The Hedge Knight - Part 1

From George RR Martin's "The Hedge Knight."
If you like what you're hearing, be sure to check out my channel, where you can find all of my A Song of Ice and Fire recorded chapters in order in playlists! And leave a comment! I don't care about any youtube algorithm reach nonsense but I love hearing from people who are listening!
I am in no sense a professional reader, voice actor, or what have you. I began this audiobook project some years ago when some friends of mine jokingly said they'd read A Song of Ice and Fire (my favorite fantasy series) if I personally recorded the whole series in audiobook form and sent it to them. Having now made my way almost through the first two books in the series, I decided to join the small community of people who post their own amateur audibook readings to youtube, and share my efforts.
I have no intention of profiting off of the work that is copyrighted to George RR Martin. This upload is a tribute to a series I deeply love, and I strongly encourage you to purchase these books. You won't regret it.
Also I should give full credit to my cat, Claudio, for the frequent background meows and purring sounds you hear throughout.
Art by BotAgainstHumanity www.deviantart.com/botagainst...

[@andy-hj9ld]

THE MAN DOES NOT HESITATE THANK YOU DAVID THE UNSTOPPABLE

[@Amanda-cd6dm]

My Father David used to read this to me as a child as a grown woman I realize that was the sweetest most noble thing any father could do

[@vasil3089]

My aunt fisted me. It still hurts.

[@samuraicicada6867]

I literally just finished your dance of dragons reading.... so very happy you are doing Dunk and Egg. Thank you kind Sir!!

[@martinebner3522]

Me too, David spoils us. I love it:,-)

[@kingofpendragon]

He's great, especially the way he makes the chapters and scenes come alive. Love the voices.

[@TheCbot88]

I am no knight. I spit on them and their vows.

[@thetalesofelbek7042]

"Dunk the lunk, thick as a castle wall"

[@abo0sharkas]

" I wish you didn't die, ser." ohhh maaaaaan!

[@rexpopuli4833]

Yeah that line hits hard asf.

[@abo0sharkas]

@@rexpopuli4833 this whole intro gives me goosebumps everytime. it is really sad :(

[@alsharpe7213]

I just found out that song of ice and fire so far is bigger than the lord of the rings and the Bible combined!!! And you did it Davey! Thank you so much for your dedication! Unlike ice and fire I read the dunk and egg books and they are just as awesome in there own way and definitely part of the larger picture. I was sad when you finished the Dance with Dragons but at the same time super happy and proud at the same time.. Your dedication is commendable and the way you bring the pages to life is just awesome!! Thank you so much Davey !!!

[@DavidReadsASoIaF]

Thank you for listening and for all your comments!

[@andrzejkopalnia]

Definetly, David is the f*cking man!

[@Titanium-bt4kb]

Careful now

[@inoshikachokonoyarobakayar2493]

Word up

[@hammerite6418]

It is known

[@poopingnuts]

Pristine reading! It’s rare to find free audiobooks as high quality as this one.

[@dc4296]

I have a special place in my heart for The Hedge Knight. I stumbled on the audiobook a few years ago and decide to check it out since I was already a huge ASOIAF fan. I was going through some tough times back then and the story really inspired me in a way that therapy never could. I still come back to it often when I'm feeling down, and know the story back to back. Thanks for giving it a read, and congrats on finishing the main series !

[@_Code_3]

wtf how does a book help more than therapy?

[@laynebuckalew3688]

@@_Code_3 that’s rude…

[@SahilKumar-wb1ot]

The way egg speaks reminds me of arya "I could if I wanted to" arya says that a at times as egg did in this chapter Anyone else thinks he is similar to arya

[@sayantikadutta2265]

I was thinking the same thing

[@idunnygiveafock7640]

He's pretending to be a peasant while serving a big dangerous knight.

