The Death of the Heart

By: Elizabeth Bowen

Narrated by: Pearl Hewitt

Length: 13 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's summary

The Death of the Heart is perhaps Elizabeth Bowen's best-known book. As she deftly and delicately exposes the cruelty that lurks behind the polished surfaces of conventional society, Bowen reveals herself as a masterful novelist who combines a sense of humor with a devastating gift for divining human motivations.

In this piercing story of innocence betrayed set in the 30s, the orphaned Portia is stranded in the sophisticated and politely treacherous world of her wealthy half-brother's home in London. There she encounters the attractive, carefree cad Eddie. To him, Portia is at once child and woman, and her fears her gushing love. To her, Eddie is the only reason to be alive. But when Eddie follows Portia to a sea-side resort, the flash of a cigarette lighter in a darkened cinema illuminates a stunning romantic betrayal - and sets in motion one of the most moving and desperate flights of the heart in modern literature.

©1938, 1966 Elizabeth Bowen (P)2021 Tantor

Phenomenal

I am very picky at this book met all my requirements for a great listen. Highly recommended for those who enjoy intricate character study.

Beautifully Crafted Story

This novel examines the way delicate, sincere emotions are crushed by the weight of social convention and conformity. The setting is London in the late 1930s. It will take 21st century readers a little while to catch onto, but it's not too difficult. The characters use the technology of the day to communicate--the telephone and letters. A handwritten diary causes a good deal of embarrassment and anger, but is that so different from the distress caused by social media postings today?

Whose heart died in this novel? Was it just one heart? How and when can people live out the truth of their lives when society is ready to run right over them? Is it possible to live a satisfying life while putting the demands of society first and ignoring inner passion?

Readers who enjoy observing the complexities of ordinary life will find this novel especially satisfying.

Great book for audible

I have read this book a few times and was so glad to find it on audible. I first read it in the mid 1980s. The story could be upgraded for a modern series adaptation. I wish someone would do that. As time goes by i think the story is as timeless as Hamlet. I like the narrator. Her voice fits the mood and as an American i find her accent perfectly reasonable even though other British accents fatigue me.

Superbly listenable classic

In the first few seconds I wasn’t sure I’d enjoy the narrator’s performance, but quickly this turned out to be the most listenable, for long stretches, book I’ve purchased so far on Audible.

Mama's Don't Let Your Orphans Grow Up To Be Portia

Mama's Don't Let Your Orphans Grow Up To Be Portia

It may not be fault of #elizabethbowen or any other "British" author of England's years in decline but everytime I read a novel about #upperclass British people and their insufferable and excruciating nature, particularly the embarrassing lengths they go to not suffer embarrassment I can't help wonder how the #unitedkingdom accumulated global empire status. Young British people, particularly those who perceive themselves to be of the creme de la creme, are simply the most unattractive human beings unworthy of the countless novels written about them and #thedeathoftheheart is no exception.

As with many of this ilk, my only reason for reading this book was its placement on the. #modernlibrarytop100novels and, quite frankly, I don't know why it warranted inclusion. I wanted to be sympathetic to #portiaquayne , the illegitimate product of the Union between a country squire and the help who raised the girl bouncing around hotels of Europe. By sixteen, Portia has lost both parents, particularly her mother who seemed to not have passed on any wisdom whatsoever to her child. Upon orphaning, Portia finds herself in London living with her older half brother and wife who are just terrible and insufferable surrounded by friends who are equally nauseating. Portia's naivety and penchant for dairying her thoughts that become the amusement of her sister-in-law and their nasty friends makes this entire novel both tedious and nauseating.

Fortunately, I relied on #audible as my literary resource because, if I had to sit and read this book, I might not have gotten through it. But I did and this sample of Bowen's work doesn't intrigue me in the slightest to read more. #readtheworld #globalreadingchallenge #readtheworldchallenge #englishnovel

Terrible narration

Every syllable is crisply and clearly articulated, but it's almost impossible to tell if a character is speaking or if it's meant to be text. The reader also provides almost no variation between characters, and that variation fades by the 5th word, making it very difficult to follow who is saying what to whom. The reader's delivery is done via metronome, with almost no variation in the pace. Together, these attributes make the reading very flat. The narration is also perverse. If the book directs that a character speaks with surprise or makes an exclamation, the narrator breaks in to a sort of whisper. When a character is described as speaking defensively, the narrator goes deadpan. Whatever the writer's direction, the reader does something quite in the opposite direction. Because the reading is so monotone, yes crisp and clear, but with so little variation, it is almost impossible to follow what the writer was trying to convey. I gave up after 3 hours.

Where's the plot?

I kept waiting for this story to go somewhere. Did not make it through.
There seemed to be no plot.

not good

l bought this because a writer I respect recommended it. But like other readers I find the novel unreadable. The characters and plot are trite. The author's musings on The Meaning of Life usually ring false to me, and at these moments she sounds arrogant and condescending. Her metaphors are usually equally forced. I had to give up on it.