Wagner, the Wehr-Wolf
George W. M. Reynolds
Read by clarinetcarrot
Wagner is a poor, lonely old shepherd living on the edge of the Black Forest. In a devil's pact he gains youth and wealth for the price of transforming into a ravenous wolf once a month. This book contains everything from murder, kidnap, robbery, sadistic nuns and lust to war in sixteenth century Italy. Originally published in a serialised form, this penny dreadful is definitely not a piece of fine literature, but is hopefully entertaining.
This book contains racial and other prejudices that were once commonplace. They are retained, as originally written in this recording, because to do otherwise would be to deny they existed. - Summary by clarinetcarrot (18 hr 51 min)
Chapters
Reviews
WarriorZolf
A story of redemption, intrigue, religion and love. Wagner starts off as a depressed old man whose final relative abandons him, given an opportunity for renewed youth by a stranger figure, he accepts. Upon finding his granddaughter, a massive love web is knitted, all the characters are thrown into the tale, with Counts, peasantry, bandits and crazed Nuns. The text continuously refers to other chapters for description of scenes as it goes through the eyes of different characters. Eventually Wagner, who resists the devil who asks for his soul in return for power, finds redemption, love and finally freedom from his doom of being a Wehr-Wolf. Meanwhile Wagner’s lover’s brother’s lover’s brother becomes of great importance and returns with a vast army. The plot closes, and the book ends.
A LibriVox Listener
This was a very positive surprise. The title might be a bit misleading as it's not very much about werewolves or a horror story - but instead it has a fun mix of adventure, fantasy, drama and romance. It is quite long, but also quite fast paced, with a lot of colourful characters and places. The reader is also excellent, and thanks to her clear and engaging reading and use of different voices, this very intricate story still becomes relatively easy to follow.
Good
A LibriVox Listener
Before reading this book, be forewarned that it is not about a vicious wehr- wolf. Rather, it a story of secrets. though it seems to stray away from the main plot for great lengths of time, bare with it, everything comes together in the end. all in all a fine piece of literature.