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Roderick Hudson  By  cover art

Roderick Hudson

By: Henry James
Narrated by: Peter Marinker
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Publisher's summary

Roderick Hudson is one of Henry James's first novels.

Originally published in 1875 as a serial in The Atlantic Monthly, it traces the development of the title character, a sculptor. Funded by the wealthy Rowland Mallet, Roderick Hudson travels from America to Rome, where he becomes the talk of the city. He soon finds that Europe tests him in ways he had not anticipated, both as an artist and as a man.

American-born English author Henry James (1843- 1916) was one of the founders and leaders of realism in fiction and is considered to be one of the great British novelists.

Please note: This is a vintage recording. The audio quality may not be up to modern day standards.

Public Domain (P)2009 RNIB

What listeners say about Roderick Hudson

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Great starting point for Henry James

Any additional comments?

If you have had trouble navigating the winding sentences of Henry James, try this, his first novel. It's normal! An excellent character study of the most rational of men and the most passionate, and the three women who loved one of them.

After Roderick, try some other Henry James audiobooks. He is most understandable read aloud, in my experience.

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Roderick Hudson is most likely bipolar

What did you love best about Roderick Hudson?

As an artist, I enjoyed the main character, a sculptor

What other book might you compare Roderick Hudson to and why?

Others in which a character disintegrates. Maybe the Goldfinch, a bit.

Which scene was your favorite?

When Roderick sculpts his heart's desire.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

no

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

endless, infinite author's preface

What was most disappointing about Henry James’s story?

I was never able to listen to the story. An hour in, I was still hearing only James' excruciatingly dull author's preface. Fast forwarding, I was never able to find where the preface ended and the story began. If I were a James scholar, I'm sure I'd find this preface useful; as a regular reader, I couldn't bear it. This book was a terrible waste of money.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Roderick Hudson?

Cut the preface. Or provide some kind of marker that would help listeners skip it and get right to the story.

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