Gone with the Wind

By: Margaret Mitchell

Narrated by: Linda Stephens

Length: 49 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Literature, Margaret Mitchell's great novel of the South is one of the most popular books ever written. Within six months of its publication in 1936, Gone With the Wind had sold a million copies. To date, it has been translated into 25 languages, and more than 28 million copies have been sold.

Here are the characters that have become symbols of passion and desire: darkly handsome Rhett Butler and flirtatious Scarlett O'Hara. Behind them stand their gentler counterparts: Ashley Wilkes and Melanie Hamilton. As the lives and affairs of these absorbing characters play out against the tumult of the Civil War, Gone With the Wind reaches dramatic heights that have swept generations of fans off their feet.

Having lived in Atlanta for many years, narrator Linda Stephens has an authentic ear for the dialects of that region. Get ready to hear Gone With the Wind exactly as it was written: every word beautifully captured in a spectacular unabridged audio production.

©1964 Stephens Mitchell (P)2001 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"Beyond a doubt one of the most remarkable first novels produced by an American writer. It is also one of the best." ( The New York Times)
"The best novel to have ever come out of the South...it is unsurpassed in the whole of American writing." ( The Washington Post)

Fabulous!

I won't comment on the novel Gone With the Wind, because nothing I can say would do this great classic justice. I will say that Linda Stephens is perhaps the best audiobook narrator I have ever had the pleasure of listening to! She is utterly fantastic.

The Template for All Future Historical Romances

Where does Gone with the Wind rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

In the top ten percent.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Mammy. Hands Down. I liked her, because she showed so much love and compassion for the family for whom she worked -- generation after generation -- despite all their foibles, and despite the fact that she was, technically, a slave to them.

What does Linda Stephens bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

EVERYTHING. I don't think that I would have had the patience to read "Gone with the Wind" in print. Linda Stephens not only made this romance novel tolerable, she brought it to life. I would like to listen to more audiobooks narrated by Linda Stephens.

Who was the most memorable character of Gone with the Wind and why?

Mammy, again. She held the O'Hara family together. She saw to everyone's needs, and kept everyone in line.

Any additional comments?

"Gone with the Wind" definitely deserves its classic status. Even though I generally have no interest in romance novels, I listened to this one with rapt attention almost all the way through. At the end, it degenerates a bit into bodice-ripper territory; but, otherwise, Margaret Mitchell has left us a magnificent story, well-told. I most value her presentation of the Civil War from the South's point of view. All history should be taught in this way: through stories of the people who lived it. Mitchell shows us the OTHER side of the story -- particularly the War's effects on the black people. She shows us how Emancipation was initiated too fast, how the black people -- formerly enslaved, told what to do, and (ideally) looked after by their white masters -- were suddenly thrown into society with no education and no preparation. I never would have believed it before I listened to "Gone with the Wind," but Mitchell actually describes the rise of the Ku Klux Klan in a sympathetic way. If you have seen the movie, you will probably be envisioning Clark Gable as Rhett Butler, because he epitomized the part. Scarlett O'Hara annoyed me no end; but it speaks to Mitchell's skill that she made us care about Scarlett, despite her spoiled, shallow silliness. I recommend this audiobook to just about everyone ... even if you don't like romances, and even if you don't like history.

Always a Great Read; Good Dialect

Having been born an umpteenth generational Georgian, I have been a fan of GWTW since my first encounter with the movie at age fourteen. Of course I have read the novel, but wanted to add this audiobook to my collection of all things GWTW. I did however, hold my breath about hearing someone's idea of what Southeners are supposed to sound like. You would be surprised at how often it is done so tooth-grating awful a real Southener can't stand to listen, and there are some movies I just can't watch due to the butchering of our dialect. Linda Stephens not only got it right, but did a good job with the dozens of voices. Must have been quite a chore to get through the entire tome, but she did it well and never failed or sounded bored. It was a joy to listen to.

Well worth a damn.

It is difficult for me to understand how I could be so interested in such a long book filled with characters that I have such little sympathy for. But there you have it; I did enjoy it and would recommend it to anyone interested in the period. Well, not anyone, if you are offended by overt racist comments, this would call for some thickening of the skin. Scarlett did strain credulity with being so scatter brained in some areas and insightful in others.
Linda Stephens is wonderful. Character voices are clear consistent and enjoyable. I will look for more from her.

An extraordinary performance of a classic novel

Linda Stephens is simply superb in her reading of one of the great novels in American literature. Everything is crystal clear, and the attitudes of the characters and the narrative voice are powerfully suggested. The book is long, but it never FEELS long when read this well.

Not the best narration choice for Scarlett

I'm finding it a bit difficult to deal with the narration on this one. Scarlett sounds like a 50 year old woman instead of a 16 year old girl. The narrator does a fine job on the male characters that I've encountered so far. I'm trodding through though and hope that I can overlook that for the rest of the book. I loved GWTW when I first read it as a teen and I'll be curious to see if I still love it this time around.

a good read

I really enjoyed this book. a good read for anyone who wants to read the classics.

Frankly, incredible!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Scarlett, Rhett, Melanie!

What about Linda Stephens’s performance did you like?

Ms. Stephens was incredible! She brought Scarlett's world to life! Thank you!

Any additional comments?

I read this book when I was 16. It was so fun to listen to it on audio. GWTW remains one of my all time favorite books!

Unbelievable

My favorite love story of all time. The narrator is fenominal.

thoroughly enjoyed the book and the story.

Would you listen to Gone with the Wind again? Why?

nop. don't have time

What was one of the most memorable moments of Gone with the Wind?

when Rhett saw their daughter first time.

What about Linda Stephens’s performance did you like?

excellent !!

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Love, Land and the old south.

Any additional comments?

special compliment for Linda Stephen, she has done a great job. Her voice made the book much more enjoyable.