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  • The End of the Affair

  • By: Graham Greene
  • Narrated by: Colin Firth
  • Length: 6 hrs and 28 mins
  • 4.1 out of 5 stars (11,430 ratings)

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The End of the Affair

By: Graham Greene
Narrated by: Colin Firth
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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.

Go Behind the Scenes with Colin Firth

An accomplished stage and screen actor embraces a new medium: audio performance.
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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.
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Our favorite moments from The End of the Affair

Jilted lover and oblivious husband at the pub.
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The first glimpse of Sarah.
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Is he loved? The dour Bendrix has doubts.
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The thrill is gone, or so Bendrix jealously fears.
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  • The End of the Affair
  • Jilted lover and oblivious husband at the pub.
  • The End of the Affair
  • The first glimpse of Sarah.
  • The End of the Affair
  • Is he loved? The dour Bendrix has doubts.
  • The End of the Affair
  • The thrill is gone, or so Bendrix jealously fears.

About the Performer

Colin Firth was heart-stoppingly perfect as Darcy in BBC’s Pride and Prejudice, won an Oscar for playing the tongue-tied king in The King’s Speech, and continued to gain fans with his roles in Bridget Jones’s Diary, A Single Man, Love Actually, and many more films. In addition to having a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Firth won Audiobook of the Year in 2013 for his narration of The End of the Affair.

About the Author

Graham Greene, widely recognized as one of the most important writers of the 20th century, was born in Hertfordshire, England, and studied history at Oxford. A restless spirit, he traveled the world before settling in London and starting to write novels, including The Heart of the Matter, The Quiet American, Our Man in Havana, and many more. Later recruited as a spy for his government, he based several of his novels in the shadowy world of double agents. But love and passion also caught his imagination, and he explored them from the perspective of an "agnostic Catholic" whose interest in Catholicism also played a big role in his work.

What listeners say about The End of the Affair

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

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.)

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

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.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

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.

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

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.

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

Colin Firth

The reader can make or break an Audible book and Colin Firth was a genius choice to render the words of Graham Greene. Did I already say genius? Genius

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Excellent performance

Perfect telling of this powerful story. Beautiful language and imagery. A wonderful combination of literary and acting talents.

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

Deep, poetic, morose.

Poetic writing, masterfully narrated. But you have to be in the mood for something gloomy, and deep.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Fascinating

A great story with an interesting plot..Lots of twists and turns. Collin Firth is amazing as always

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Greene insightful: Firth brings the book alive

Would you consider the audio edition of The End of the Affair to be better than the print version?

yes, Firth's reading is brilliant.

What did you like best about this story?

Greene's insights into human nature and love pierce the heart.

What about Colin Firth’s performance did you like?

Perfect tone, nuanced, heartfelt.

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

If only one could, but it bears re-reading.

Any additional comments?

I'm checking the other Greene books on Audible, but so far I don't fancy the readers.

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

Pretty depressing

What disappointed you about The End of the Affair?

I don't know. It just seemed to sort of drag on & on, and was majorly depressing. Probably just not my taste in books.

Would you ever listen to anything by Graham Greene again?

Maybe

What about Colin Firth’s performance did you like?

Colin Firth was PHENOMENAL

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