[@elevenjordan4042]

Felt, good observations

[@jaimelannister1797]

I am pleasantly surprised

[@inoshikachokonoyarobakayar2493]

My 5th listen through. TY David, your reading is better than any film/show could hope to be. 🏆 ❤

[@elevenjordan4042]

This is like my 14th

[@biropgrules]

like the main series, this first chapter is a pretty nice subversion, not only in how this story is going to go, but also for dunk himself. In this Chapter, Dunk is set up as the classic underdog for this tourney, unlettered, uncultured, but with a predigious size, and strenght to match, and with nothing noble about him, but a ser in front of his name. he even gets a plucky sidekick. one might be forgiven for thinking this is going to be a classic rises from the bottom to the higher rungs of society. and it kinda is, because we know that dunk is one day going to become the lord commander of the king's guard, but for this story itself, the tourney at ashford is set up here as the obvious start of a long, and illustrious career. Which, again it is, but not in the way one would expect. The tourney itself is rather unimportant, but the events that takes place outside of it, is not. the confrontation between Dunk and the prince, egg's foolish, but idealistic desire to become a squire outside his own family that leads to him running away from his family, the gathering of many powerfull nobles, and the great trial of seven that those great lords will take part in, which will have massive national political consequenses down the road. but Dunk's wish to take part in this tourney not only doesnt happen, but is rendered completely irrelevant by the much more important things that will lead from this tourney. Then of course there is dunk himself. for one thing, this chapter is surpisingly deceptive and subversive about how it goes setting him up. firstly, there is emphasis put on the fact that dunk is an uncultured 16 year old. however, as the second book goes to show, he's surprisingly smart, essentially being a good guy version of ramsey bolton in this regard, as while no genius, Dunk possesses a certain "Low Cunning", that is at odds with his lack of a proper education. Then there is the idea presented forth here that dunk, despite not exactly being arrogant, nonethelss has a kind of faith about himself that only comes with youth. he's willing to bet on trying to become a champion, and we, the audience, is willing to accept the idea due to the traditional story ideas of a story like this. but as the trial by battle, and his jousting attempts in book 3 shows, Dunk is an abyssmal jouster. He's flat out terrible. however, he is still a massively tall dude, with strenght to match. then of course there is the fact that the hints that Dunk was never knighted being set up in chapter one, and if you catch it, you might be inclined to think it'll lead to some dramatic scene where he has to confess that fact, but instead, it's to set up the thematic point of this book. namely, that Dunk, despite having never been knighted, and never having said his vow's, still proves himself the truest knight of this book. He is the knight who remembered his vows, and protected a maiden from a monster, despite the consequenses of doing so. He is a true knight, in the vein of Aemon the Dragonknight, or Daemon Blackfyre. a man who followed not just the letter, but also the spirit of his oaths. he is the kings guard who was the anthetisis of the mockery of chivalry that Aerys seven were. those who stood by as their king raped his wife, and burned men alive. instead, Dunk is the diamond in the rough. while he might not possess the same kind of unparalelled natural skill, he is most certainly a man in the same vein as Daemon Blackfyre. A man who truly believes and tries to live up to the knightly ideals, no matter what.

[@renaigh]

He's the Lowborn equivalent of Brienne

[@DavidReadsASoIaF]

But Brienne is an accomplished and highly skilled warrior in addition to being a true knight. Dunk, so far, only has the latter in common with her. Of course, he and Brienne may have more in common than that as well........ I really like all your points, biropgrules, and that point about Dunk not quite being a traditional underdog - because he kind of sucks at knightly combat - really stuck out to me as I reread this in preparation for recording. When he and Aerion finally fight it out, its flea bottom dirty fighting, not puissant knightly maneuvers, that win the day in the end.

[@elevenjordan4042]

Lol this was a long comment that didn’t have much substance imo, just rambling And also brienne is kind of true knightly but she’s not near on dunks level imo Brienne is a woman with a crush on Renly so she goes super hard to be around him, she basically simps to be around him knowing he’s not even the rightful heir etc. so she’s willing to break the law despite all her “honor” Then he dies and she starts following catelyn around to survive, I get it. But she stupidly commits herself to all of cats causes and commits all types of crimes in the process. She does do a lot of good stuff throughout this process. But I just can’t put her in the same conversation as dunk when she’s simpin and clout chasin and team hopping. Dunk chooses to be a hedge knight when he’s offered service end of this book, no clout chasing just clouts on the ear. Next book he ain’t simpin over the red widow but he does get that kiss, then keeps it pushing. And now mind you while the nature of a hedge knight is to travel and have different “employers” he doesn’t just switch sides, really no matter the danger. He does what’s right, no matter what, win lose or draw. Even when he started on the wrong side in the next book and finds out, he creates a way to stay loyal and make both sides win while also creating an opportunity for them to grow. I love when the red widow keeps trying to get him to come to her side and he says “I’m sworn to Ser eustace , and that’s the way of it”. It’s so powerful and felt and he expertly navigates the political dangers associated with that position. Brienne while in cats service (which she had no business being in imo) makes all sort of blunders and she’s actually a couple years older than dunk if I understand correctly. Dunk be doing what’s right, brienne be doing what feels right, and it gives them very markedly different outcomes

