The Magnificent Ambersons

By: Booth Tarkington

Narrated by: Harry Shaw

Length: 10 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

Bigger, newer, faster. Demolish and rebuild, then demolish and rebuild again. Smoke, soot, and noise are the badges of prosperity, and growth is for growth's sake.

The second book in what would become known as Booth Tarkington's "growth trilogy" is about a small Midwestern town rapidly transforming into a modern industrial city. The Ambersons, once the town's most glamorous old-money family, is unable to adapt to the changing environment and is slowly declining toward oblivion, while Eugene Morgan and his newly invented motorcar are the future.

Public Domain (P)2022 Mark Nelson

The Rise and Fall of the Indiana Nouveau Riche

#themagnificentambersons by #boothtarkington is one of those novels that, though I was aware of the title as both a book and a movie, could not describe if someone asked. Mistakenly, I have thought it to be a screwball comedy. There is not much in the way of humorous moments unless you view arrogance and bullying as something funny.

By virtue of being on being #100 on the #modernlibrarytop100novels list and the winner of the #1919 #pulitzerprizefornovels , I was compelled to read it in #aubldible form, expertly read by #harryshaw , I went into the book expecting a humorous romp. What I got instead was a dark and critical examination of the sudden rise and three generation fall of a family. Based in an unnamed Midwest town but believed to be Tarkington's hometown of #indianapolis , the story centers on #georgeamberson , the grandson of family paragon #majoranderson , who had grown wealthy from post Civil War land speculation. Seemingly unconcerned that his three children and his sole grandchild ever seek out a career, little Georgie was a spoiled and privileged terror who lorded his family name over all who fell under his imperial gaze in his prairie kingdom. George is indulged in the time capsule of his own making, unsympathetic of those he considered beneath him.and unaware of the growth and expansion of the city beyond the Amberson extension. Though compelled by the beauty of a young woman, the daughter of an ambitious industrialist who had once been a suitor of his mother, being an Amberson and the importance he placed in that position superceded any romantic notions he may feel. Next George is so caught up in maintaining his family name and perceived importance, he is blind to the changes happening in his town and country that was speeding their obsolescence.

I didn't wish to rush through the book but I was curious to find out if George ever got the "comeuppance" so wished upon him by the "riffraff" of the town. The somewhat inconclusive ending didn't fully satisfy. It wasn't until finishing the novel that I realized it is the second in a trilogy, leaving me to wonder if my curiosity is great enough to prompt me to read the first and third. I'll have to consider that.
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