Revolt of the Birds


Read by Ben Tucker

(4.5 stars; 4 reviews)

As the butterfly is drawn by instinct over thousands of miles to its mate, so the man Hudson is drawn to a deadly island of terrors to the woman of his dreams. Hudson is found adrift on a sampan, seemingly drawn forth by a cloud in the riggings that suddenly lifts and soars off against the wind. We hear bits and pieces of Hudson's tale in fits and starts, his earlier life in a doomed long-distance romance, his eventual adventure on the China Seas. Written by Melville Davisson Post, noted author of primarily detective fiction including the long-running Uncle Abner series, The Revolt of the Birds is a strange tale of nested narratives and weird happenings encased in a ripping sea-faring yarn! (Summary by Ben Tucker) (1 hr 58 min)

Chapters

Chapter I 33:55 Read by Ben Tucker
Chapter II 36:52 Read by Ben Tucker
Chapter III 47:49 Read by Ben Tucker

Reviews

Perhaps inspiration, indirectly, for Hitchcock's The Birds?


(4 stars)

Hard to sum up without spoilers, but entertaining in a quaint, vague sort of way. Lots of casual racism and misconceptions of Eastern cultures, but an occasional bit of insight is sprinkled amongst many musings, digressions and flashbacks. "The Birds" are little described and arrive and depart the story as pure deus ex machina, with little attention or detail provided. Narration is first class.