The Shepherd by Frederick Forsyth, as read by Alan Maitland

[@adamc.sieracki4145]

"Good night, sir. And Happy Christmas."

[@kevindelaney1951]

I’m 72. I first heard this on the car radio while driving with my father, a veteran of WW2, a Lancaster m/u gunner. My dad loved this story. Over the years I heard it several times in his company. I now look to hear it every year. It is every bit a Christmas classic to me as are all my favourite Christmas movies. I just watched the Disney 2023 attempt at a mini TV episode of this story. Al’s narration & my mental images & memories of listening to it with my dad still triumph. I love this effort. Al’s full narration & excellent images. Thanks for sharing this this version now joins my Christmas collection.

[@davidlangley4762]

My late father, a pilot in the Canadian Air Force introduced me to this many years ago. He Loved this radio story, as do I and listen to it every year at Christmas time.

[@kevindelaney1951]

My dad, an RCAF WW2 veteran, Lancaster m/u gunner also introduced this story to me & I remember listening to it on the car radio. Like you it is now one of my Christmas classics.

[@Sharon-bo2se]

Excellent illustrations! One of my favourite planes, narrators, and story. Can't beat the combination. Just found it in time for the traditional Christmas listening.

[@antonboludo8886]

A Beautiful Christmas Story.

[@xl51956]

Having read the wonderful Novella by Frederick Forsyth and listened to both presentations on audio. I honestly feel they all capture the delicious essence of this beautiful moving story "Bravo" to all ❤❤❤

[@murraystewartj]

How I miss Fireside Al. His other great Christmas piece is his reading of the O Henry story "Gifts of the Magi". A great journalist with a voice that is timeless.

[@isawicame4579]

What an absolutely amazing narration and the story is a family favorite.

[@KEVINKEVINKEVINWWW]

The best online version yet.

[@nschuehly]

Have you checked out Robert Powell's reading? Way superior to my ears.

[@nicholasbell9017]

Shivers up me spine!

[@vpwb]

Thanks for the illustrations! They add to the story!

[@buddyneher9359]

Bravo! This is going to be my new annual go-to. Thank you! (And R.I.P. Fireside Al Maitland.)

[@antonboludo8886]

It is a Classic Christmas-Eve Story. Happy Christmas!

[@jamyla]

Very well done. Thank You.

[@KEVINKEVINKEVINWWW]

And THANK YOU Lou Feck for the excellent illustrations.

[@antonboludo8886]

YES!

[@Ferda1964]

great production

[@TheWilferch]

Fabulous....wish the Disney + rendition of this story was a few minutes longer to capture some of the detail and nuances here of the original story !!!

[@vpwb]

Lovely story, lovely read!

[@c.morees9698]

Great story..we don't need T.V...... this told story is much better......

[@John-ob7dh]

fascinating

[@naradaian]

It sounds like Eamon Andrews reading

[@terrywarner8657]

Alan Maitland was a Canadian broadcaster who narrated this and other stories. A Christmas Eve classic at about 7:30 in the evening.

[@nschuehly]

With all due respect, but was this a contest to read as quickly as possible? The illustrations are great, but Robert Powell's 1975 reading is way better, for example.

[@Julia-nl3gq]

I don't find it fast. It seems like a normal pace. I wonder if you have your playback speed set on high, or something.

[@Julia-nl3gq]

I didn't mean that in a rude way, I honestly just wondered if your playback speed was set high. I may look up the reading you mentioned, so thanks for that.

[@nschuehly]

@@Julia-nl3gq I just listened to it again (with normal playback speed) and it seems incredibly fast to me still. But maybe that is a matter of taste as well. Yes, please look it up! :) I think it is absolutely terrific, very atmospheric.