Beatrice and Virgil cover art

Beatrice and Virgil

 Preview

Audible Standard 30-day free trial

Try Standard free
Select 1 audiobook a month from our entire collection.
Listen to your selected audiobooks as long as you're a member.
Get unlimited access to bingeable podcasts.
Standard auto renews for £5.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Beatrice and Virgil

By: Yann Martel
Narrated by: Mark Bramhall
Try Standard free

£5.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for £13.12

Buy Now for £13.12

About this listen

Fate takes many forms....

When Henry receives a letter from an elderly taxidermist; it poses a puzzle that he cannot resist. As he is pulled into the world of this strange and calculating man, Henry becomes increasingly involved with the lives of a donkey and a howler monkey - named Beatrice and Virgil - and the epic journey they undertake together.

With all the spirit and originality that made Life of Pi so treasured, this brilliant new novel takes the listener on a haunting odyssey. On the way, Martel asks profound questions about life and art, truth and deception, responsibility and complicity.

©2010 Yann Martel (P)2010 Canongate Audiobooks Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Fiction
All stars
Most relevant
Having really enjoyed 'Life of Pi', so was really excited when this came out after such a long wait. Sadly though, I was a bit disappointed. It wasn't bad exactly, just not as good as I'd expected. Very different from Pi, and an interesting idea, being centred around stuffed animals (the kind that used to be alive, rather than children's toy that is!) Probably still worth a listen, just don't expect anything like Pi...

Not as good as his first

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I've read Life of Pi years ago, not particularly enjoying it. This, however, is not Life of Pi. It is a clever allegory of the holocaust told in a thought-provoking and, towards the end, almost breath-taking way. Beautifully read.

Not what I expected

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
If this donkey had been cast in Shrek it would be a very different film.

thought provoking as expected

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Just as in Yann Martell's other book, the life of Pi, you find yourself drawn into an off-beat story which pushes you along in front of it like you are surfing a wave then suddenly pulls you underwater and back out leaving you feeling a little strange.

I loved Beatrice and Virgil, their dialogue was sweetly innocent and hypnotic.

Full marks for this book, I am looking forward very much to the next one.

A compelling listen

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I didn't dislike this book, but given that Life of Pi was exceptional, my expectations were high and this fell short of my expectations.

I wasn't mad about the narrator either, which may have had something to do with my feelings. I felt that he was very bland and I found it difficult to engage with his words.

Life of Pi sets a standard not met

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews