The Shepherd by Frederick Forsyth, as read by Alan Maitland

[@adamc.sieracki4145]

"Good night, sir. And Happy Christmas."

[@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.

[@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.

[@patricknorton5788]

I also have learned to love this story, as told by Alan Maitland's recording of it in the late eighties and later. We lived in Virginia, near DC, but listened to the CBC on the radio. I now live in Oregon, but can't easily listen to the CBC for some reason. I listened to The Shepherd with my father and my brother while wrapping Christmas gifts, and when we all three were working at a used book shop where I came across a wonderful little hardback of "The Shepherd" with illustrations by Lou Feck. As I am an aviation enthusiast and an illustrator, I am very pleased by the book, and revisit it every Christmastime.

[@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.

[@isawicame4579]

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

[@AlexMaritimer]

My grandfather flew a mosquito with one engine for 450 miles over the North Sea. This story has a special meaning.

[@nicholasbell9017]

Shivers up me spine!

[@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.

[@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 ❤❤❤

[@vpwb]

Thanks for the illustrations! They add to the story!

[@KEVINKEVINKEVINWWW]

The best online version yet.

[@nschuehly]

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

[@jamyla]

Very well done. Thank You.

[@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!

[@Ferda1964]

great production

[@KEVINKEVINKEVINWWW]

And THANK YOU Lou Feck for the excellent illustrations.

[@antonboludo8886]

YES!

[@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!

[@John-ob7dh]

fascinating

[@c.morees9698]

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

[@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.