A Family Romance

By: Anita Brookner

Narrated by: Fiona Shaw

As the solitary child of mild and gentle parents, Jane is fascinated and astounded by her exotically European aunt, Dolly.

Dolly’s ways are certainly not her parents’ ways, yet she is an object of interest and dread to her beleaguered relatives. It is clear that they have nothing in common: Jane feels no affection for Dolly, and Dolly clearly dislikes children.

Yet the two are fated to go through life in uneasy harness, until such time as their alliance is accepted by both as not only inevitable, but as something of great value.

Read by Fiona Shaw.

©1993 Anita Brookner (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

Very true to novel

I have read all of the Brookner canon. The narrator of this novel is wonderfully British and authentic. A poignant escape.

One of Brookner's Best

A beautifully written story of loss and loneliness that is at times funny and as always with Brookner, tremendously
Insightful and witty. Fiona Shaw brings it to life with her vivid, restrained narration.

A very fine writer

Beautifully read, this is a story of what it is to learn to love those who are before us. Anita Brookner travels meticulously with her characters through time, revealing changes through time, uncovering qualities expected and unexpected.

Narrator captures Brookner’s voice perfectly

I found the main character’s focus on her “aunt” tedious at times but then again, this is Anita Brookner—wide latitude allowed!

Hello, Dolly.

Jane Manning is a characteristic Brookner protagonist: rather shy, intelligent, sensitive, and by design and circumstance, rather alone in the world. Her aunt, Dolly, is a great contrast to her: maddeningly self-absorbed, designing, intriguing, and glamorous. Her many faults do not keep her niece from caring very much what happens to her.

In a culture of oversharing, where the facile observation is mistaken for wit, I find myself looking to writers like Brookner more often. Her depth of psychological wisdom and beautiful voice shine all the brighter by contrast.

Of course, she is not for everyone. But she may be for you.