In this sequel to I, CLAUDIUS, Derek Jacobi continues his superb narration of the fictional autobiography of the fourth Roman emperor. Claudius is an unexpected emperor—he was considered a harmless stuttering idiot as a child, and he even held republican beliefs. As always, Jacobi's timing and tone are impeccable, and he expertly conveys both the violence and humor of Claudius's world. This is no dry historical novel—it's a tale of love, war, betrayal, death, and endless scheming. Claudius’s wife, Messalina, is run through with a sword after her extramarital affairs are exposed. (Then he marries his niece!) His best friend, Herod Agrippa, tells Claudius to trust no one—good advice, given that Herod is building his own empire. Jacobi adopts just the right lightness of tone to have listeners laughing out loud over Claudius's amusement at the miraculous stories of Jesus that are sweeping the country.
Pub Date: June 1, 2009
Duration: 5 hrs
Publisher: CSA Word
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
This audiobook is initially daunting. Sixteen hours long and constructed of subtle—at times, even confusing—shifts in point of view, it may feel overwhelming in the first hour. But sticking with George Newbern’s narration and Gilbert’s prose yields great rewards. Newbern’s performance is funny, thoughtful, heartrending, and utterly engrossing. When the famous, now aging, author A.N. Dyer calls his distant sons to his side, Newbern is provided ample characters to animate, and he does so with perfect pacing and what seems like an innate understanding of the novel. He creates a rhythm that makes the changing perspectives easy to follow and Gilbert’s details accessible. & SONS is a perfect example of how a skilled narrator can make a good book even better.
Pub Date: July 23, 2013
Duration: 16 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9780385359566
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Following multiple lives over six decades, this is a story of cultural shifts, the effects of racial prejudice, and family secrets. Joy Osmanski's narration is engaged and easy to listen to. There are times when her narration is uneven and character accents are inconsistent, but she moves the story along at an excellent pace. Will Damron capably narrates a few descriptive paragraphs at the beginning to set the scene. During the '50s, as bombs are explode in Nevada's deserts to entertain Las Vegas tourists, four sets of characters experience the destruction caused by prejudice and social upheaval in their lives. The author skillfully integrates the lives of vivid and realistic characters, bringing them to a satisfying and surprising denouement in the final chapters.
Pub Date: May 2, 2017
Duration: 11 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781508234715
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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