Product guide

Gutenberg's Apprentice Audiobook

Gutenberg's Apprentice is an unabridged English audiobook by Alix Christie, narrated by Robert Petkoff. Its historical novel follows Peter Schoeffer as he joins Gutenberg's printing workshop in medieval Mainz, where invention, religious opposition and divided loyalties shape the effort to produce Bibles.

At a glance

Historical fiction set in medieval Mainz during the emergence of printing.
Follows Peter Schoeffer, Johann Fust and Johann Gutenberg through a workshop striving to produce copies of the Bible.
The story brings together printing challenges, Church opposition, guilds and competing loyalties.

Price

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Reference price: ~~$40.12~~

Price checked: Nov 12, 2026

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Pros and cons

Pros

Its 14-hour unabridged narration offers an extended story centred on the early printing trade.
The historical plot combines the printing process with conflicts among the central characters and institutions.

Technical specifications

8 specifications

Audiobook details
Format	Audiobook
Version	Unabridged
Listening length	14 hours and 9 minutes
Language	English
Author	Alix Christie
Narrator	Robert Petkoff
Publisher	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date	Sept. 23 2014

Who is it for?

A good fit for

Listeners interested in historical fiction about Gutenberg, medieval bookmaking and the early printing press.
Audiobook listeners looking for a long, unabridged narrative with historical and character-focused detail.

Less suited to

Listeners who prefer brisk pacing, as customer feedback mentions a slow opening and slower stretches where the story becomes detailed.

Customer reviews on Amazon

4.1 / 5 · 1,120 ratings

5 stars44%44%
4 stars33%33%
3 stars16%16%
2 stars4%4%
1 star3%3%

Customer feedback describes the book as informative and engaging, with particular appreciation for its historical detail about printing, plot and character development. Some listeners find the opening slow and the detail slows the pace, while opinions on the prose differ, with some finding it strong and others confusing. For listeners choosing this 14-hour unabridged audiobook, those comments suggest a detailed historical narrative rather than a consistently fast-paced one.

Positive themes

Customers describe the historical content and printing-process detail as informative and engaging.
Feedback also praises the plot and character development.

Negative themes

Some customers say the opening is slow and detailed sections reduce the pace.

Mixed feedback

Opinions on the writing vary, with some finding the prose well written and others finding it confusing.

Frequently asked questions

What is Gutenberg's Apprentice about?

It follows Peter Schoeffer as he becomes an apprentice in Gutenberg's printing workshop in medieval Mainz, where the group faces technical, religious and personal conflicts while working on Bibles.

Who wrote and narrates the audiobook?

The author is Alix Christie and the narrator is Robert Petkoff.

How long is this audiobook?

The listed listening length is 14 hours and 9 minutes.

Is this an abridged edition?

The listing identifies it as unabridged.