[@adamagus5227]

Words cannot describe how amazing your readthroughs are, thank you ❤️ you breath so much life and beauty into an already vital and gorgeous world

[@Svensk7119]

This was the story that brought me to A Song of Ice and Fire. When after A Feast for Crows when I abandoned the Song out of pure disgust, it was Dunk and Egg that brought me back....

[@user-no4di9ro7c]

Hooray, I don't have a Hedge Knight book, but thanks to you I will be able to experience the reading)))

[@jaegermoser4379]

I was so happy when I saw that you did these as well. Just finished the main series now let’s get started with this masterpiece

[@mellohi2899]

EGG IS SO CUTE

[@rachell452]

I can't decide whether you're a Saint or an angel..... Thank you so much, David ❤️

[@elevenjordan4042]

Fuuuuuuuck I love these stories….dunk and egg are some of my favorite characters ever! “Get him sir, he’s right there!” These stories are so wholesome like breakfast, just like their names lol, dunk and egg Man I love these

[@joshuamanalakos1128]

DUDE!!! I WAS SO HOPING FOR THIS. YOU ARE THE MAN!

[@Mr.Brightside8810]

By far the best audio narration of these books! I've read the entire asoiaf series. Some multiple times. I listen to these while I work around the house and basically anytime I can. Please do fire and blood!

[@matthewscanlan2874]

Heck yeah! 👍

[@ninasiwulska8044]

In his comment on some other video he said he won't read Fire and Blood because he doesn't enjoy it as much

[@paulleverton9569]

I'm more eager for extra tales of DUNK & EGG than I am for THE WINDS OF WINTER or A DREAM OF SPRING.

[@morganSnow421]

YES!!! You are the absolute best my good sir. Thank you so very much. Looking forward to more amazingly read chapters from a top tier narrator like you.

[@DanaDayne7]

Oh now your just spoiling us! Thanks so much for the time you take to read all the material needed to be truly informed on this massive world of Ice and Fire!

[@RavenLillithDelaney]

Amazing!!!! Your GOT saved me through lockdown and boredom. Your amazing also my baby bunny loves hearing meowing and purring she will lie down and chill.

[@lplp3273]

So glad you came back. I was saving the last epilogue chapter cause I didn't want it to finish your videos but super glad you are on this project now

[@rexpopuli4833]

This ones my absolute fave

[@ryannightingale2457]

A labour of love Im sure. A shame so few likes. I appreciate your efforts sir.

[@serdavezilla6494]

No way! I didnt know we were doing Dunk and Egg! 👏👏👏

[@TheCbot88]

I wonder if bloodraven skin changed Otho Bracken and killed his own ancestor. He is a kinslayer. It makes me think the Blackwood Bracken enmity in Dance is significant somehow. People are mad at George but he has to tie everything together across the whole series and the prequels like one big poem. Hence a Song oiaf. Like lotr being a song with discord by Melkor. Someone is trying to change the music.

[@PhillW2406]

Love the way you've done Dunks voice, it's how I would of imagined him speaking.

[@Kasamira]

I am so excited for this! Fantastic reading as always!

[@Mjdeben]

Dude, perfect timing!! Got a 3 hour drive today.

[@tortelli2249]

Hell yeah. I love the Dunk and Egg stories.

[@scottcroteau6983]

So glad your doing this book series. Love the way u read these books. Keep it up!!! Hopefully fire and blood in the future !!!!

