Book reviews: new audiobooks of Jane Austen and Edward Lear, and a new festive novel from Matt Haig
Rosamund Pike reads Pride and Prejudice like she was born to it, Derek Jacobi is the perfect voice for beloved Learish nonsense, and Haig does for Santa what Christopher Nolan did for Batman
by Jane Austen (read by Rosamund Pike)
Audible (audiobook)
Rosamund Pike’s narration of Jane Austen’s peerless comic novel of manners is the latest A-list audiobook performance, following fellow thesps Matt Dillon, Colin Firth, Reese Witherspoon and Meryl Streep. Pike, perhaps most famous for her Oscar-nominated role in Gone Girl, played Jane Bennet in a 2005 film adaption, so she should be perfect for Austen’s pitiless exposure of hypocrisy and pomposity, of love and money. It helps too that her voice – as cool and crisp as slightly frozen snow – is recognisably Austenish. Pike reads the famous opening like she was to the manor born. Her Mrs Bennet is simpering rather than ogreish, which took a little getting used to, but her Mr Bennet is lugubrious and nicely measured; her Lizzie and Jane are also suitably impressive, but what surprises is her attention to the vital supporting cast. Charlotte Lucas is understated but sympathetic; the uncontrollable Lydia is funny and annoying; Miss Bingley nastily civil. Much depends on the toothsome to and fro between Mr Darcy and his reluctant belle Elizabeth. If Darcy lacks a little punch, the head of steam they build up billows most agreeably indeed.
by Edward Lear (read by Derek Jacobi)