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An American Tragedy
- Narrated by: Dan John Miller
- Length: 34 hrs and 12 mins
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Publisher's summary
An American Tragedy is the story of Clyde Griffiths, who spends his life in the desperate pursuit of success. On a deeper, more profound level, it is the masterful portrayal of the society whose values both shape Clyde's ambitions and seal his fate; it is an unsurpassed depiction of the harsh realities of American life and of the dark side of the American dream. Extraordinary in scope and power, vivid in its sense of wholesale human waste, unceasing in its rich compassion, An American Tragedy stands as Theodore Dreiser's supreme achievement.
First published in 1925 and based on an actual criminal case, An American Tragedy was the inspiration for the 1951 film A Place in the Sun, which won six Academy Awards and starred Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift.
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Henry James can be hard to follow but worth it
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By: Henry James
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The Woman in White
- By: Wilkie Collins
- Narrated by: Josephine Bailey, Simon Prebble
- Length: 25 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
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One of the greatest mystery thrillers ever written, Wilkie Collins's The Woman in White was a phenomenal best seller in the 1860s, achieving even greater success than works by Charles Dickens. Full of surprise, intrigue, and suspense, this vastly entertaining novel continues to enthrall audiences today.
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Gripping novel, excellent production
- By David on 01-18-11
By: Wilkie Collins
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Piccadilly Jim
- By: P. G. Wodehouse
- Narrated by: Frederick Davidson
- Length: 8 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
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He was a gossip columnist’s dream. Piccadilly Jim’s life was a collage of broken promises and drunken brawls. And his straight-laced Victorian aunt was not amused. So, she decided to reform him. Unfortunately, her reform project started at a time when Jim had fallen in love and had already decided to reform himself. Thus, life became complicated. Jim pretends to be himself - a beautiful display of Wodehousean logic; hilarious indeed!
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Glad to Finally Have Frederick Davidson’s Version
- By John on 11-09-22
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Howards End
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- Narrated by: Steven Crossley
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Howards End is a beautifully subtle tale of two very different families brought together by an unusual event. The Schlegels are intellectuals, devotees of art and literature. The Wilcoxes are practical and materialistic, leading lives of "telegrams and anger". When the elder Mrs. Wilcox dies and her family discovers she has left their country home - Howards End - to one of the Schlegel sisters, a crisis between the two families is precipitated that takes years to resolve.
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Fantastic Narration in Delightful Story
- By Wren on 05-05-18
By: E. M. Forster
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North and South
- By: Elizabeth Gaskell
- Narrated by: Juliet Stevenson
- Length: 18 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
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Written at the request of Charles Dickens, North and South is a book about rebellion that poses fundamental questions about the nature of social authority and obedience. Gaskell expertly blends individual feeling with social concern and her heroine, Margaret Hale, is one of the most original creations of Victorian literature. When Margaret Hale's father leaves the Church in a crisis of conscience she is forced to leave her comfortable home in the tranquil countryside of Hampshire....
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Delightful
- By Sally on 01-04-10
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A Room with a View
- By: E. M. Forster
- Narrated by: Rebecca Hall
- Length: 7 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
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In this rich new audio production, acclaimed British American actress Rebecca Hall brings one of E. M. Forster's most admired works to life in this classic tale of human struggle. A charming young Englishwoman, Lucy Honeychurch, is wooed by both free-spirited George Emerson and wealthy Cecil Vyse while vacationing in Italy. Though attracted to George, Lucy becomes engaged to Cecil despite twice turning down his proposals. On hearing of the news, George confesses his love, leaving Lucy torn between marrying the more socially acceptable Cecil or George, the man she knows would bring her true happiness. Should Lucy choose social acceptance or true love?
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A lovely performance, and a wonderful story
- By Robert on 01-19-19
By: E. M. Forster
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Dombey and Son
- By: Charles Dickens
- Narrated by: Frederick Davidson
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In this carefully crafted novel, Dickens reveals the complexity of London society in the enterprising 1840s as he takes the listener into the business firm and home of one of its most representative patriarchs, Paul Dombey.
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Perfect pair
- By Philip on 03-25-08
By: Charles Dickens
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The Shuttle
- By: Frances Hodgson Burnett
- Narrated by: Tabi That
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Rosalie Vanderpoel, the daughter of an American multimillionaire marries an impoverished English baronet and goes to live in England. She all but loses contact with her family in America. Years later her younger sister Bettina, beautiful, intelligent and extremely rich, goes to England to find what has happened to her sister. She finds Rosalie shabby and dispirited, cowed by her husband's ill-treatment. Bettina sets about to rectify matters.
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More than Lovely
- By jTacy67 on 01-17-18
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What listeners say about An American Tragedy
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Adrienne
- 08-09-20
A Very Compelling Story
I really enjoyed this book very much, it gave me lots to think about. I felt a sense of dread all the way through it, but I would still recommend it to anyone who enjoys a classic. I almost never want to listen to an abridged version of a book, but in this case I think it might be a good idea. Listening to the book inspired me to watch the film based on it, A Place In The Sun. I really enjoyed that and found the casting of the film worked perfectly with my vision of the characters.
