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Ethan Frome  By  cover art

Ethan Frome

By: Edith Wharton
Narrated by: Scott Brick
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Editorial reviews

Published in 1911, Wharton's novel is set in the desolate New England town of Starkfield. Ethan Frome, a painfully loyal farmer and his demanding wife, Zeena, are trapped in a cheerless marriage. When her cousin Mattie comes to work for them, Ethan and Mattie struggle against forbidden feelings, but inevitably, they fall in love. Scott Brick's able narration conveys the pervasive dreariness of lives only briefly relieved by the advent of possibility. However, as with many of Wharton's novels, irony dominates. Brick's performance offers a familiarity with Downeast colloquialisms and thoroughly believable New England accents. He brings Wharton's characters to oppressive life in this unrelentingly grim story. This production opens with a brief summary of the author's life, offering insights.

Publisher's summary

Ethan Frome, a poor, downtrodden New England farmer, is trapped in a loveless marriage to his invalid wife, Zeena. His ambition and intelligence are oppressed by Zeena's cold, conniving character. When Zeena's young cousin Mattie arrives to help care for her, Ethan is immediately taken by Mattie's warm, vivacious personality. They fall desperately in love as he realizes how much is missing from his life and marriage. Tragically, their love is doomed by Zeena's ever-lurking presence and by the social conventions of the day. Ethan remains torn between his sense of obligation and his urge to satisfy his heart's desire, up to the suspenseful and unanticipated conclusion.

Perhaps reflective of Wharton's own loveless marriage, this sophisticated, star-crossed love story vividly depicts her abhorrence of society's relentless standards of loyalty. Ethan Frome is one of Wharton's most popular and best-known works.

Public Domain (P)2002 Tantor Media, Inc.

What listeners say about Ethan Frome

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Slow is smooth and smooth is Fast until it isn't

This is one of those novels/novellas that is so cold, barren and bleak that the full beauty of it isn't completely evident until you put the book down, drink a warm beverage, and warm your brain, body and soul back up. Wharton's prose is amazing and her plot is perfection.

'Ethan Frome' is another novella that proves that bigger isn't always better. This book joins a short but very amazing list of short novels that seem to almost acheive literary perfection in under 150 pages: 'Heart of Darkness', 'Of Mice and Men', 'Animal Farm', 'Old Man and the Sea' and 'the Metamorphosis'. Anyway, I've read/listened to books well over 600+ pages that have 1/2 as much to say.

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20 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

A time capsule not to be missed

I tried this book because of the narrator, and loved the story! It is a fascinating glimpse into another time and mindset, and has some unexpected turns and ironies. The characters develop through the story in such a way that the listener is thoroughly engaged. Scott Brick gives a brilliant portrayal of the regional accent and cadence of speech. A recommended listen!

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14 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

amazing irony

If it were a little condensed, this story would remind me of a twilight zone episode. That's not a negative comment; those were great stories, and so is Ethan Frome. It's a tragedy certainly, but I have to believe it would not have the same powerful effect with a happy ending. buy it.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Classic story read beautifully!

Would you listen to Ethan Frome again? Why?

Yes, I would. This story is short enough to invest in the time to re hear it.

What other book might you compare Ethan Frome to and why?

It's such a sad tale, I guess I would say Wuthering Heights, but this one is much shorter. They both tell the story of star crossed lovers and they both have that sad ending.

What about Scott Brick’s performance did you like?

He is a master narrator and did a masterful performance.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes and I did today!

Any additional comments?

I have read this book and seen the movie, but this was such an engrossing way to live the story. Still crying over this one...

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A cold and suspenseful story

I came back to this book after reading it in high school many years ago. I had forgotten how chillingly good it is. Alfred Hitchcock could have made an amazing movie from it. Then tension between Ethan and his wife is excruciating. A great story with a fantastic reading by Scott Brick. Try it.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A Classic for a Reason

"Ethan Frome" is a little gem! Short enough to be read in a day, I confess it took me longer as I stopped from time to time to think about the story. Wharton has written a passionate book hidden behind the austere exteriors of her New England characters. The melancholy beauty of it took my breath away! This is not a book to read and move on; she leaves her readers considering her setting, characters, and conflict and knowing there is more depth than a single reading can reveal. The narrator seemed to capture the tone and only added to the story. Highly recommended!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

A classic, but not much fun

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

It was good to tick off a classic I had never before read, but this was a seriously depressing read. This book on a grey drizzly February day and I would probably be suicidal.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Love Him or Hate Him?

For a short story, this book packs a lot thought provoking questions. Not the most intriguing story I have ever read, but it makes one think of relationships and how we treat each other. Maybe if the book was longer, the author could have developed the characters more. Still, not a bad read.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Timeless

This story is timeless. People are people, no matter the century.

I think the reader has a pleasant voice and is very easy to listen to.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Performance was terrible

The intonation of the reader was unbearable - made the book less appealing than it is already

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