The End of the Affair

By: Graham Greene

Narrated by: Colin Firth

Length: 6 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

Earphones Award Winner (AudioFile Magazine)

Audie Award Winner, Audiobook of the Year, 2013

Audie Award Nominee, Best Solo Narration, 2013

Academy Award-winning actor Colin Firth (The King’s Speech) won the Audie for Audiobook of the Year in 2013—for his first audio performance, The End of the Affair. The love affair at the center of this 1951 classic novel takes place in the bomb-strewn last days of World War II, and just after. Bendrix, a writer in war-torn London, has fallen in love with Sarah, the wife of an acquaintance. Though unhappily married, Sarah won’t leave her husband; she ends their affair and abruptly vanishes, reducing Bendrix's inner life to rubble. His investigation of Sarah’s disappearance reveals the role her newly-awakened Catholic faith played in her decision to leave, and other startling truths.

The End of the Affair mirrors Greene’s own relationship with a married woman, and positions religion as a pivotal element in both the inner turmoil and outer destruction occurring in his life at the time. Firth brilliantly conveys Greene’s characteristically bleak emotional terrain in an intimate, nuanced, and unhurried performance.

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©1951 Graham Greene (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

great reader good story.

I like listening to anything by Colin Firth. the story was my first of this kind. interesting plot and character development.

Amazing reading; repetitive introspection story

Was The End of the Affair worth the listening time?

I was thoroughly engaged in the story and in Colin Firth's intonations, but my fascination lasted through about half the book. By that time, I had tired of the endless introspection of the main character. In each person dwells the capacity for enormous good and also enormous evil, but to continue to dwell on that for an entire book was a monotonous story. Mr. Firth's voice kept compelling me to listen more...but eventually, I stopped listening.

I want Colin Firth to narrate my life

What did you like best about The End of the Affair? What did you like least?

I liked that Colin Firth narrated.
I didn't love the story. Bit of a downer.

Which character – as performed by Colin Firth – was your favorite?

Everything his creamy voice produced was my favorite. *swoons*

Such an Amazing Story

The telling is so gentle and matter of fact. I love that it was written in the 50s but the people are so similar to us now. Probably the best audio book I have listened to. Also, an incredibility good book.

Existential angst!

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

I chose this book primarily to hear Colin Firth's voice. Lovely to listen to...

Would you recommend The End of the Affair to your friends? Why or why not?

Perhaps...short but not sweet.

Which character – as performed by Colin Firth – was your favorite?

Bendrix

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

Left me feeling as if I missed something...I listened to the last chapters again.

Sometimes There's No Accounting for Taste

Sarah decides to end her extra-marital affair with Bendrix, even though she still loves him. What she finds lovable in him in the first place is unclear; his selfishness knows no bounds. This book examines this selfishness and probes pride and arrogance. It also looks at the ordering of passion and the decision to love self-sacrificially. It is a telling tale of human nature and divine grace, sometimes rejected but often accepted.

Compelling Story of Love and Morals

What did you love best about The End of the Affair?

Great story and well read by Colin Firth...I didn't want it to end. Would recommend to those readers who enjoy a good moral plot with twists and turns.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The End of the Affair?

Honestly, too many to name...such food for thought.

What does Colin Firth bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Emotion and inflection - he had the ability to make the character sympathetic wherein without Colin's portrayal I may have found the main character merely one dimensional.

Colin Firth should narrarate all audiobooks!

If you could sum up The End of the Affair in three words, what would they be?

Couldn't stop listening.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Maurice Bendrix because of the different emotions we live through his experiences in this novel.

Which character – as performed by Colin Firth – was your favorite?

Maurice Bendrix, although he performed them all tremendously! I truly would listen to any audiobook narrarated by him.

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

There was a moment where I felt extreme emotion during Book 2 I believe, when the journal is being read.

Any additional comments?

I highly recommend this performance of this book. I'm not sure I would've chosen to read this book straight off the shelf, but because of who performed it - I purchased this. I'm so glad I did! It was a great story and worth the purchase!

Engaging. An exquisite review of human love and hate

All was well. Love. Hate. Man and woman and man. Hate to love and love to hate. Such a fine line. He explains with a school level example hot one is almost impossible without the possiility of the other.

And then... God came in. Thewhole god and miracle element ia the only thing preventing it from even more glory than this novel already has. It should be much more.

I especially liked its ability to set a scene, and anatmosphere (blitz, pre and post war) while sending it far intk the backgroudn and isolating the characters and the story from the world aroundit.

It presentes characters as vessels for the emotions that are the main protagonists. Love and hate. Not apart or opposing, but two sides of the same coin.

Touches your soul

What made the experience of listening to The End of the Affair the most enjoyable?

The story from start to finish was unpredictable and told from such an empassioned perspective, I couldn't help but be sucked completely into the book.

What other book might you compare The End of the Affair to and why?

The Awakening by Chopin has that same longing for the love you can't grasp.

Which character – as performed by Colin Firth – was your favorite?

I loved them all.

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

I laughed and cried because it reminded me so much of my former fiance who passed far too young.

Any additional comments?

If you love well-written, touching literature read this. Even if you don't ... TRY SOMETHING NEW!