No Fond Return of Love

A Novel

By: Barbara Pym

Narrated by: Mary Sarah

Length: 8 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

Three lonely people come together in this poignant, witty novel of star-crossed romance from the New York Times best-selling author of Jane and Prudence.

After being jilted by her fiance, Dulcie Mainwaring despairs of ever finding true love. For a distraction, she goes to a publishing conference, where she meets Viola Dace, a dramatic woman who refuses to live without romance, as well as Aylwin Forbes, an editor whom Viola adores.

The fact that Aylwin is married doesn't stop Viola. When her amorous pursuit prompts Aylwin's wife to leave him, the academic heartthrob is wide open to Viola's romantic attentions. That is, until Dulcie's 18-year-old niece moves in with Viola, and the young girl soon catches Aylwin's roving eye.

Set in London in the early 1960s, No Fond Return of Love is a delightful comedy of manners that comes full circle as Dulcie discovers a love as unexpected as it is liberating.

©1961 The Estate of Barbara Pym (P)2020 Tantor

Please get a different narrator

Such a disappointment to listen to the same narrator as the narrator of Less Than Angels by Barbara Pym.

Barbara Pym deserves better

Barbara Pym is my favorite author, and I was thrilled to see so many of her books finally available on Audible. I read the reviews about the dreadful narrator, but I thought how bad could it be? It’s painfully bad. I’m not English, but I’ve visited the U.K. and watch a lot of British TV. I don’t know what this accent is, but it’s deeply annoying. The reading is also bothersome in that the emphasis is often on the wrong word. Do yourself a favor and buy the book! It’s a gem. This audiobook version is appalling. The only comparison I can make is that of the Disney read-along books of my childhood when you turned the page when “Tinkerbell rings her little bell like this!”

Terrible narrator

This book is one of my favorite novels but the narrator had a breathy lilting affected way of speaking that destroyed my pleasure in this book. I don't know that it's her fault; perhaps the studio director told her to talk that way. Julia Whelan is perfectly suited to narrate Pym's books, why not her Audible?

Delightful English novel of manners and life

Long my favorite Barbara Pym..though Some Tame Gazelle may be tied...I cannot overstate how rich, delightful, insightful and absorbing this deceptively simple tale is. I love it madly! I adore Dulcie and her observations on the rest of the world and herself--both mild and disarmingly straight forward. ALL of the supporting cast (as with every Pym novel) is stunningly well depicted with minimal but perfectly selected words through behavior even more than description, in very small but extremely memorable scenes. Pym is a genius and I feel this book best exemplifies it.

And...just a super fun read!

Now...I am spoiled by years of listening to my Chivers Audio recording on cassette. I am so delighted to finally have this from Audible. But, though the new narrator is very pleasant indeed, Angela Pleasance gave perfect voice to all the odd and eccentric supporting cast in the book. This is especially true of whiny Viola Dace, gruff and indignant Grace Willington, odd Mrs. Beltane, and the very eccentric Mrs. Forbes, plus so very many more. I missed how Angela Pleasance voiced them so very much. The new narrator is very pleasant, but it is like having your mother read Harry Potter after hearing Jim Dale read it. And the chapter announcements...are meant to be quite comical? Or almost as if she is bored reading! At any rate, I have grown tolerant, on re-listening. The overall book, nothing can mar its exquisite writing.

Great book awful reader

This is one of my favorite books, and the reader hurts my ears, particularly the sugary tone with which she announces each chapter.

Painful narrator

I loved the story and writing Is excellent in general, although hated the ending . The male interest/character is an Ephebophilia which is disgusting and makes for an un-likable love interest. But the worst is the ridiculous narration. Hard to understand and just so put on... what accent is she even trying to achieve. Such potential for a good read...ended up total waste of tune and stressful to listen to.

Narration fails Barbara Pym’s story and wit

Very disappointed. I’m not sure the narrator understands the humor and irony in B Pym’s writing.
If she does, it doesn’t come through. The voice doesn’t match the main character’s Dulcie’s personality. She does a bit better with the other characters. Affected and distracting. I couldn’t finish.