Buddenbrooks

The Decline of a Family

By: Thomas Mann

Narrated by: David Rintoul

First published in 1900, when Thomas Mann was 25, Buddenbrooks is a minutely imagined chronicle of four generations of a North German mercantile family - a work so true to life that it scandalized the author's former neighbours in his native Lübeck.

As he charts the Buddenbrooks' decline from prosperity to bankruptcy, from moral and psychic soundness to sickly piety, artistic decadence and madness, Mann ushers the reader into a world of rich vitality, pieced together from births and funerals, weddings and divorces, recipes, gossip and earthy humour. It is perhaps the first great family saga of modern literature, and it brought to public notice a writer of world stature who, three decades later, was to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. David Rintoul gives one of his finest performances in this committed and deeply moving reading.

©1993 Alfred A Knopf (P)2016 Ukemi Productions Ltd

Brilliant performance by David Rintoul

David Rintoul gives one of the best performances I have ever heard. This was a cinematic, character driven, visceral novel, with all the tension and drama of Tolstoy, the narrative vividness of Dostoevsky, and even the pleasant small town and familial relationships of Trollope. Despite the drama, set backs of the Buddenbrooks over the years, I became emotionally invested in their lives and it is David Rintoul who enriched my appreciation of this wonderful, meaningful novel.

One of the greatest works of European literature

Amazing how this novel is still resonant today. Thomas Mann’s writing still amuses and illuminates. David Rintoul’s reading is mainly good except when he renders minor chartered with cockney accents and Scottish brogues.

Dry and witty

I understand this was Mann’s first novel, yet he already had a subtle and sophisticated narrative voice. His dry wit is a pleasure throughout the story. I was smiling at least inwardly most of the time when reading it. The translation and narration are also exceptional. I often listen to novels at a 1.2 or 1.5 speed, but I enjoyed the narration so much I left it at 1.0 for the entirety of this longish novel.

Superb novel--beautifully read!

One of the world's great novels: full of deep philosophy, warm comedy, the joys and sorrows of a memorable family. Wonderful characters are portrayed perfectly in this rendition.

David Rintoul should get an award!

The combination of Thomas Mann's masterful story, and its reading by David Rintoul, is mesmerizing.

Excellent all around!

I am sad it ended. I had never read anything by Thomas Mann before. Amazing writer - extraordinary narration.

Bourgeois tragedy

I loved the narration and what stood out to me was it was like movie script and all characters familiar and almost I thought I saw this as a movie before loved it. Narration was the high point for me

outstanding

the reading by david rintoul is superb. the book is vibrantly divine, one of my favorites for revisiting.

BUDDENBROOKS

What made the experience of listening to Buddenbrooks the most enjoyable?

I'll begin by saying that the reader, David Rintoul, was excellent, adept at pronunciation of foreign languages and skilful in portraying characters without straining to create female voices that might seem strained or unlikely. His name on the enterprise was a main reason for selecting it.

This is a classic book by a superior author, which was another spur for my choice. I enjoyed the book without being swept away by it; The theories about life that were expounded in the course of the narrative were interesting and sometimes profound, yet the book did not leave me pondering on philosophical offerings or illuminations. It seems a solid story about a German upper-class family in the middle of the 19th century, so historically and sociologically it offered a stimulating picture.

I have small reservations about other things, which is why I gave the story three-stars~~probably I"ll earn penance by not being in utmost admiration of a mighty writer!
However, this is just my personal reaction, for better or worse.

Wonderful listen

A long listen, but I loved it. Sometimes achingly sad. Very poignant how family fortunes can change.