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Murder in the Cathedral

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Murder in the Cathedral

By: T. S. Eliot
Narrated by: Robert Donat, Alan Dobie, Wolfe Morris, Patrick Wymark, Bruce Sharman
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About this listen

T.S. Eliot’s Murder in the Cathedral is both a fascinating retelling of the 12th-century assassination of Archbishop Thomas Becket and a compelling call for resistance in the face of intimidation. Written against the backdrop of rising Fascism in 20th-century Europe, Eliot’s classic verse play is as relevant now as it ever was.

This re-release of the original 1953 recording stars Robert Donat, whose commanding performance as the Archbishop, alongside a full cast, is widely celebrated.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio.

Public Domain (P)2009 Naxos AudioBooks Drama & Plays European World Literature

Editor reviews

This rerelease of the 1953 recording of Eliot's poetic drama is a real treasure. Robert Donat plays the pious Archbishop Thomas Becket as he struggles with his instinctive knowledge that King Henry II's loose tongue will make Thomas a martyr. Donat's Thomas is sensitive and resigned, without being annoyingly sanctimonious. Also of note are the excellent performances of Thomas's tempters and of the Chorus. A knowledge of the history is essential to understanding the story as Eliot's playwriting is a bit demanding for the casual listener. Attentive listeners will be rewarded by a smooth, clean production and performance.
All stars
Most relevant
Excellent all round. TS Eliot turns out a script full of truth and lucid poetry. The cast performs it excellently, adding life and personality to the words.

There are some issues -- some parts are too quiet, some words are garbled, the chorus aren't always in sync -- but overall it's still extremely good.

Beautiful script, powerful performances

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