Brewster’s Millions

By: George Barr McCutcheon

Narrated by: Bronson Pinchot

Would you be able to spend a million dollars in cash and leave yourself penniless if it meant you would then be given many more millions? That’s poor Monty Brewster’s dilemma in this charming tale.

Just as poor Monty Brewster, twice heir to a fortune, is beginning to adjust to his cold and distant grandfather’s “paltry” million-dollar bequest, an even more mysterious benefactor emerges offering to leave him some “real” wealth. All he has to do is be penniless at nine o’clock on the morning of his 26th birthday. It seems like an easy task, but Monty discovers that it is no simple matter to divest oneself of a million dollars, especially as the bank insists on paying him $19,607.84 in interest per day. And what can you do when each ridiculous “sure-loss” suddenly skyrockets when you invest in it? Money seems to flow in faster than a person can throw it overboard. And then there are Peggy and Barbara; how are they going to react to each attempt to squander a fortune? Can Monty keep the girl while losing the money?

First published in 1902 under the pseudonym Richard P. Greaves, Brewster’s Millions was one of George Barr McCutcheon’s most successful titles. The prolific author was noted for his ability to write page-turners, full of vivid characters and with an attention to detail. There have, in fact, been six movie versions of this one book, most recently starring Richard Pryor and John Candy. That is vivid testament to a great story well told.

Public Domain (P)2010 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Brewster's Millions is a good book

I like the story, the characters, and the pace of the story. I saw the '80s movie which starred Richard Pryor the other day and I wanted to check out the book. it did not disappoint.

What a fun story for Audio

What made the experience of listening to Brewster’s Millions the most enjoyable?

Bronson Pinchot rocks as a narrator. I enjoyed listening to the story, and another I will be listening to more than once. The narrator made the story even better. I laughed and liked how, although written so long ago, it is still has validity for today.

Excellent

Excellent story!
Excellent reading!
Highly recommend!
I think the word requirement for a review is an unfortunate expectation.

Good book, great narration

A bit dated (especially on race) but fascinating and enjoyable. Pinchot shines as narrator. Bravo!

Fun listen!

This was book was a bit of a surprise. It proved to be an interesting, engaging story with great narration!

Absolutely Delightful!!

I could hardly wait to get home to enter my review. This book is delightful. I was entertained all the way through til the end. Imagining the challenge had been mine, during my free time, I found myself thinking how I might have dealt with the same dilemmas. It's no secret why this was made into a movie. I surely would like to see a remake, but next time, in the era of the book. I will read this again; it was so entertaining.

Great story, wonderful narration!

Bronson gives a wonderful performance and until I came across it here, I thought it was just a great comedy film staring Richard Pryor! 🤣
While this story is quite a bit different from the movie adaptation, it's a fantastic listen and keeps interestingthe whole way through!

Great story, but audio is ridiculously quick.

Been wanting to read this since seeing Brewster's Millions in the 80s. It is really good, even if it is dated. Such an original idea, albeit with echoes of Around the World in 80 Days. I live in St Augustine, so I really liked the reference to convalescing here. Amazing to think this was written back when the Ponce De Leon was still a thriving Gilded Age hotel.

As some have said, the performance is way too fast. I had to play this at 0.9, otherwise it was difficult to follow.

Charming piece of a different era

Bought this on the strength of fond memories of the film with Richard Prior. Yes the original story is different, thank you Hollywood. Even so, it is a charming story about holding your nerve, keeping your eye on the prize and trusting in your ability to do what no-one else has done, on purpose. I do like Monty Brewster and the trouble he had to become a pauper and how he knew who his friends were by the ones who stuck with him. Old fashioned but delightfully well written full of colloquialisms of the time.

A fun and exciting romp

A cute and fun story with more depth than the movie with the same name. It was enjoyable and couldn't stop listening.

The voice actor was spot on for the male voices, but it was very jarring when he did his falsetto voice for female characters.