Hans Brinker or The Silver Skates
Gelesen von Mark F. Smith
Mary Mapes Dodge
(4,735 Sterne; 115 Bewertungen)
Mary Mapes Dodge created an instant bestseller with "Hans Brinker or The Silver Skates." She wanted the book to be partly a book of travels and partly a domestic story. It is a tale written for children that adults also find interesting and uplifting. Dodge writes as if she is sending a series of letters from Holland to children in America, and her you-are-there perspective is aided by a nice attention to detail and vivid imagery.
The Brinkers are a poor but stoic family under a dark cloud - Raff, the man of the house, fell from the dikes while reinforcing them during a bad storm, and for ten years he has been in a vegetative state. With no steady income, the family's lot is grinding poverty. Despite their unfortunate circumstances, Hans and Gretel are cheerful children, yet always attentive to the needs of their mother and their present-but-not-really-there father. Their social standing is very low, but they both attract firm friends, even among the gentry, for their honesty, industry, and good-heartedness.
Then a glorious skating race is proposed for the town of Broek, with the prize a pair of silver skates for both the winning boy and girl. In the weeks leading up to the race, we follow the adventures of five of the local boys who are showing a visiting relative from England the sights of the Netherlands. Hans improbably meets the one man who might be able to heal his father, and somehow Hans finds a way to afford some skates so that he and Gretel can enter the race.
This all leads up to a dramatic, moving, and entirely satisfactory conclusion. "Hans Brinker" hits a series of high notes and encourages children to cultivate and display their finer qualities. (9 hr 57 min)
Chapters
Bewertungen
Lisa Pizza
(5 Sterne)
FANTASTIC! I learned so much about Holland AND was enthralled by the sweet story of persevering love and faith. Great for young people to hear about character qualities. As always, I sure enjoy hearing the SKILLFUL reading of Mark Smith. I will choose my next story from the list of his narration. Thank you Mark and Librovox. Listening to these classic stories helps me get my paintings done :)
I loved it!
Sandy
(5 Sterne)
Thank you for the fine reading of this sweet book.
•raeganbrooke•
(5 Sterne)
Very quaint indeed good reader😄nice book to listen too
(5 Sterne)
Mark reads so well. I always enjoy his work. Hans Brinker was a Christmas favorite at our home — we watched it on TV, then video and also as a theater production. I grew up in a Dutch home; my parents both have Dutch ancestry. Walt Disney produced the movie version of the well known book which is how I always knew the story line. My mother took us to a theatre production in Holland MI as well. I had not been a keen reader as a child, so had not even thought to read the book. No doubt, the historical value would have been ‘lost’ on me as a child. This December I picked up the audio version for a Christmas ‘read’. The story has a scene of St Nicholas and with the festive skating always felt like a good story for the holiday season. I am glad I listened to it as the characters are so well presented— I love the central story; Mark’s reading also gives a flavor of the Dutch words and conversations between the boys on their skating journey. So appreciate his choice in reading this classic book. GoodReads has a wonderful history of Mary Mapes Dodge: she was a contemporary of Mark Twain! I hope to read more of her stories in future. Again my thanks to Mark for his excellent performance of each character.
Hans Brinker or The Silver Skates
Shelly
(5 Sterne)
Dodge is an excellent writer, weaving Holland history into this drama if Hans Brinker's life. Mark Smith does an excellent job of narrating. All in all, a great book!
works for me
jan
(5 Sterne)
this is a wonderful story for both young and old alike. the reader did a superb job . in my mind this is a definite must read
AMAZING
Ryan
(5 Sterne)
Amazing book. Great reader. Pathetic yet happy. No words can describe the scenes better than Mary Mapes Dodge. Mark Smith is an awesome reader.
This is a "must read!"
dian Whocares
(5 Sterne)
This is a wonderful, heartwarming story of people who truly understand loyalty and love among family and friends.