Green Mansions: A Romance of the Tropical Forest


Read by Mark F. Smith

(4.1 stars; 62 reviews)

"Green Mansions: A Romance of the Tropical Forest" is a narration of his life story by Abel, a Venezuelan, to a comrade. Once a wealthy young man, he meddled in politics to the extent of provoking a revolution... which failed.

Escaping into the tropical forests of Guyana Abel takes up gold hunting, then journal-writing, and fails at both. Now with no aim for his life, he drifts until he takes up residence with a remote Indian tribe. Soon he learns of a wood the Indians avoid, as it is inhabited by a dangerous Daughter of the Didi, who, they say, slew one of them with magic. The fellow was in fact hit with a poisoned dart by accident, but his dying belief that she had caught the dart and hurled it at him survived him.

Intrigued, Abel visits the wood repeatedly, and eventually encounters Rima. She indeed is something magical. She seems to have a pact with nature: animals don't molest her, she speaks in a melodious birdsong (as well as Spanish), and she even makes her garments of spider silk. When Abel is bitten by a venomous snake that acts protective of her, she and her "grandfather" Nuflo nurse Abel back to health.

Both Abel and Rima are wonderments to each other, someone unlike any other person they have ever encountered. They fall in love, a love that is stymied by Rima's inability to understand the feelings Abel creates in her. On a long trek to discover Rima's origins, they find that her unique people no longer exist, but they finally confront the magnetism that is drawing them together. Finally they find joy, and make plans... until Rima is murdered by the Indians.

And then it is time for vengeance! (Summary by Mark F. Smith) (9 hr 22 min)

Chapters

Prologue 10:55 Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 1 36:30 Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 2 23:22 Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 3 21:37 Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 4 13:36 Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 5 25:59 Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 6 25:58 Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 7 20:14 Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 8 34:40 Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 9 18:41 Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 10 26:28 Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 11 32:07 Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 12 28:09 Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 13 23:44 Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 14 13:11 Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 15 29:58 Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 16 16:36 Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 17 34:52 Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 18 18:32 Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 19 29:34 Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 20 33:06 Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 21 30:33 Read by Mark F. Smith
Chapter 22 14:20 Read by Mark F. Smith

Reviews

LIKE NOTHING ELSE


(5 stars)

It is impossible to classify this novel; it seemingly creates a genre of 1 for itself. Mark Smith did not disappoint (he never does), and many thanks to him. One parting thought: was the obvious insanity of the final two chapters belong to Abel or to the author himself? Think about it!

unusual but intriguing!


(5 stars)

I have no idea how to categorize this story, but it is certainly a riveting narrative, which weaves adventure, and a little bit of fantasy and love story together. That’s the best way I can describe it. Not all books have to end with everything working out perfectly, and this one certainly does not. But the author’s respect and love for nature comes through in his descriptions of the beauties and mystery of the forest, and for me that was the best part of the story.

Tragic love story


(4 stars)

This is the story of a young man venturing into the South American rain forest to explore and live with native people and ultimately fall in love with a native girl which begins an ultimately tragic love story. Well written by an author I wasn't very familiar with and superbly narrated by Mark Smith, as always. Many thanks, Mark!


(5 stars)

Great book! Ending is a little disappointing, I really wanted him to find her after the fire!

The story is long but fun love story in the jungle. Great reader


(5 stars)


(3.5 stars)

Very well read, but a very ordinary story.

Interest and entertaining. Thank you Mark Smith!


(4 stars)


(5 stars)

THanks a lot for wonderful reading.