Lavengro: The Scholar, The Gypsy, The Priest
Gelesen von Peter Dann
George Borrow
(5 Sterne; 4 Bewertungen)
This unusual narrative by eccentric self-taught English linguist, traveller and one-time bible salesman George Borrow combines elements of autobiography, fantasy and anti-Catholic polemic. We follow Borrow around the countryside of England, Scotland and Ireland — and, for a period, through the streets of London — as he grows from a young boy to a young man in the first decades of the nineteenth century, attracted to studying various languages, hoping but failing to make his mark as a writer and translator, and then later adopting the life of an itinerant tinker, all the while struggling with intermittent bouts of existential despair and terror. The two figures Borrow denotes as "scholar" and "priest" in his title figure only slightly in the tale, while even Mr Petulengro, a gypsy Borrow befriends, appears only intermittently. According to Borrow, the term "Lavengro" signifies "word master" in the language of the gypsies. Noted Australian author (and, incidentally, self-taught student of Hungarian) Gerald Murnane has described Borrow as his favourite prose stylist. (Summary by Peter Dann) (21 hr 48 min)
Chapters
Bewertungen
not to be missed
Shelly
(5 Sterne)
I am pleasantly surprised by how interesting and enjoyable this book is. Truly unique. The style and content of language ,to me sounds quite modern. The conversations cover a great range of topics and are entertaining and educative. I was sorry when it came to an abrupt endand wish there was a continuing autobiography. I shall indulge in some more of this author's work,then give this another listen. Thank you Peter for introducing me to another splendid book. I am following all your readings and thank you for the many hours of pleasure you are giving me.
Jo
(5 Sterne)
Wonderful reading of an interesting work. I can see from the librivox website that the sequel, The Romany Rye, is in progress (as of Jan 2025), and I look forward to picking up the story again when it's available. Many thanks to Peter Dann for the reading, and to any other librivox volunteers involved in the production of this audiobook.