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.

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.”

Fabulous novel with excellent narration

Loved Colin Firth's reading of this novel. A beautiful, searching classic that merits reading/rereading and listening/relistening.

Wonderful Book and Colin-you are the best!

I have listened to Colin Firth read several titles and by far this is the best. His voice creates a chilly, damp, foggy night in London and the drafty flats where one can never warm up. Thank you for taking on Graham Greene.

Interesting story beautifully narrated

it is a love story centered in Sara and her love for her husband and her lover, coming into conflict with her catholic faith and her love of God with an unexpected end.

Dragged on

I felt that the book dragged, just to make it long enough. Also the story just wasn't something I cared for. Specifically the character named Morris. His selfishness was beyond tolerable to continue reading. though the fact that it kind of irritated me could say a lot for the book itself and the narrator. As for the ending, as far as a read it, was a bit unreal for both men, though I won't give anything additional away for those who want to continue reading on.

This heading was supposed to be optional...

Colin Firth's performance was fantastic, as you would expect. But he's the only good thing about this title. The book is boring, predictable, and far too long. The characters were shallow and unlikable, the situations unremarkable. I kept looking at the time remaining and increasing the narration speed, just to get it over with. I guess, to me, this book proves that sometimes not even a stellar narrator can save a book.

Great performance, everything else meh

Performance was excellent. However, I wasn’t impressed by the story. I did listen to the whole book but didn’t feel any real emotional attachment to the characters or the story.

a very sad story, very profound, real and painful.

I loved it.
This book takes you to see the point of view of people that cheat on their spouses, their feeling, why they get there? you relate to the lovers side of a love story, you don't judge and you develop feeling rather than blame.

great voice, great reader!

could listen to colin firth all day! slow to start, but his voice and the vision of him as the character works well.

Captivating!

You won't be ab!e to put this one down. It had me on the edge of my seat! Also, I loved the nostalgic vibe.