Congratulations are in order today for Jim Dale who won an Audie Award last night in Los Angeles for best “Solo Narration-Male” for his work on the US audio book of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. As we first reported back in February, Mr. Dale had been nominated in two categories for his work on “Deathly Hallows,” however the winner of the Audiobook of the Year went to The Chopin Manuscript. For those who have not heard Jim Dale’s work on the Potter audio book series, you can hear a sample of his recording from each of the Harry Potter novels, here via Random House.
Anyone feeling a bit wicked and start up a Jim Dale vs Stephen Fry debate ;) I dont know about Dale’s but Stephen Fry’s impression of Molly’s famous line was jaw dropping! I expect Dale’s would be too but more frantic as with all of Dale’s approach to reading Harry Potter. They are both great (Fry would always be my absolute best narrator of anything) but they give a different feel of pacing. Dale reads the books like a rollicking thriller with his high tempo voice, whereas Fry gives off a more dramatic ambience in his eloquent delivery. Thats a crude summary but thats my gist of the comparison.
However, I will always associate the marvellous Jim Dale as one of the vintage Carry On legends!
Prof. Potter, i completely agree with your assessment of Fry and Dale. Also, he was actually a little cute in the Carry On films. But Fry is legendary and it feels like he’s reading just to you.
Congrats Mr Dale! I have just purchased the first two books in German to try to improve my language skills, but I am on the road so much that really a lot of time I could be reading harry potter is lost, I really should get them in audio, I would like to have the Brittish version with Steven Fry, one his is hilarious, and two, I have read the American English version, and I am sure there are slight differences in the english that I would like to have a bit of change and hear them in their original format.
I suppose the Stephen Fry versions can be purchased online. I really despair of the American versions of HP and most other British books, makes sense translating other languages but why do it when it’s English?
With a bang like a gunshot, the cracker flew apart to reveal a large, pointed witch's hat topped with a stuffed vulture.[br]Harry, remembering the boggart, caught Ron's eye and they both grinned; Snape's mouth thinned and he pushed the hat toward Dumbledo
Congratulations are in order for Mr. Dale.