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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.

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.

©2005 Harry Thompson (P)2005 Headline Publishing Group Ltd Biographical Fiction Genre Fiction Sea Adventures Fiction Adventure Emotionally Gripping Heartfelt

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Critic reviews

"A master storyteller." (Sunday Times)

"An outstandingly good first novel. A[n]...action-adventure combined with subtle intellectual arguments. The meticulous research enriches this fascinating tale." (Sunday Telegraph)
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Colin's voice is perfect and hopefully he will have the opportunity to participate in more audio book projects.

Brilliant

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I absolutely loved this story. 1st book I've listened to. Great narrator top marks

10 out of 10

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Vividly described, meticulously researched and brilliantly performed. Brings Fitzroy, Darwin and company back to life.

A wonderful science and seafaring epic

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The narrative and thematic ambition of this book was always going to make it vulnerable to criticism. Nevertheless, it really is an immense achievement to synthesise the exceptional lives, discoveries, hopes and despairs of two extraordinary men in such a compelling way. Wonderfully thought-provoking on so many topics of science, religion, politics, culture and colonialism. Highly recommended.

An extraordinary achievement

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What an absolute leviathan of a book. Such a good telling of this man’s story with so much history going on all around. Really enriching in so many ways. Sad to have finished it. Lost without it.

Brilliant

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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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Definitely one of my top ten Audible productions. Narration was perfect. A beautiful book in so many ways. Quite gripping and so very well researched. Grateful thank you to the late Harry Thompson.

Quite simply, stunning !

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This was an unexpected find. The tale of captain Fitzroy captain of the Beagle. Beautiful descriptions of tierra del fuego, debate about the origin of man and the morality of exploration and exploitation of the local populations. All woven into a rip roaring tail of adventurers and comrades.
Some wonderful descriptions of sailing in the southern lattitudes. Beautifully read.

An epic

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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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This story concentrated mainly on telling the life journey of Robert Friztroy. He captained the discovery ship ‘ The Beagle’ mapping the South American coast line and the islands of the Southern Hemisphere for future maritime travellers. A brave, courageous and religious man that his success was overshadowed by Darwin’s ‘ origins of the species’. He was the founder of the MET department. In his later life he devoted his time trying to forecast the storm and wind of UK coast, saving the life of fishermen and sea travellers. Its very sad that he was a man always working hard serving his country but was not valued. I hope history be kind to him, gave him the credits he so deserved.

I am glad

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