Disturbing the Peace

By: Richard Yates

Narrated by: Marc Vietor

Length: 7 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's Summary

Hailed as "America’s finest realistic novelist" by the Boston Globe, Richard Yates, author of Revolutionary Road, garnered rare critical acclaim for his bracing, unsentimental portraits of middle-class American life. Disturbing the Peace is no exception. Haunting, troubling, and mesmerizing, it shines a brilliant, unwavering light into the darkest recesses of a man’s psyche.

To all appearances, John Wilder has all the trappings of success, circa 1960: a promising career in advertising, a loving family, a beautiful apartment, even a country home. John’s evenings are spent with associates at quiet Manhattan lounges and his weekends with friends at glittering cocktail parties. But something deep within this seemingly perfect life has long since gone wrong. Something has disturbed John’s fragile peace, and he can no longer find solace in fleeting affairs or alcohol. The anger, the drinking, and the recklessness are building to a crescendo—and they’re about to take down John’s career and his family. What happens next will send John on a long, strange journey—at once tragic and inevitable.

As an added bonus, when you purchase our Audible Modern Vanguard production of Richard Yates' book, you'll also receive an exclusive Jim Atlas interview. This interview – where James Atlas interviews Blake Bailey about the life and work of Richard Yates – begins as soon as the audiobook ends.

This production is part of our Audible Modern Vanguard line, a collection of important works from groundbreaking authors.

©1976 Richard Yates (P)2009 Audible, Inc.

Critic Reviews

"One of the handful of American novelists... who can be said to have a 'vision of life'. " (New York Times Book Review)

"Richard Yates is among the very truest of American writers. Each of his novels and each story unfalteringly traces our destinies and rescues us from the lost. He sees eye-to-eye with every one of us." (Gina Berriault)

"Yates' strongest novel since Revolutionary Road." (Kirkus Reviews)

7 hours and 27 minutes pure blisd

What made the experience of listening to Disturbing the Peace the most enjoyable?

The raw emotions as timeless as air. In this book you get to both be in the mind of a man who goes outside the norm of how to be a good American. In addition, you get to be inside his mind. Written seemlessly so you can go with every move. Breateing in and out. The perfect lenght.The language appear to be as updated as the rest. Proving it to be atimeless classic.

What other book might you compare Disturbing the Peace to and why?

The writing is too perfect to compare with popular books. The mental hospital scenes made me think of "Girl interupted" by Susanna Kayson

What about Marc Vietor’s performance did you like?

The intense pain. The way he makes each character comes to life

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

Yes: The very end when John understands his faith.

Any additional comments?

This book is perfect for a family listen as long as those listening are over 16. It will melt away boarders of generations. A true privlige. This was my first Audible vanuguard listen, it will not be the last. Worth your loved credit and a safe choice if you have a car ride and some extra bucks. Thank you Audible: This listen made my life riche and carefullybopend my eyes to modern classics.

story had me guessing until the last part

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

this book had me wondering if the main character was spastic, or if he had some underlying mental issue going on. I had to tell my husband about this book, because frankly I couldn't stop listening! I had it on in the car, at work, and then on the way home again because I just wanted to find out what else was going to happen to this poor man.

Who was your favorite character and why?

the main character and his girlfriend. Everyone seemed so one dimensional and led boring lives, but those two together seemed to round out the story even if his life was a train wreck.

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

"Teeter Totter" I think would be appropriate given his situation.

deeply affecting and very male-centric

Can't help but feel for the main character. He was a product of his time. Some of the best descriptions ever of descending into "madness." Not sure the women characters were as well-drawn. Will definitely pursue more Yates, though!

A richly depressing story

If you want to read a beautifully written story about the human condition you will thoroughly enjoy this book. Yates commands depression.

Not Yates' best work!

The audiobook performer seemed pretty amateur-- his vocal affectations were schlocky and embarrassing. Audible Studios must not be offering the kind of money required for good talent!

Richard Yates superbly dark novel.

Really enjoyed this novel, written in 1975, it has that feel of the recently departed sixties about it. You feel for the protagonist without liking him. His inability to control his emotions and relationships is the main part of his decline. Yates creates a character with many insecurities and addictions, he lacks any form of self control but still manages to get a whole host of people to support and love him. Complex and tragic, yet darkly comic in places. A very well crafted novel. 5 stars all day long.