Length2h 31m
About this audiobook
In "The Fifth String," John Philip Sousa intertwines narrative with a rich exploration of music's influence on human emotion and experience. Written in a lyrical style that reflects Sousa's own mastery of composition, the novel delves into the life of a young musician navigating the complexities of love, ambition, and the pursuit of artistic integrity. Set against the backdrop of late 19th-century America, Sousa captures the essence of a transformative era in music, vividly portraying the cultural shifts and burgeoning opportunities that shaped the artistic landscape. John Philip Sousa, known primarily for his iconic marches, was also an astute observer of the American musical scene and its social implications. His experiences as a conductor, composer, and bandleader provided him with a unique perspective on the intersection of music and life. Sousa's deep passion for the intricacies of sound and rhythm, combined with his own journey through the competitive world of performance, informed his portrayal of the protagonist's struggles and triumphs in "The Fifth String." This captivating novel is recommended for enthusiasts of both literature and music, as it offers an enlightening perspective on the significance of melody within the broader tapestry of human existence. Sousa's eloquent prose not only entertains but also serves as a testament to the profound connection between art and emotion, making it a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the soul's soundtrack.
Audiobook details
Rating★★★★ 3.7 (33)
Includes Goodreads
GenreRomance, Historical Fiction
Length2 hrs 31 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateSep 16, 2022
LanguageEnglish
More from John Philip Sousa
The Dance with Me TrilogyShelley Shepard Gray21h 44m4.7 (1.2K)$35
The Search (Annotated)Grace Livingston Hill7h 29m4.7 (1.1K)$0.99 · $0.00
The Captivating WarriorCami Checketts, Daniel Banner4h 8m4.7 (608)$15
TimberTate James15h 36m4.6 (28.8K)$23
The ReunionJana Deleon6h 31m4.6 (1.6K)$26 · $0.00
Long LostLexi Blake13h 12m4.6 (3.2K)$23
The Vineyard BrideKatie Winters5h 5m4.6 (1.9K)$15
Something Like LoveBeverly Jenkins10h 21m4.6 (2.7K)$29 · $0.00
Wishes from the HeartSophie Mays4h 9m4.7 (343)$15 · $0.00
Blizzard ShowdownShirlee McCoy5h 16m4.6 (1.1K)$12 · $0.00
The Heart of CourageLynne Basham Tagawa10h 57m4.7 (240)$20
Love Inspired Suspense October 2025 - Box Set 2 of 2Laura Scott, Carrie Stuart Parks, Jennifer Pierce17h 34m4.8 (88)$35 · $0.00
Talia Hibbert's Brown Sisters Book SetTalia Hibbert31h 7m4.6 (2.3K)$53 · $0.00
To Hold and ProtectSandra Owens7h 59m4.6 (1.1K)$8 · $0.00
The Newly Witch GameRobyn Peterman4h 39m4.7 (549)$15
Arctic WitnessHeather Woodhaven5h 46m4.6 (985)$12 · $0.00
MaelstromBethany Adams17h 6m4.6 (1.3K)$25
Following the TrailLynette Eason6h 35m4.6 (2.3K)$12 · $0.00
Her Duty Bound DefenderSharee Stover6h 30m4.7 (557)$12 · $0.00
Defending from DangerJodie Bailey5h 46m4.6 (588)$24 · $0.00
