The Age of Innocence

By: Edith Wharton

Narrated by: David Horovitch

Length: 12 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's summary

Exclusively from Audible

Countess Ellen Olenska, separated from her European husband, returns to old New York society. She bears with her an independence and an awareness of life which stirs the educated sensitivity of the charming Newland Archer, engaged to be married to her cousin, May Welland. Though he accepts the society's standards and rules he is acutely aware of their limitations. He knows May will assure him a conventional future but Ellen, scandalously separated from her husband, forces Archer to question his values and beliefs. With their love intensifying where does Archer's ultimate loyalty lie?

Wharton's audiobook is a love story that accurately portrays upper-class New York society in the late 19th century due to her insider's view of America's privileged classes. Having grown up in upper-class society, Wharton ended up becoming one of its most shrewd critics. Her depiction of the snobbery and hypocrisy of the wealthy elite, combined with her subtle use of dramatic irony, propelled The Age of Innocence to the position of an instant classic, winning the Pulitzer Prize in 1921 and making Wharton the first woman to win the prize.

Narrator Biography

Having studied at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London, David Horovitch has had a television career spanning over 40 years. One of his most notable roles was in 1984 as Detective Inspector Slack in the first BBC Miss Marple adaptation The Body in the Library. Due to the success of his character, he returned for four Christmas specials. He has had roles in other shows such as Just William (1994), Foyle's War (2002) and Wire in the Blood (2005) as well as film appearances in The Young Victoria (2009), 102 Dalmatians (2000) The Infiltrator (2016) and Mike Leigh's Mr Turner (2014). A long time star of the stage, in 2015 he played the role of George Frideric Handel in All the Angels by Nick Drake at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse. As well as narrating numerous audiobooks, David Horovitch also appeared in Audible's multicast drama The Oedipus Plays.

Public Domain (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

The differentiation of the classes. The wealth vs. the have nots.

Liked the descriptions of al the details of the homes, dress, values. Too many strange names to keep track of. Slow moving story.

Loved this classic!

Where does The Age of Innocence rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

What a great story. I hung on every word. Enjoyed this audible book.

Any additional comments?

When narrator tried to sound like a female I would laugh to myself, but how else could he do????

Keep listening!

The performance was good, there were just a few times where he would lower his voice so much I couldn't here a thing he was saying. I'd turn up the volume then have to lower immediately because they would be screaming.

The beginning was a little slow and I had to start over one time but it's worth the listen. I'm glad I stuck through it.

Okay story, poor listening experience

Story was okay. I can't say I loved the story or any of the characters, but there's a lot there to discuss if you're reading for a book club or lit circle or anything like that.

I really didn't like the performance. I've never listened to any audiobook with a narrator who used such a large range of volume and speed throughout the book. It made it so difficult to find a comfortable listening speed and I had to replay a lot because there was so much unclear 'whispering'. It was actually an incredibly frustrating listening experience.

Well Performed and Well Written

A long, interesting peek into the turn of the last century Society in New York City. The performance was especially well done, except for the harshness with which the American accent was portrayed. The performer himself is possessed of a mellifluous British voice that is a listening pleasure, with that exception.

LOVE THIS BOOK.

It is beautifully written and beautifully read. It describes a lifestyle so long past. I will keep it in my library and read it over and over again.

What an exceptional writer she is!

It is the marvel of literature - art if that is to be the case - to be timeless… and this is exactly what you’ll find when reading one of Wharton’s finest books. Don’t miss it.

A little bothersome

The performance was excellent. I enjoyed the smooth voice and dynamic inflections.

However, I don’t think I enjoyed the story much. I guess I’m old-fashioned and believe more in Rudyard Kipling’s Gods of the Copybook Headings. It was hard to get through his disenchantment of his wife and his possible love affair with Ellen.

Excellent writing and narration

What a delight it was to discover Edith Wharton through this audiobook. I am awed by her control of language. Although the tone of the book is largely serious, certain of her phrases sent me into fits of giggles. For example: ‘A lumbering coquetry became visible in her…’

This was a beautiful and sensitive love story which offers great insight into its milieux.

The narrator was excellent.

Loved, loved, loved it!

I must have lived in this lifetime. These classic authors speak to me. There are so many current authors that I get so much from reading, but Austin, Wharton, the Bronte’s have a place in my heart. The reader was perfect too.