The Adventures of Roderick Random


Read by Arthur Krolman

(4.2 stars; 37 reviews)

I am Roderick Random. This is the contemporary story of my struggle against the adversity of orphan-hood, poverty, press gangs, bloody duels, rival fortune hunters, and the challenge to be well-dressed through it all. In the course of recounting my adventures to you, dear reader, I will give you a front row seat to the characters of English eighteenth century life including highway robbers, womanizing monks, debt-laden gallants, lecherous corrupt officials, effeminate sea captains, bloodthirsty surgeons, and my dear friend Miss Williams, a reformed prostitute. Educated in the classics, armed with a confident conscientious attitude and my long-suffering sidekick, Strap, I fight the good fight staying, on the whole, morally upstanding throughout. Today, if there be such a thing as true happiness on earth, I enjoy it -- and without having spent a fortune on college either. After hearing me out, I expect you'll be as wonderfully transported as one dear wealthy gentleman who listened to my whole story and then blessed God for the adversity I had undergone, which, he said, enlarged the understanding, improved the heart, steeled the constitution, and qualified a young man for all the duties and enjoyments of life much better than any education which affluence could bestow. Summary by Arthur Krolman. (19 hr 9 min)

Chapters

Author's Preface and Apologue 13:02 Read by Arthur Krolman
Chapter I 10:47 Read by Arthur Krolman
Chapter II 10:39 Read by Arthur Krolman
Chapter III 10:51 Read by Arthur Krolman
Chapter IV 8:26 Read by Arthur Krolman
Chapter V 12:23 Read by Arthur Krolman
Chapter VI 15:55 Read by Arthur Krolman
Chapter VII 15:07 Read by Arthur Krolman
Chapter VIII 16:36 Read by Arthur Krolman
Chapter IX 12:26 Read by Arthur Krolman
Chapter X 14:20 Read by Arthur Krolman
Chapter XI 17:55 Read by Arthur Krolman
Chapter XII 19:03 Read by Arthur Krolman
Chapter XIII 17:04 Read by Arthur Krolman
Chapter XIV 15:51 Read by Arthur Krolman
Chapter XV 15:06 Read by Arthur Krolman
Chapter XVI 19:42 Read by Arthur Krolman
Chapter XVII 19:16 Read by Arthur Krolman
Chapter XVIII 14:48 Read by Arthur Krolman
Chapter XIX 8:52 Read by Arthur Krolman
Chapter XX 12:10 Read by Arthur Krolman
Chapter XXI 21:34 Read by Arthur Krolman
Chapter XXII 27:21 Read by Arthur Krolman
Chapter XXIII 29:18 Read by Arthur Krolman
Chapter XXIV 18:51 Read by Arthur Krolman
Chapter XXV 11:02 Read by Arthur Krolman
Chapter XXVI 9:39 Read by Arthur Krolman
Chapter XXVII 17:35 Read by Arthur Krolman
Chapter XXVIII 11:38 Read by Arthur Krolman
Chapter XXIX 12:23 Read by Arthur Krolman
Chapter XXX 18:28 Read by Arthur Krolman
Chapter XXXI 8:31 Read by Arthur Krolman
Chapter XXXII 11:09 Read by Arthur Krolman
Chapter XXXIII 13:24 Read by Arthur Krolman
Chapter XXXIV 21:35 Read by Arthur Krolman
Chapter XXXV 11:45 Read by Arthur Krolman
Chapter XXXVI 13:12 Read by Arthur Krolman
Chapter XXXVII 10:35 Read by Arthur Krolman
Chapter XXXVIII 17:06 Read by Arthur Krolman
Chapter XXXVIX 13:56 Read by Arthur Krolman
Chapter XL 12:25 Read by Arthur Krolman
Chapter XLI 19:58 Read by Arthur Krolman
Chapter XLII 15:02 Read by Arthur Krolman
Chapter XLIII 14:27 Read by Arthur Krolman
Chapter XLIV 25:35 Read by Arthur Krolman
Chapter XLV 33:19 Read by Arthur Krolman
Chapter XLVI 24:31 Read by Arthur Krolman
Chapter XLVII 19:36 Read by Arthur Krolman
Chapter XLVIII 9:05 Read by Arthur Krolman
Chapter XLIX 16:56 Read by Arthur Krolman
Chapter L 23:50 Read by Arthur Krolman
Chapter LI 18:41 Read by Arthur Krolman
Chapter LII 20:27 Read by Arthur Krolman
Chapter LIII 13:02 Read by Arthur Krolman
Chapter LIV 16:28 Read by Arthur Krolman
Chapter LV 20:57 Read by Arthur Krolman
Chapter LVI 20:51 Read by Arthur Krolman
Chapter LVII 18:13 Read by Arthur Krolman
Chapter LVIII 12:17 Read by Arthur Krolman
Chapter LIX 13:55 Read by Arthur Krolman
Chapter LX 14:47 Read by Arthur Krolman
Chapter LXI 13:00 Read by Arthur Krolman
Chapter LXII 21:08 Read by Arthur Krolman
Chapter LXIII 29:35 Read by Arthur Krolman
Chapter LXIV 16:01 Read by Arthur Krolman
Chapter LXV 19:25 Read by Arthur Krolman
Chapter LXVI 20:14 Read by Arthur Krolman
Chapter LXVII 23:03 Read by Arthur Krolman
Chapter LXVIII 13:50 Read by Arthur Krolman
Chapter LXIX 9:15 Read by Arthur Krolman

Reviews

On par with Richardson and Fielding, well-read, too!


(4 stars)

Well-read. Reader does many accents and changes tone and quality per character. Sometimes it’s a little silly but a great effort and much higher quality than many recordings. The book itself is very Georgian in scope and style, with a nod to Crusoe, Fielding, Richardson. The plot incorporated several distinct subjects, such as a naval background including slavery shipping, as well as apothecary or early medicine, prostitution, gambling, the advent of debt and debtors prison, the absurdity of social norms on the social ladder of English society. He does this all in a tongue-in-cheek farcical manner which leaves you wincing often at the hero’s obvious blunders in decision making. Smollett should be paired with Fielding and Richardson for a rounded explanation of the era.

Well-written and excellently-read


(5 stars)

The book is beautifully read...Many thanks to Arthur Krolman for his beautiful rendition of the book.

Immeasurably Dull


(0.5 stars)

The narrator is Horrible!