[@rebimpskitzo8489]

I think this was one of the best stories I have ever read.

[@roddammit5510]

Oh I'm stoked!

[@MeetThaNewDealer]

PURE AWESOMENESS

[@Kingedwardiii2003]

Take a shot every time dunk says “clout in the ear”

[@AmethystEmpressDivineTarot6589]

I could- if I wanted to.

[@chilipeen7265]

Following along with the graphic novel . So good

[@renaigh]

Another adventure of Ser Claudio and they're squire, David

[@veruspatri]

Awesome! Thank you for this.

[@heatherward5826]

Absolutely brilliant so glad ur doing these books next defo a nice rollover looking forward to staying in this world a bit longer while we patiently wait on winds and spring if we ever get them😭💔

[@alsharpe7213]

Yes Davey!!! You the man

[@gmiscoolyo]

Hell yeah dude thanks for the upload 💯

[@idontuploadanym0re]

Egg gives me such Arya vibes…. is it just because he’s a rebellious kid? maybe, but i love both characters nonetheless!

[@BloodyFoxDK]

I love Dunk and Egg,we are getting a tv show prolly in 2025.

[@tommytomasita1599]

Awesomeness Thank you

[@aaron_rosales4]

Ohhh I'm gonna love this one :DDD

[@johnsmith8906]

Ser, you are a legend.

[@XhoowieX]

Okay. Wow. I was planning on re-listening to ASOIAF with your channel, and was going to use the Hedge Knight as an 'audition'. Well. I'll listen to the rest of this trilogy, but not because I haven't made up my mind yet. Brilliant reading. Thank you for taking the time to do all of these, and for putting in the effort to provide such a high quality.

[@VeritasAtlatic]

Amazing

[@LordZebra]

Thank the seven you did this instead of the preview chapters of wow

[@tysg3279]

Wonderful wonderful reading sir

[@wrmorris2]

and so it begins....

[@Milkra]

Minecraft Steve dunk is hilarious

[@matthewscanlan2874]

Thanks!

[@mikelozano1449]

Thank you thank you thank you

[@kathigortman4074]

Thank you!💟🐈🌺

[@hamiltonkeener9078]

Wow this makes me very happy I just finished a knight of the seven kingdoms

[@wrmorris2]

4 chapters left in dance then i know were i coming. very cool you doing dunk and egg

[@johnobrien6185]

I WAS HOPING U WOULD DO THIS BOOK DAVID. THANK YOU

[@laughs150]

Well done man

[@justinrogers1807]

Finally Dave has come back!!!......to KZbin!!!!!!! I have literally checked you channel multiple times a day to see if you uploaded

[@pukeleterson9512]

BABY YOU CAME BACK TO ME

[@KrisCasey4]

Long live King David

[@facelessdirewlf]

Dunk and Egg, bros for life.

[@GaneshPatil-ip4kl]

I want whole book dedicated to arya travelling with sandor

[@jerrywhoomst1116]

Haven't read these in a while, but I actually read them before ASOIAF. Honestly I might like them better.

[@dondonfilms2005]

Decided to start listening to the Dunk and Egg series after my character focus on Aemon Targaryen. Aemon is one of the underrated, and I'm sure his brother Aegon will be too after listening to this :)

[@omarihab1960]

Part 2 please

[@InfamousB9]

David,thank you David

[@bellamaz1972]

I was wondering what kind of voice you would do for Dunk! Fits well! Like a good casting decision by D&D. Looking forward to more of your readings, and thanks so much for ASOIAF, which I have on ebook but hadn’t read in a linear way.

[@lokmanehammad25]

No one clicked unlike. It tells you something about the channel and reading 🧡

[@jonathanheidenreich8565]

Yeeeeeeeeeeeeees!

[@andrzejkopalnia]

❤

[@thethreekings9785]

NOOO WAAAYYY🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@rachelslur1404]

Yessssss

[@Leptyzz]

Did GRRm mean for Dunk to be an anti-Tyrion? Dunk is tall, Tyrion is short, Dunk is lowborn from Flea Bottom and Tyrion is the son of a highlord, Tyrion is clever and cunning and Dunk is thick as a castle wall. Dunk seems a lot like the opposite of a Tyrion.

