Audiobook Sample
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- Title: Velveteen Rabbit
- Author: Margery Williams
- Narrator: Marlo Dianne
- Length: 00:28:00
- Version: Abridged
- Release Date: 01/01/2016
- Publisher: LibriVox
- Genre: Kids, Fairy Tales & Folklore, Classics
- ISBN13: SABLIB9781249
There’s something magical about revisiting childhood stories as an adult, especially when they arrive in the warm embrace of a well-narrated audiobook. Margery Williams’ “The Velveteen Rabbit”, brought to life by narrator Marlo Dianne in this LibriVox recording, isn’t just a children’s story – it’s a profound meditation on love, authenticity, and transformation that resonates across generations. As someone who’s spent years collecting stories from around the world, I can confidently say this tale holds a special place in the canon of children’s literature.
I first encountered “The Velveteen Rabbit” not as a child, but as a young man working at a bookstore in Madrid. A British expatriate customer, noticing my interest in children’s classics, pressed a worn copy into my hands saying, ‘This will teach you more about love than any romance novel.’ She was right. Now, decades later, hearing Marlo Dianne’s tender narration, I found myself transported back to that cramped bookstore apartment, where I first learned that becoming ‘real’ is life’s most beautiful and painful journey.
Dianne’s narration captures the delicate balance between childlike wonder and profound wisdom that makes Williams’ text so special. Her voice carries the perfect blend of warmth and nostalgia, like a favorite aunt reading by the fireside. She particularly shines in the philosophical dialogue between the Rabbit and the Skin Horse – I found myself rewinding to savor her delivery of the iconic line: ‘Real isn’t how you are made… It’s a thing that happens to you.’ The audio quality, while not studio-perfect (this being a volunteer LibriVox recording), adds to the charming, homespun quality that suits this classic tale.
Williams’ story operates on multiple levels – a simple tale for children about a toy rabbit who becomes real through love, and a profound allegory about the transformative power of affection that adults can appreciate. The central theme of ‘realness’ being earned through love and wear mirrors my own travel experiences – how the most meaningful connections often come from shared vulnerabilities rather than polished perfection. The Rabbit’s journey from the nursery to the burn pile (and ultimately to the magical realm of real rabbits) becomes a moving metaphor for how love both wounds and redeems us.
Modern listeners might find some elements dated – the passive female toys, the somewhat abrupt ending – but these are minor quibbles. More significant is how Dianne’s performance highlights the story’s emotional truth while softening its occasional Victorian sentimentality. Her pacing allows space for reflection during the story’s profound moments, like when the fairy explains that the Rabbit was real to the Boy, ‘because he loved you,’ making this free audiobook feel like a genuine gift.
Compared to other classic toy stories – the tragic beauty of Andersen’s “Steadfast Tin Soldier” or the whimsy of “Winnie-the-Pooh” – “The Velveteen Rabbit” occupies a unique middle ground. It acknowledges life’s hardships (the threat of the burn pile, the pain of separation) while ultimately affirming love’s transformative power. In an age of disposable relationships, this message feels more vital than ever.
The audiobook format particularly suits “The Velveteen Rabbit”. There’s an intimacy to hearing this story aloud that mirrors how it might have been originally experienced – read by a parent at bedtime. Dianne’s performance honors that tradition while making it accessible to contemporary listeners. Small vocal quirks (the occasional uneven volume, slight background noise) become part of its charm, like the Rabbit’s worn seams proving he was loved.
With a traveler’s appreciation for stories that make the heart real,
Marcus Rivera
