The Good Soldier

By: Ford Madox Ford

Narrated by: Ralph Cosham

Length: 7 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's summary

The Good Soldier is a story about the complex social and sexual relationships between two couples - one English, one American - and the growing awareness of American narrator John Dowell of the intrigues and passions behind their orderly Edwardian façade. It is Dowell’s attitude - his puzzlement, uncertainty, and the seemingly haphazard manner of his narration - that makes the book so powerful and mysterious. In Ford’s brilliantly woven tale, nothing is quite what it seems.

Despite its catalog of death, insanity, and despair, this novel has many comic moments and has inspired the work of several distinguished writers, including Graham Greene. Originally published in 1915, The Good Soldier is considered by many to be Ford Madox Ford’s masterpiece.

Ford Madox Ford (1873–1939) was a novelist, poet, literary critic, editor, and one of the founding fathers of English Modernism. He published over seventy books in his lifetime, perhaps most famously The Good Soldier. His books often centered on the conflict between traditional British values and those of the modern industrial society.

Public Domain (P)2012 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“One of the finest novels of our century.” (Graham Greene)

“ The Good Soldier, often regarded as his best work, reflects Ford’s ambivalent fascination with the phenomenon of the English gentleman. The conclusion is anticipated in the well-known opening line: ‘This is the saddest story I have ever heard.’” ( New York Times)

“This is the most intriguing, shocking, and original book I have ever read… The Good Soldier is the only book I have ever read and wanted to read again immediately.” ( Times, London)

I was glad to finally reach the end....

Would you try another book from Ford Madox Ford and/or Ralph Cosham?

If this is the authors style of writing, I will not try to find another by him. Perhaps others like this dry "story by the fireside" type of novel, but I found it extremely boring, the characters very dry, and the action non-existent...much like an English play.

What do you think your next listen will be?

My next listen will be something with action, drama, character. Maybe a war story!! Anything to revive my listening experience.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Ralph Cosham?

I doubt I will listen to him again.

Was The Good Soldier worth the listening time?

No.

Any additional comments?

I read other reviews before I purchased this book. Many of them said this was a very good book. Perhaps we just have very different definitions of what is "very good".

A Miniature of Intense Realism

Not every read must be pleasant, but it can be beautifully sad.
This sadness is not a surprise in 'The Good Soldier', but there are many in this novel that keep the reader engrossed in a difficult tale. Narrated to perfection and gorgeously written, a story of people as real in all colours of growth and disintegration as the earth we survive upon.
The painting of a small portrait, I am grateful to have witnessed.

The Good Soldier

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Some of the detail in how the story resolves. I would have given the reader a little more.

What about Ralph Cosham’s performance did you like?

Any complaint I had about his tone disappeared as I realized why. He had the right tone for the story.

Did The Good Soldier inspire you to do anything?

No

Any additional comments?

This is a book that was very well reviewed but not much is defined in the reviews. The form and structure of the writing create the charm and mystery. I considered giving up in the beginning and often throughout the book. Slightly tedious as it slowly unfolds there was always a hint of something that kept me listening.

We don't know what goes on within a marriage

Any additional comments?

The narrator is naive, taking us step by step as he learns the truth about his wife and friends. Along the way he presents a vivid picture of upper class life in Europe before WWI.

Cheaters, liars, sneeks & the people who love them

Would you try another book from Ford Madox Ford and/or Ralph Cosham?

I would listen to Ralph Cosham again.

What was most disappointing about Ford Madox Ford’s story?

The love story was disappointing, the outcome of everyones life. The only positive is the endurance and determination of immoral people.

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

n/a

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from The Good Soldier?

n/a

Any additional comments?

Not my kind of story.

Boring

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

Couldn't wait until it finished.None of the characters were likeable.

What could Ford Madox Ford have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Like he said it was a very sad story. I think the subject was difficult and i didnt like the way the story was told- jumping all over the place.

What didn’t you like about Ralph Cosham’s performance?

I think its just that i prefer a female narrator and that the book was difficult for him to do much with.

Disappointing

Would you try another book from Ford Madox Ford and/or Ralph Cosham?

No

What was most disappointing about Ford Madox Ford’s story?

I felt no connection with the characters. I would never want to listen to it again, it was of no consequence

What aspect of Ralph Cosham’s performance would you have changed?

His performance was fine - the story was lacking

Tedious, dull, confusing

The story narrator (not the reader) makes explanation for the confusion of the storyline. The author seemed to use that device as an excuse for not being able to write a coherent piece. I'm not sure why I stuck with it so long, except that I had hoped it would redeem itself. Perhaps I should rate the reader's performance more highly. What hope did he have with such a book to work with?

Boring

Not sure why such and old average book was made into an audio book, I guess for its time extramarital affairs were fairly exciting reading, of course there are no details in the book that would be too racy for 1915. The narrator was droning on and it was difficult to differentiate one character from the other, they were all lifeless and uninteresting anyway. The book went from past to present to future making it even harder to follow. Only paid $4.95 for the book but it was not worth the price, not sure how anyone could give this book raving reviews.