Tristram and Iseult & Sohrab and Rustum: Free Audiobook and Listening Guide

Tristram and Iseult & Sohrab and Rustum, credited to Matthew Arnold, is available as a LibriVox volunteer audiobook. This guide identifies the recording, its source summary and its audio tracks.

About the work

The LibriVox catalogue summary, preserved with the recording, reads:

LibriVox recording of Tristram and Iseult & Sohrab and Rustum, by Matthew Arnold. Read by Nathan. Tristam & Iseult is a narrative poem containing strong romantic and tragic themes: and was first published in 1852 by Matthew Arnold. This poem draws upon the Tristam and Iseult legends: which were popular with contemporary readers. The poem opens with Tristam upon his deathbed. The monologue of the dying man is shot through with sharp pangs of regret: centering upon his induced passion for Iseult of Ireland - inflamed by his unwittingly imbibing an irresistible love-potion. Before his decease, Tristram's lawful wife - Iseult of Ireland - arrives in time to share his deathbed. Iseult of Brittany graciously accedes to their request to be buried near each other - in a splendidly-constructed mausoleum back in King Mark's Tyntagel (sic.) in Cornwall. Iseult of Brittany survives to raise Tristram's children in isolation. She forgives Tristam his adultery, and with delightful pathos is thankful for the short years of happiness that she spent espoused to one of King Arthur's most renowned knights. (Summary by Godsend)

Recording facts

• Recording title: Tristram and Iseult & Sohrab and Rustum
• Author credits: Matthew Arnold
• Language: English
• Original MP3 tracks: 4
• Listed recording duration: 1:11:31

Catalogue topics

• Narrative poem
• legends
• Tristan
• Isolde

Track guide

1. 1 - Tristram and Iseult Part 1: Tristram — 13:31
2. 2 - Tristram and Iseult Part 2: Iseult of Ireland — 8:28
3. 3 - Tristram and Iseult Part 3: Iseult of Brittany — 10:46
4. 4 - Sohrab and Rustum — 39:05

Listen to this recording

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Source and rights

This is a record from LibriVox's official Internet Archive collection, with a public-domain licence recorded in its metadata. LibriVox's policy includes its catalogue summaries as well as its recordings. Its public-domain assessment follows United States law; copyright status can differ elsewhere. The summary and track facts are reproduced and reformatted from that record. Dates attached to the archive upload are not treated as original book publication dates.