[@Totes_ma_Goat]

👏👏👏

[@vahidhumbetov9936]

book link?

[@omarjamel4372]

Hello David. I really love your work and appreciate all that you do for us. Would you and Claudio ever consider narrating Fire and Blood? It'd be something to sort of warm up the channel for TWOW. There are other narrations on KZbin but I'd rather listen to yours. And if you would, please make an email so it becomes easier to get in contact with you. Thank you

[@fandemusique4693]

I find the voice of Dunk a bit too "dumb" i hope the later ones are not sounding like that

[@michelleanderson5244]

Nice Daeron the Drunk voice.

[@Amanda-cd6dm]

Sir Duncan's Freemasonry manual

[@bmsg1]

oh! it is game of thrones related ? i had no idea

[@DavidReadsASoIaF]

Yes!

[@shenaazburrell2715]

Hello, I'm back! Took a little break after listening to ASolaF. I've missed you all. David, thank you for the recordings! Do you all believe the Winds of Winter rumors?

[@DavidReadsASoIaF]

Since about 2015, every year I have believed "he is going to announce he's finished this year." Some may think that's a recipe for disappointment, but on January 1st each year I simply serenely revise my earlier position. So, long before these rumors came out, I believed Goerge would announce he had finished Winds this year. Next year I will believe the same thing. Rumors and GRRM Blogs and Worldcon theories mean nothing to me. He's going to be finished this year.

[@masoncassidy3366]

it’d be awesome if you did fire and blood. this i’ve listened to all other audiobooks accept this one

[@junkard4203]

You rule.

[@fleshbobregularpants6250]

Oak and iron guard me well, or else I'm damned and doomed to hell.

[@pirateboyfearless]

Oh, go on then...

[@savage_the_wild]

Speed on 1.25

[@FLORIDAROOMJAMS]

Alright ..alright ....Alrighty then.

[@DiamonddHeart]

Can you read the fire and blood book as well, I have all of them on audible however I don’t believe George or the publisher did a good job picking the voice actors you’re so much better

[@bmirkhanzadeh]

You rock man! Are you planning to do fire&blood too?

[@DavidReadsASoIaF]

Not at the moment. I've mentioned this before, but Fire and Blood is, well, I don't like it much at all compared to the rest of the series. There's cool stuff within it, and characters who maybe would be interesting if they were in a novel and not a weird postmodern pseudomedieval pseudochronicle (chronicles, one of the few historical sources we have for detailing the reigns of medieval kings, are almost always BORING recitations of names, dates, lineages, inventories, fabrics, battles fought, dates, coronations, successions, etc.) where we're just told who they are by a narrator whose perspective is never interrogated. Characters like Maegore and Jaeherys and Alysanne and Rhaenyra and Daemon just did not grab me like the main series characters do. Different strokes for different folks, and no one is wrong to enjoy fire and blood more than I do, and I am tickled by the idea thta that whole passage about the unreliable, salacious adaptations of that one woman's account was a meta commentary on the TV show, but I just don't love it enough to record it.

[@bmirkhanzadeh]

@@DavidReadsASoIaF I see. I didn't enjoy it as much as I enjoyed Dunk&EGG and main series. But I was imagining that you narrate the book with a voice similar to maester Pycelle!

[@nimra8545]

pls read fire and blood too!!!

[@secretTarg]

🤯😃🤗✌️

[@jotarokujo5305]

"Yes my lord" instead of m'lord is it written like that or are you just wildly talented

[@jotarokujo5305]

I'm just finishing a re-listen of the whole thing so roose Bolton's whole my lord thing with Theon is fresh in my mind

[@ludovicus-5oh]

@@jotarokujo5305 It's a little confusing of Roose. Is he instructing Theon in the original Reek's vernacular? Which would go against his plan of Jeyne the Arya imposter, being vouched for at betrothal by Theon of House Greyjoy. But the whole conversation is interesting. Especially the implications made by Queen Alisanne's use of the Bastard/Snow gate, by primae noctis in the North being outlawed. This may have broken an ancient counteract, between the First Men and The Others.

[@renaigh]

if Brienne were a Man they would be referred as Handsome.