The End of the Affair

By: Graham Greene

Narrated by: Colin Firth

Length: 6 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

Earphones Award Winner (AudioFile Magazine)

Audie Award Winner, Audiobook of the Year, 2013

Audie Award Nominee, Best Solo Narration, 2013

Academy Award-winning actor Colin Firth (The King’s Speech) won the Audie for Audiobook of the Year in 2013—for his first audio performance, The End of the Affair. The love affair at the center of this 1951 classic novel takes place in the bomb-strewn last days of World War II, and just after. Bendrix, a writer in war-torn London, has fallen in love with Sarah, the wife of an acquaintance. Though unhappily married, Sarah won’t leave her husband; she ends their affair and abruptly vanishes, reducing Bendrix's inner life to rubble. His investigation of Sarah’s disappearance reveals the role her newly-awakened Catholic faith played in her decision to leave, and other startling truths.

The End of the Affair mirrors Greene’s own relationship with a married woman, and positions religion as a pivotal element in both the inner turmoil and outer destruction occurring in his life at the time. Firth brilliantly conveys Greene’s characteristically bleak emotional terrain in an intimate, nuanced, and unhurried performance.

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©1951 Graham Greene (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

Terrific narration, but story only so-so

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Listening to Colin Firth's narration of the story was well worth while. He did a superb job. I did not enjoy the story. I found the main character to be unlikable and self-indulgent, and I didn't care about him. The story is about the main character's obsession with his ex-girlfriend, a married woman. She -- the "object" of the story, was flat and unbelievable. Her husband was a cliche. The other characters are only sketchy, at best. The story is apparently a character study of the main character, so there is essentially no plot.

Would you ever listen to anything by Graham Greene again?

Maybe.

Which character – as performed by Colin Firth – was your favorite?

None.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

No.

Narration was icing on the cake....

The story raises questions about the continuum of love and hate; how we each choose our faith (or not) in God; what we bring into a relationship and what we owe that relationship. Greene raises the questions in a way that keeps you thinking irrespective of what your viewpoint in coming into the story. The icing on the cake for me, though, was the outstanding narration by Colin Firth. This is a story the begs to be read aloud, and he does it eloquently.

What a delightful, exhilarating listen!

Would you consider the audio edition of The End of the Affair to be better than the print version?

Could not get hold of the print version on Kindle, so I can't say.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The End of the Affair?

When Maurice walks in the room as Sarah is praying for his miraculous survival

What does Colin Firth bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Voicing the many contradiciting emotions of Maurice as he struggles to come to terms with Sarah's faith, the years that were lost between them, his anger towards Henry and his own self-loathing for hiring Parkis,the private detective.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When Maurice reads Sarah's childhood notes in the book that was given to the detective's son

Any additional comments?

Perfect delivery of a beautiful story by both narrators (Bendrix in the print version and Firth in the audio form!)

Listen to This Book

Graham Greene is a masterful writer, and Firth's reading brings his novel to life vividly and compellingly. Even if you are unfamiliar with Greene's work, download this audiobook!

A pleasure for you mind and ears

What did you love best about The End of the Affair?

I love the intense emotions depicted by the author. It is not a book to go though quickly. I liked to taste it bit by bit.

What about Colin Firth’s performance did you like?

Colin Firth's narration is of course the best part of this cake:)

Classic triangle...woman, the "other man, and God.

Would you listen to The End of the Affair again? Why?

Definately, affairs are endlessly destructive and facinating. You never learn it all. This is an excellent primer of what "could, and probably will" happen to the involved parties. Graham has asubtle way of involving everyone. He brings such an emotional impact the life's mundane details. Colin Firth was a perfect choice.

What did you like best about this story?

The everyday folk get so embroiled as the affair progresses. Amazingly emotional impact from his description of planning to be with and obsessing about your lover.

Which scene was your favorite?

Confrontation with the priest...Who hasn't wanted to do that?

Who was the most memorable character of The End of the Affair and why?

The lover who is the narrator.

Any additional comments?

An older author so worth the time. A classic tale timeless and so well read.

My brain is going numb listening to this..

I have been trying for the last hour to get into this book but it's just not happening. The premise seemed interesting enough and the narrator has a pleasant enough voice, but I just am struggling to get into the story itself. I'm.. well, I'm bored. I don't usually react this way to books I've chosen as I tend to read about the books I'm choosing and read reviews as well before actually committing to a book but this one just kinda fell through the cracks I guess. I might try to listen again at another time but as of right now, I'm just done.

Was not interesting

Struggled to finish. Narrator has monotone. Found it difficult to distinguish which character was speaking.

Colin Firth could make the phonebook sound good

I bought this just to listen to Colin Firth and was not disappointed. I've listened to several audible books and he has been the best narrator yet.

Elegantly rendered for the pained, agnostic romantic

Greene steadily mines and minds the erotic yearning and the intellectual guilt which circles around death - all the while attacking the fortress of Catholicism. Clearly this novel has autobiography and confession in every chapter. War-torn London is a character by default. Thanks Colin Firth is simply splendid narrating the novel with far-reaching empathy and restraint.

In short, “Elegantly rendered for the pained, agnostic romantic.”