Thérèse Raquin

By: Emile Zola

Narrated by: Kate Winslet

Length: 7 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

Once upon a time, a teenaged Kate Winslet (The Reader, Titanic, Revolutionary Road) received a gift that would leave a lasting impression: a copy of Emile Zola’s classic Thérèse Raquin. Six Academy Award nominations and one Best Actress award later, she steps behind the microphone to perform this haunting classic of passion and disaster.

Thérèse Raquin is the story of a young woman forced into an unhappy marriage to her dull, sickly cousin and smothered by her overbearing aunt. When her husband’s childhood friend enters her life, it leads to a torrid affair that sets her spirit free for the first time, but with shattering consequences. Steeped in the atmosphere of 19th-century France and with a darkly rich foreboding, it is a story that brings out the best of its narrator’s incomparable talents.

“It is challenging, and it’s a heck of a lot of fun as well”, said Ms. Winslet of the recording experience. "As a listener, being able to tune out and be taken into another world, an atmosphere, an environment that is being created entirely for you by somebody else’s voice is really a wonderful, magical thing.”

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

Public Domain (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Kate Winslet reads as though she is relishing every morsel of the drama…She clearly loves the book, and her pleasure in the text is infectious…she grabs listeners and doesn’t let go.” (AudioFile)

Lust and "acting a part" ends badly.

Lust and "acting a part" - ends badly.

Therese and Camille are in a loveless marriage - with Therese having married a (distant)? cousin - her Aunt's son as a venue 'out of the provinces'.

Enter Laurent Camille's best friend - and the eternal triangle takes shape. Laurent and Therese begin a torrid affair and in a "The Postman Always Rings Twice" manner decide to murder Camille and have a life together.

They do murder Camille drawing him in the Seine.

Afterwards they each play 'roles' of devoted wife and best friend with appropriateness for two plus years. After this period they convince others of the idea that they (Therese and Laurent) should be married so as to care for Camille's aging Mother - initially they refuse then they Therese and Laurent are married.

The marriage goes poorly - although externally they keep the 'act' ongoing of external happiness they are both torn and miserable - haunted by the specter of Camille's corpse.

Both take to degenerate living - it makes the situation worse.

In the end - they both contemplate killing each other - they do not. In the end they both take a poison and die in each others' arms.

Excellent character development and narrative - detailing the innermost thoughts of each character. The main characters each have the will and fortitude to keep the 'act' going for two plus years.

Similar in style to Honore de Balzac and "Cousin Bette".

Great read - should be of interest to those who follow classic novels.

Carl Gallozzi

Extreme Guilt Run Wild

What did you love best about Th??r??se Raquin?

I enjoyed the was that the guilt of Therese change her life.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Therese was my favorite character in this book. She was raised in a box without the ability of making decisions on her own or having choices with her life. She is an unfortunate character and her outcome is understandable to her background. Of course, women at the time in history the story is set in, didn't have choices as we do today. I felt sympathy for her character.

Which scene was your favorite?

I do not believe there is a favorite scene in this book, it is all rather tragic. However, the one that sticks in my mind are the scenes in the cornors's office as they look for Comme.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Trying to live with guilt

Any additional comments?

This is not the 'normal' type of book I purchase and listen to. However, it was a good alternative listen to the stories of either mysteries or the more romanic stories I listen to.

A Thin Line Between Love And Hate

A dark and disturbing tale, full of guilt and melodrama, with a complete lack of likeable or even mediocre characters. Adultery and murder drag the protagonists lives further into the grim nightmare that eventually leads to violence and death.

BUT DON'T LET ME PUT YOU OFF! I enjoyed this exploration of the thin line between love and hate.

And above everything, Kate Winslets narration, nuanced and evocative, is a perfect contrast to this delectably noir tale.

Was hoping for more

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I love Kate Winslett! She didn't disappoint, but the book was agonizingly depressing!

Has Thérèse Raquin turned you off from other books in this genre?

Yes!

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

She paints a picture with her voice and words.

Did Thérèse Raquin inspire you to do anything?

What.....think twice about killing my husband????

Any additional comments?

Wish I'd known more about the subject matter before buying!

Ahead of its time.

A gruesome tale filled with passion, lust, hate, and bitter remorse. you won't be able to stop listening I promise you that.

Kate is incredible but the story is ... not

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

Her voice and inflections for the different characters was astonishing and very memorable. She's an incredible talent.

Was Thérèse Raquin worth the listening time?

This book has some very memorable moments but across the board, I didn't enjoy it.

Any additional comments?

I chose this book partly because I was curious about Kate Winslet's choice... found out later that she had been attached to a movie version so that explains it.

Wanted it be over

Great character portrayal. But the story is so dismal, and the characters so unlikeable that it became miserable to endure. Much like all of their lives. I guess that was Zola's point. But the last half was tough going. Winselt is excellent but cannot overcome the oppressive story.

Well Presented - depressing story

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

I think my headline says it all. VERY depressing story but the presentation by Kate Winslet was excellent. Pick a happier story next time, Kate!! ;-)

Better than reality TV...a truly wicked romance!

Would you consider the audio edition of Thérèse Raquin to be better than the print version?

With Kate Winslet reading it, I'm sure that it is! I have not read the print version.

What did you like best about this story?

The originality of Emile Zolde's take on the world's oldest tale of passion and obsession gone bad. You feel yourself going mad with the characters...(or was that Kate Winslet's doing?)

Which scene was your favorite?

I had three....the opening stage of Mother/Aunt and cousins and her determination to stay

Superlative in every way

What made the experience of listening to Th??r??se Raquin the most enjoyable?

This is my favorite 'classic' and I have read it many times, but hearing it in this recording made the characters really come to life. One could almost smell the Seine and hear the cacophony of sounds coming from the Arcade.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I don't think any of the characters were particularly likeable, but all were full blown, flawed human beings and as such were interesting and tragic.

What does Kate Winslet bring to the story that you wouldn???t experience if you just read the book?

Kate's reading of this conveyed her love for the novel and her various intonations, rhythm and emotion for the words and the story really brought it to life. She really drew me in to the story and made me feel a part of the novel. She truly breathed life into these tragic characters.

Any additional comments?

This is one of best read books I have bought from Audible. I can't wait to listen to it again.