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.

Explore more titles performed by some of the most celebrated actors in the business in Audible’s Star-Powered Listens collection.

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

Favourite book

This is my favourite book. Maybe “Power and the Glory” is his best novel but this is my favourite. Love, hate, jealousy all in a marvellous story. The way Greene builds layer upon layer on the story is masterful. The characters are so real and alive. Well worth listening to.

Narrator Brings Difficult Story Stale Plot to Life

This Story grew tiresome as the last couple chapters unfolded. I've loved other works by Graham Green in the past (his book The Power and The Glory is an all time favorite) but I felt like I was being beaten over the head by the main character and his defiance of powers beyond his perception by the last 2 chapters.

Colin Firth is a gifted narrator! His work brought a truly stubborn man that chooses a deep level unhappiness to life. The main character is not a likeable person. My biggest struggle with the story itself is that the main character is so set in his ways. Story couldn't have ended any other way. Just felt tedious during the last few chapters... like, "ok, I get it. This guy is going to choose to remain unchanged in his bitterness. I see it fully, we don't need to dwell on it."

This is a difficult story that requires some subtlety to execute. Maybe I missed something in the very last chapter, but I was "over it" by that point. Might go back and listen to the last 10 minutes again.

great listen

loved it. it was slow in some places but definitely worth my time. Colin Firth was a fantastic reader.

Colin Firth should read every book ever written

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I read this book several years ago for book club and found the main character unlikable enough that I was not that impressed overall. The story is depressing in many ways and I found it difficult to get through, but would not change the story because this was this character's story and it needed to be told like this.

What did you like best about this story?

The amazing reading by Colin Firth. This man's performance, and I definitely think it deserves the word "performance", is spellbinding and made the book so much better than when I "read" it the first time.

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

Everything. The man's voice is amazing. With just slight variations in tone and dialect he made each character easy to distinguish and come alive. He didn't just "read" the book - he very subtlely acted it. He should read as many books as you can get him to do.

Did The End of the Affair inspire you to do anything?

No

Any additional comments?

Get more Colin Firth audiobooks!

A great classic

I don't know how I managed NOT to read this book before now, but I'm so glad Audible allowed me to make up for lost time. You couldn't ask for a better narrator for this rich, thoughtful book. Brilliant!

Good Material - Colin Firth Hits a Grand Slam!

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

Colin Firth's delivery lends a dream like quality to this sad but important story of a man's internal struggle that I'm sure many people can relate to. The double edged power of intense love paired with the deep ache of loss left me wanting more and yet glad it was over.

What did you like best about this story?

Colin Firth's performance

Have you listened to any of Colin Firth’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I can't find anymore and that is a shame

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

start to finish

Any additional comments?

Loved this!

Must Like Graham Greene

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I would recommend it to a friend who likes reading realistic books. If you are a romantic and want a happy ending Graham Greene seldom offers that in any of his books.

If you’ve listened to books by Graham Greene before, how does this one compare?

I liked The Quiet American better. The story was more vivid and the characters more realistic.

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

Colin Firth has that classy English accent that really brings the characters to life. It would not work as well if the narrator had to fake an accent.

Was The End of the Affair worth the listening time?

Yes, can't go wrong with any Graham Greene books if you don't mind seeing the world for what it really is and the people that really exist in it.

Any additional comments?

You have to like Graham Greene to enjoy any of his novels. For Americans ease into this author with The Quiet American or Our Man in Havana to understand better how Greene weaves actual historical events into his books. (It is easier for Americans to relate to the character 1. because one of the main characters is usually American & 2. the events are usually things taught in American History 101.)

Beautifully narrated classic

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, the story is engaging, evolving, and historically relevant with impressive narration. I enjoyed the audiobook throughout.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Bendrix is easy to love and hate at the same time. I enjoyed his bitter, emotional, and occasionally humorous retelling of the events.

What about Colin Firth’s performance did you like?

Colin Firth does an admirable job of bringing the characters to life, provides believable but not over the top voices for the different players, and narrates at a good clip.

You had me at "Colin Firth"

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

Colin Firth's narration.

If you’ve listened to books by Graham Greene before, how does this one compare?

This is the first Graham Greene book I've read or listened to.

Have you listened to any of Colin Firth’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This is the first book I've listened to that was narrated by Colin Firth. If there are any others, I will listen to those, too.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The ending.

Any additional comments?

I got an email from audible that said Colin Firth was narrating a book. I didn't even need to know what book it was. You had me at "Colin Firth." While the story was fine, nothing unique or compelling, Colin Firth's narration made it something to listen to. Very entertaining and enjoyable. After listening to the audiobook, I watched the two movie adaptations, and I have to say I enjoyed the Neil Jordan version. It modernized the themes a little and made the characters more complex.

Fan. Freaking. Tastic.

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

Perhaps the best.

What did you like best about this story?

It's... heart-wrenching, but so well written.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Can't. Spoilers.

Any additional comments?

Can't say how much I love it.