Mrs. Dalloway

By: Virginia Woolf

Narrated by: Annette Bening

Length: 7 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's summary

Mrs. Dalloway, perhaps Virginia Woolf’s greatest novel, follows English socialite Clarissa Dalloway as she prepares for a party in post-World War I London. Four-time Oscar nominee Annette Bening (American Beauty, The Kids Are All Right) performs Woolf’s stream-of-consciousness style of storytelling brilliantly, exploring the hidden springs of thought and action in one day of a woman’s life.

When we first meet Clarissa Dalloway, she is preoccupied with the last-minute minutiae of party-planning while being flooded with memories of long ago. Clarissa then examines the realities of the present as the story travels forwards and back in time and in and out of different characters’ minds.

Mrs. Dalloway is daring not only in its stream-of-consciousness form, but also in its content. Woolf’s depiction of Septimus Warren Smith brings to light the ugly and often ignored truth of how the brutality of war can drive men mad. We also get to see in depth how our main protagonist, Clarissa Dalloway, suffers from her own form of psychological damage: the more subtle, everyday oppression of English society.

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©1925 The Estate of Virginia Woolf (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Bening's work here is fine…her tone offers its characteristic grace…both this narrator and this novelist offer tremendous gifts.” (AudioFile)

Stunning narration, stunning story

Virginia Woolf’s prose is brought to life masterfully by Annette Bening. The characters in this story are larger than life.

Great vocal performance, but didn't like the story

I teach British Literature at a High School and hadn't ever read Mrs. Dalloway. It has amazing literary merit, but it was hard to follow especially as an audiobook. The switch of characters' stream of consciousness is more difficult to discern who it's coming from because there are no visual or audio cues. If you're looking for a challenge and to immerse yourself in one of the first stream of conscious novels and the epitome of Modern (post WWI, pre WWII) era literature, go for it.

A Classic of the Earlyt 20th Century

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Bening's performance was masterful, and while it can be slightly difficult to follow between the different characters, the story remains as interesting as ever with some truly great lines

Which character – as performed by Annette Bening – was your favorite?

I think it would have to be between Peter Walsh and Lucrezia.

Shan't give up the dialogue in my mind, not yet

Annette Bening's marvelous performance!

There I was, walking down the streets of London, an insider to every thought and observation. There the clock went, telling them/us the hour: one, two, three.... there, time to go.

Perfect

Pure description of our inner and outer reality

24 of our inner and outer reality.... Amazing!!!! Highly reccomend.... The performance was also very good and entertaining

Fabulous reading

I loved listening to Annette Bening read this wonderful story. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Excellent reading by Annette Bening

Would you consider the audio edition of Mrs. Dalloway to be better than the print version?

I always like books better.

What other book might you compare Mrs. Dalloway to and why?

The Hours.

What about Annette Bening’s performance did you like?

Her voice is pure magic - crisp and velvety at the same time.

Who was the most memorable character of Mrs. Dalloway and why?

Clarissa

Any additional comments?

no

Annette Bening Loves this Book--and it shows

Would you listen to Mrs. Dalloway again? Why?

Yes--for the human insights, for the enduring style, for the unforgivable truth of it.

What other book might you compare Mrs. Dalloway to and why?

Well, of course, Cunningham's THE HOURS, eloquenty based on this eloquent work.

Have you listened to any of Annette Bening’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

NA

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

NA

Any additional comments?

MRS. DALLOWAY is, of course, one of those novels that changes as one's life changes. Ah, the shock of recognition.

Annette Benning’s did an outstanding job.

Ms Benning’s narration put me right in each of the character’s mind. Her voice was soothing and colorful to accompany the text. I look forward to listening to Mrs. DALLOWAY again and again.

This is a fantastic novel about London in post WWI and you feel the time and place. It includes class discrimination, feminism, PTSD, meaning of life and war, religion, and unrequited love.

If I could give this 6 stars I would

I was turned off by Virginia Woolf when I was young - maybe she was pressed on me too insistently as a 'woman writer,' definitely I was turned off by some essays I had to read as an undergrad and which I found to be disturbingly elitist. But I had heard from several people that Mrs Dalloway was quite good, and they were right. I really had no idea that Woolf was this brilliant. And Bening absolutely nails the narration. I may not have enjoyed this when I was young, but now I certainly did, and I absolutely recommend it to anyone.