The African Queen | C.S. Forester | Books in Sound
Season 3 Episode 17
"The African Queen" is a novel written by C.S. Forester and published in 1935. Set during World War I, the story revolves around two unlikely companions, Charlie Allnut and Rose Sayer, who find themselves navigating the treacherous waters of the African river system. Charlie is a rough-and-tumble, gin-loving captain of the dilapidated steamboat called the African Queen, while Rose is a prim and proper British missionary. When their lives are disrupted by the war, they decide to take matters into their own hands and embark on a perilous journey down the river, determined to strike a blow against the German forces in the region.
As Charlie and Rose navigate the dangerous waters, they face numerous challenges, including treacherous rapids, crocodile-infested waters, and hostile native tribes. Along the way, they develop a deep bond and rely on each other's strengths to overcome the obstacles they encounter. Their journey becomes a test of their courage, resilience, and ultimately, their love for each other.
The radio presentation of "The African Queen" through the "Lux Radio Theater" aired on January 10, 1950. Adapted from Forester's novel, the radio adaptation brought the adventurous tale to life with its captivating storytelling and compelling performances. The radio production captured the spirit of the original work, conveying the excitement, danger, and romance of Charlie and Rose's journey down the African river. With the use of sound effects and skilled voice acting, the "Lux Radio Theater" rendition transported listeners to the heart of the African jungle, allowing them to experience the thrills and tribulations alongside the beloved characters.
Books in Sound is a free podcast series that presents a collection of hundreds of the world’s greatest books through the magic of the performing arts.
Different from audiobooks: Instead of having a single narrator read an audiobook, these performances have a full cast of actors, suitable background music, and special effects that help define the drama.
Most presentations are from old time radio theater broadcasts that have been remastered to remove most of the hissing, clicking and volume fluctuations. Many of the presentations are from the 1930's and 1940's, so a significant amount of work went into the remastering process.
Most presentations are about one hour, some are multiple hours, and some are abbreviated presentation that last about half an hour, making this series wonderful for bedtime stories, self-improvement by learning about literature, or simply as a very imaginative form of entertainment.
The episodes are not sequential, but we do recommend listening to the complete collection starting with the first episode so that you can grow and benefit from the wide assortment of styles and content.
For more information visit https://www.booksinsound.com
