‘Le Grand Tour’: The Audiobook

By Andrew on April 8, 2025 • ( Leave a comment )

Over the years, many people have asked why there isn’t an audio book version of any of the books I have written. Well, I’d love to say that I had the time, resources and technical know-how required to embark upon such a feat. I can cope with making podcasts which don’t require stringent adherence to technical standards and in which my ropey diction can be forgiven (hopefully) by the listeners. But an audio book? I have tried on occasions to record something but I’m no Stephen Fry. The attempts have been quickly abandoned. However, I have news…

Stephen Fry has, alas, not been in touch with an offer to record all of my books for free. But Amazon have. Their email starts in typical marketing style worthy of a scam:

“Congratulations! You’re invited to participate in KDP’s beta for audiobooks. Starting today, you can now produce audiobook versions of your eligible eBooks using virtual voice narration and reach new customers by making them available on Amazon, Audible, and Alexa. Customers have already enjoyed listening to millions of hours of audiobooks with virtual voice from KDP authors.”

KDP is Amazon’s publishing arm – Kindle Direct Publishing – and three of my books are published via KDP. (The publishers Summersdale were responsible for book 3, Spain to Norway…) I was a little suspicious when I read the email, not that I thought it was a scam, but ‘virtual voice’? Really? Putting reservations aside I clicked a few buttons and it wasn’t long before I was listening to my words being spoken by Mr ‘British English 11’. Here’s the prologue to Le Grand Tour on a Bike Called Wanda (recorded by my podcast microphone via the speakers of the computer – apologies for any road noise that does not appear on the original!):

It’s not perfect but for a computer-generated voice, not bad at all. At times Mr ‘British English 11’ does sound somewhat mid-Atlantic and he struggles with some of the place names but I think I could listen to him read a book. Perhaps we are more tolerant of these voices as they are now common place in our lives via Alexa, Siri and even telephone calls.

A few caveats… The audio book version of Le Grand Tour (and my first two books – Crossing Europe and Along The Med) are listed on Amazon.com, not Amazon.co.uk. They don’t appear to be listed (yet) on Audible. Is that because I’m based in the UK? I don’t subscribe to Audible. Is that why? If I did, the audiobooks would cost me $0.99. Without subscription, $11.99. That seems a reasonable price for 15 hours and 5 minutes of entertainment!

Here are the links for the three books that are available to listen to as audiobooks:

If you are not yet convinced, here are a couple of reviews from people who have read the books (as opposed to listened to them!)

Steve Cottrell from ‘darkest Dorset’ (his description, not mine) wrote the following recently on Facebook:

“I read your book across the winter and loved every moment. I’ve read all of your previous books and this scales new heights. The insights you give on the places you travel through are great. I particularly liked this book as I’ve covered most of the route myself and you brought it back so vividly. Thanks for getting me through the winter again – therapy for a sedentary soul across those non-touring months. Hope to meet you some day on the trail.”

And here’s the most recent review on Amazon:

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Le Grand Tour on a Bike Called Wanda, was published in May 2024 and recounts Andrew P. Sykes’ journey around France, into the Alps and down the Rhine in the summer of 2022. It is available as a paperback and as and eBook from Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.com (and other international Amazon sites). The paperback is also available from Waterstones or Foyles and the eBook from Apple iBooks.

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