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- Caitlin Johnson
- 05-23-16
I got the point
I purchased this because I'm on a Mission to read the top 100 books of all time... I love Paul literature so I can't complain, this book was very long, with little story. On to the next..
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- David P. Wingert
- 05-16-23
Important work
I fail to understand why this important work included narration that gave many characters from upper New York state a southern accent. A fascinating character study is ruined by the narration choices.
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- Daniel
- 05-11-13
Affecting and encompassing masterpiece
Clyde Griffiths, an ambitious social climber with grave personal flaw, fell in and out of love with an adoring factory girl, but has to abandon his moral anchor when the opportunity of fortune and status avail itself in the affection of an upper-class dame. Affectingly developed characters, biographical realism and a simple, linear yet encompassing plot line lend this fiction its masterpiece mantle.
Dan John Miller gave a titillating narrating performance.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Philippe0742
- 10-26-13
Tragedy it is
I think, it's a very good book and a great audiobook but tragic.
Also I disliked some of it, I was constantly captivated by it.
Narrator is amazingly good.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Robert
- 05-27-13
A Novel Thoroughly of Its Time and Place
I think that there is a reason some novels of the early twentieth century are well known and still read by many such as the Grapes of Wrath or the Great Gatsby while others have left modern consciousness. I believe that one of the items that determines this is whether the story is a timeless one or one thoroughly imbedded in its time and place.
An American Tragedy firmly belongs in the later category. From the language of the novel to the general plot many of its elements will seem foreign to a modern audience. However, this is not to say that the novel is without merit. After adjusting myself to the language of the novel I found the story to be genuinely intriguing. It was interesting to see how teenagers and young adults behaved in much the same way in the early 20th century that they do now. Especially when your parents and grandparents can make it seem like they had none of the same impulses that modern teenagers have.
As long as you are willing to give the novel a chance and forgive some of the antiquated language, like repetition of gee this and gee that and references to haberdashers and dry goods stores then I think that you should give the novel a chance. You must give it until at least the half way point though as I found myself thinking that I should turn it off until this point.
I would also like to say that I think Dan John Miller does a very good job narrating the book.
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1 person found this helpful
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- John
- 03-05-16
too long
really needed an editor. too long and repetitive. story could have been decent if more concise.
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- Lisa Penton Johnson
- 06-01-18
Timeless Classic, Ok Performance
This classic tale of conscience, set in the 1920's - think Great Gatsby, is a vivid window into the separation of classes and the struggle to improve one's birthright against the immovable mores of the era. It's protagonist, though pitiable, isn't very likable. In fact - most of Dreiser's characters are hard to like except for the humble, poor, and hardworking. There are a few exceptions, however, and he really doesn't draw you to hate any one of them. In fact - by its end, he painted a vivid understanding of a youth, dissatisfied with his lot in life, who's tragic lack of courage and honor, leads himself and many undeserving others toward heartache and destruction. With highly symbolic and vivid imagry, he sets each scene perfectly. There's a lot to think about, and challenge one's own sense of materialism, elitism, bigotry, conscience, self awareness, and consciousness. Very applicable to current hot issues of civil fairness, sexism, abortion, prison reform, and the death penalty. The audio performance is done well, mostly. This reader tends to make all the women sound simple , simpering, and similar. That was the only element I found distracting.
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- mediclady
- 05-27-18
A must read!!
This novel by Mr. Dreiser is one of the best books I’ve read. The narration by Mr. Miller was excellent. Normally I stick to non-fiction but this just may prompt me to consider more novels!
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- A Reader
- 10-08-15
Excellent narration
If you could sum up An American Tragedy in three words, what would they be?
Sprawling realism as-it-happens
What was one of the most memorable moments of An American Tragedy?
Difficult question. Certainly the portion of the trial with Clyde Griffiths on the stand, as interogated by the DA. Also, the tragic lake drowning scene and Griffith's subsequent flight.
Have you listened to any of Dan John Miller’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
no.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
no.
Any additional comments?
Dan John Miller's narration was excellent. I seriously doubt I could have made it through such a sprawling story without Mr. Miller's read characterization. The story is very interesting, but Dreiser is much in need of an editor.
On the story itself: I kept thinking that Clyde's physical similarity to his cousin Gilbert would somehow be used. It's amazing how close Dreiser stuck to the original true story of Chester Gillette and Grace Brown. It's beyond belief the number of "mistakes" made by Clyde and yet still thinking he could possibly convince anyone that it was an accident or suicide.
After Clyde's conviction, the novel really drags on to his execution. I found all the religious rant and Clyde's "conversion" without any admission of personal responsibility unconvincing. He's amoral and always expecting someone else to help him. He's not a likable character in the end.
I would have liked a more adult-sounding, mature narration for Roberta. I found Sondra, the rich girl love interest, irritating and annoying, with all of her baby talk; we're just told that she was beautiful without a lot of demonstration of how she could have been so alluring as to tempt Clyde to get rid of Roberta.
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