With Fire and Sword (Annotated)Henryk Sienkiewicz36h 6m4.6 (1K)$2 · $0.00
The Labyrinth of the SpiritsCarlos Ruiz Zafon27h 55m4.5 (77.2K)$53 · $0.00
MusashiEiji Yoshikawa53h 20m4.5 (30.6K)$30
The Eighth Life (for Brilka)Nino Haratischwili41h 10m4.5 (43.5K)$53 · $0.00
War and Peace - The Unabridged Maude Translation (Annotated)Leo Tolstoy64h 48m4.5 (362.1K)$2 · $0.00
The Things We Cannot SayKelly Rimmer13h 48m4.5 (359.1K)$33 · $0.00
Their Castilian OrphanAnna Belfrage14h 45m4.7 (122)$27
Lieutenant Hornblower (Annotated)C. S. Forester11h 41m4.5 (2.9K)$2 · $0.00
The Complete 13 Novels & longer fiction: Treasure Island, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, The Black Arrow, Kidnapped, The Master of Ballantrae, The Wrong Box and more...Robert Louis Stevenson106h 29m4.5 (1.4K)$1 · $0.00
Eagles over BritainLee Jackson12h 26m4.5 (18.6K)$23
Rilla of InglesideLucy Maud Montgomery11h 44m4.5 (48.2K)$2 · $0.00
The Viennese DressmakerKathryn Gauci11h 46m4.5 (2.1K)$23 · $0.00
The Man in the Brown Suit & They Came to BaghdadAgatha Christie15h 43m4.6 (495)$33 · $0.00
Gone With The Wind (Annotated)Margaret Mitchell46h 8m4.5 (2.5K)$1.20 · $0.00
Under the Light of the Italian MoonJennifer Anton12h 28m4.5 (5.3K)$23 · $0.00
THE COMPLETE PALLISER NOVELS (All 6 Novels in One Edition)Anthony Trollope172h 46m4.5 (1.6K)$2 · $0.00
Jubilee, 50th Anniversary EditionMargaret Walker15h 43m4.5 (9.5K)$25 · $0.00
Arch of TriumphErich Maria Remarque15h 51m4.4 (36.6K)$28
Serenade for NadiaZülfü Livaneli9h 9m4.4 (20.1K)$20
Pride and PrejudiceJane Austen14h 44m4.4 (4.7M)$2 · $0.00
You may also like
THE COMPLETE SHORT STORIES OF R. L. STEVENSONRobert Louis Stevenson41h 17m4.3 (1.4K)$1 · $0.00
Soldiers ThreeRudyard Kipling9h 38m3.8 (2.4K)$2.30
Five Go Off in a CaravanEnid Blyton5h 1m4.2 (20K)$1 · $0.00
The Mysterious IslandJules Verne22h 5m4.2 (259K)$2.30
The Lake HouseSarah Beth Durst9h 9m3.6 (5K)$29 · $0.00
STITCHES IN TIMEBarbara Michaels3h 20m4.0 (4.7K)$18 · $0.00
The Complete Short Stories of Robert Louis Stevenson (Annotated)Robert Louis Stevenson41h 25m4.5 (1.2K)$2 · $0.00
The Works of Edgar Allan PoeEdgar Allan Poe46h 51m4.5 (6.7K)Free
The Bell, the Book, and the SpellbinderBrad Strickland, John Bellairs3h 2m4.0 (576)$15
The missing chumsFranklin W. Dixon4h 42m4.0 (9.5K)$2.30 · $0.00
The Mysterious IslandJules Verne22h 25m4.2 (77.4K)$2.30 · $0.00
The Lost StradivariusJohn Meade Falkner5h 47m3.7 (1.4K)$2 · $0.00
No Place in HeavenMarion Myles9h 37m4.5 (1K) Only with Ultra
Escape, Vol. 1Hollywood 360, CBS Radio5h 53m$17
H.P. Lovecraft: His Earliest WritingsH. P. Lovecraft1h 8m3.8 (23)$2 · $0.00
The Death Ship (Vol. 1-3) (Annotated)William Clark Russell14h 53m3.2 (38)$2 · $0.00
The Cruise of the O MooRoy J. Snell3h 11m3.7 (15)$2 · $0.00
Escape, Vol. 2Hollywood 3605h 54m$17
Collected Short Stories, Volume 2Arthur Conan Doyle9h 1m$7 · $0.00
Inhuman TraffickingMike Papantonio, Alan Russell9h 50m4.2 (140)$23