkness was published in 2005 - I'd assumed much more recently - and saddened to find that it was Harry Thompson's debut and final novel, as he died soon after it was published. Very sad - because he was a very talented man who died far too young.

Fabulous

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Somewhere in between a historical naval journal and a Dostoevsky. I was enthralled by the story and the clear and near-perfect narration. There were a few mispronounced nautical words, but then even sailors get the odd one wrong. It took nothing away from what I found to be one of the best books of the era of colonialism under sail and the birth of Natural Selection. The collision of two such engaging and opposing characters in Fitzroy and Darwin makes for a wonderful tale. I highly recommend.

An epic read

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Beautifully performed narrative. Gripping storyline. Often deeply emotional and sad. I was enthralled by how differently our ancestors of less than 200 years saw the world and the debt of gratitude we owe for the work of discoveries which have so shaped the modern world. We all know roughly what Darwin achieved but Fitzroy was an extraordinary mind whose utter devotion to a biblical god was his downfall. Such detailed work by Harry Thompson! Thank you.

Real incite into the thinking of our not too distant relatives

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