Tom Hiddleston is not only starring in the upcoming film adaptation of High Rise, but the extraordinarily talented actor is also narrating a new audiobook version of the novel.
High Rise was written by J. G. Ballard in 1975. The visceral novel tells the story of the barbaric descent of the tenants of a luxury, self-contained sky-rise apartment building. The work is in the same vein as other dystopian fiction such as Lord of The Flies, 1984 and A Clockwork Orange.
Speaking about the book, the actor stated:
“Ballard was prescient about so many things: our seduction by (and reliance on) technology; our attempted colonization of the sky; and his particular, distinguishing implication that modern civilization is perhaps only a few neighborly disagreements away from collapse and chaos.”
Hiddleston is no stranger to bringing stories and characters to life through his voice alone. The Thor and Only Lovers Left Alive star has also narrated two previous audiobooks (The Red Necklace and Ian Fleming’s Octopussy and The Living Daylights), as well as a wide selection of poems. He has also lent his vocal talents to radio dramas for the BBC and the Disney animated movie Tinkerbell and The Pirate Fairy.
Younger fans and those of more delicate sensibilities should be warned that High Rise is no kid stuff. The novel includes graphic depictions of violence, rape and other hard-to-stomach human atrocities. Nothing is gratuitous, however. All the more extreme scenes serve to illustrate the madness and moral decay that ensue when an isolated social structure begins to crumble. Hiddleston is a perfect choice for the audio narration. His calm, precise, focused delivery reflects the detached, matter-of-fact tone of the book that underscores the brutality of the violence so well.
If you’re a Hiddlestoner in high school or college, maybe pick High Rise for your next book report. With Tom reading it, you’ll be guaranteed to pay close attention to every word!
The High Rise audiobook is available for purchase now through audible.com.
Listen to a sample here:
High Rise the movie will be in theaters this fall.
Keep Up With PopWrapped On The Web!
Author
