• Out of Africa

  • By: Isak Dinesen
  • Narrated by: Julie Harris
  • Length: 2 hrs and 57 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (2,325 ratings)

Access a growing selection of included Audible Originals, audiobooks, and podcasts.
You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
Audible Plus auto-renews for $7.95/mo after 30 days. Upgrade or cancel anytime.
Out of Africa  By  cover art

Out of Africa

By: Isak Dinesen
Narrated by: Julie Harris
Try for $0.00

$7.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $12.44

Buy for $12.44

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

Danish countess Karen Blixon, known as Isak Dineson, ran a coffee plantation in Kenya in the years when Africa remained a romantic and formidable continent to most Europeans. Out of Africa is her account of her life there, with stories of her respectful relationships with the Masai, Kikuyu, and Somali natives who work on her land; the European friends who visit her; and the imposing permanence of the wild, high land itself. Stage and television actress Julie Harris delivers a reading that is emotionally charged and reflective, recreating Dinesen's lively appreciation for the land she loved so much.

Public Domain (P)1985 The Audio Partners Publishing Corp.

What listeners say about Out of Africa

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,346
  • 4 Stars
    542
  • 3 Stars
    300
  • 2 Stars
    92
  • 1 Stars
    45
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,455
  • 4 Stars
    401
  • 3 Stars
    170
  • 2 Stars
    39
  • 1 Stars
    26
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,220
  • 4 Stars
    474
  • 3 Stars
    261
  • 2 Stars
    90
  • 1 Stars
    37

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

I did not expect to enjoy this

What made the experience of listening to Out of Africa the most enjoyable?

The voice talent of Julie Harris. True, she does not have any "accents" to make the reading more "credible" but her interpretation and delivery, especially the subtext, make the world of the book come alive. It was performed, not read.

Would you recommend Out of Africa to your friends? Why or why not?

I would. I was not a fan of the movie and only purchased this because it was on sale and I wanted to whittle down the 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die list. I was expecting to slog through it and I was pleasantly surprised. It a great example of "the book is better" rule. That being said, I'm willing to give the movie another try based on this audio book.

Have you listened to any of Julie Harris’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not but definitely will seek her out for future purchases. I enjoyed her so much that I looked her up. Broadway stage legend and Kennedy Center Honoree. It's too bad that she's no longer with us, but there is a lot to choose from on the website.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

"Meryl Streep is almost as good as Julie Harris and Robert Redford is miscast. Oh, and there are lions."

Any additional comments?

Snark aside, I was really surprised and I enjoyed this book. I hope that there is an unabridged version that presents itself in the future. Though it will be a tough act to follow Julie Harris if it's read by someone else. I'm looking forward to listening to this one again.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

69 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

earthy and sensual

It's a love story of Africa. Once I realized that it was this rather than an affair, I could relax and enjoy the story.
The narrator was quite good.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

20 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A beautiful story teller

I loved this audio book. The reader brought such character of Isaac dennison to be real. I could truly see thru her eyes the wonders of Africa.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

20 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Very abridged

I was extremely disappointed when I realized this was an abridged version of this book

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

14 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderfully Descriptive & Acted

Ms. Harris' reading of this famous work by Isak Dennison's memoir of her life in East Africa is tender yet gripping. The writing is one of the best examples of Dennison's much renowned descriptive prose. One feels as though one shares the experiences of this wonderful land.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

13 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Great narration of so-so memoir

I enjoyed OUT OF AFRICA more for the narration than for the content. The content of this short personal memoir is itself very worthwhile. I seldom allow narration to impact my overall rating, but in this case it does.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

12 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

every description of a black person is comparative

every single description rather she considered the person of a like mind of hers or not Rather they were a child or an adult every single discrption of every single black person was comparative to an animal not another human or a human characteristic but an animal in an animal's characteristic I can't believe this is considered a class if it's just garbage at the highest level when I will not

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

‘Out of Africa’ read by Julie Harris.

One of the great literary experiences for someone like me who has a passion for books related to travel. Julie Harris’ performance conveys both the strength and the sensitivity of this most significant story.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Great, but not as good as 'West With the Night'

Any additional comments?

This is a great read and a classic. Just make sure you read it before "West With the Night" and not after, as Beryl Markham's writing is just so spectacular.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Abridged! How unfortunate....

A talented writer and a beautifully written memoir. I read this book many years ago and was very much looking forward to the experience of listening to this on a trip. Unfortunately Isak Dinesens wonderful book is chopped up and condensed. I’m a book lover and am very disappointed in Audible. At least add a banner across title condensed version!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful