The String of Pearls
Unknown
Read by LibriVox Volunteers
The tale of Sweeney Todd has had many incarnations, most famously the stage and movie musical by Stephen Sondheim. But it all started in 1846 with a serialized telling of the story titled “The String of Pearls” in the weekly magazine “The People's Periodical and Family Library”. Called by some a romance, by others a horror story, it is one of the earliest murder mysteries. In “The String of Pearls”, Sweeney Todd is less sympathetic than in some of his later incarnations – a perfect villain, totally self-seeking with no redeeming qualities. How the deeds of Todd are uncovered and how he is brought to justice make a most intriguing tale, but one probably not suited for the very young and certainly not for the squeamish. (Summary by John Lieder). (11 hr 41 min)
Chapters
Reviews
excellent story
jaded_grl
LIBRIVOX STAFF: please please make this a dramatic reading. it would be amazing that way! VOLUNTEER READERS: jason does an excellent job! Blachford is a fine reader, but needs to slow down. rushing through the reading made it hard to grasp everything happening in the story. Redbrus and HC dod horrible, I am sorry. the accents and bad pronunciations and computer like rythem of reading made several chapters almost unbearable if the story had not been so interesting. STORY: a great tale and even though u know the mystery its a great story w the way it is pieced all together. AND an unexpected twist at the end makes it really great. excellent book!
good story, okay narration
Hannamg
The story is really good, and if you're a fan of the Sweeney Todd movie or musical, be prepared that this story is very different. I was genuinely surprised by a reveal in the last chapter which made the story even better. However, the narrators are only okay. I generally have a harder time with books narrated by multiple people and some of the narrators in this book are better than others.
Needs Better Readers
A LibriVox Listener
Very good story. Sweeney Todd is a 1st class character who should have his very own book. The readers were EXTREMELY underwhelming. Please commission Mike Bennett for a proper reading.
Divided
KAB
Great story, but the readership was extremely polarized: a couple were quite good, but most were mediocre at best. One read like she was training for the Olympics, so I was very glad for the new 'rate of reading' feature. This book would really benefit by having a second version done of the reading. Mark Nelson, maybe? (hint, hint)
A LibriVox Listener
the ready for chapter 26 sounds like shes got a cold or something. all other readers were good. great story.
sweeney todd
labrab
Reading is well done, with great character voices.