Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
Peyton Place  By  cover art

Peyton Place

By: Grace Metalious
Narrated by: Tim O'Connor
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $22.50

Buy for $22.50

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

In 1956, when this novel was first published, communities all over New England snapped up copies to see if they were the town portrayed in the book. Peyton Place is the story of a repressive New England town known for its high standards of public morality, and the steamy sexual activities that take place behind its bedroom doors. While the town's rigid mores lead to hypocrisy and repression, the earthy characters have an unbelievably high level of sexual functioning, especially the playboy Rodney Harrington and the profoundly round-heeled Betty Anderson. In this environment, Allison McKenzie, a dreamy girl coming to womanhood, must make her way without a father, living with her frigid mother, Constance McKenzie.

©1956 Grace Metalious (P)2001 Books on Tape, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Metalious was a competent writer with some flair whose punchy workmanlike prose efficiently captured her little inland New England hamlet's earthy (if somewhat unbelievably sexually functional) populace." (Kirkus Reviews)

What listeners say about Peyton Place

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    225
  • 4 Stars
    101
  • 3 Stars
    33
  • 2 Stars
    12
  • 1 Stars
    9
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    195
  • 4 Stars
    60
  • 3 Stars
    25
  • 2 Stars
    3
  • 1 Stars
    7
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    193
  • 4 Stars
    65
  • 3 Stars
    24
  • 2 Stars
    8
  • 1 Stars
    6

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Best book I've read to date!

Until now, I would say "To Kill A Mockingbird" is my favourite book; however, after reading "Peyton Place," I think that is now my fave of all time. I watched the movie a bunch of times before ever reading the book, and obviously they couldn't deal with everything in the book for the movie in the "old days" because the book has way more scandalous details.

This book really tells a fascinating story and is a real page-turner. The Audible audio version has a very nice one-hour "bonus" at the end where the narrator talks about the history of the book, how it came to be, stuff about the author, how it was banned in many stores, libraries, and how it was even ILLEGAL to import the book to Canada in the 1950s!

This book is never dull; the characters are a scream; and it is guaranteed to entertain!

Going to watch the movie again, along with the sequel ("Return to Peyton Place") and also plan on renting the TV series (which I've never seen).

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

15 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Fabulous stuff!

I really wasn't sure what to expect from Peyton Place, since all I knew about it was its reputation as a 'racy' novel. In reality, what was racy in the 50s is very tame nowadays, but the issues raised as are relevant today as ever. However, this isn't a 'preachy' book - it's simply a compelling tale about a bunch of very believable, and mostly flawed, characters. As a bonus, the essay at the end about the book's impact is an informative and interesting conclusion to an enjoyable listen.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

A Must, A Classic

Talk about telling it like it is! This book is an absolute must-read, especially because of the controversy it caused when first published. A true lesson on "social intercourse."

It is fascinating to consider that the narration of the book (both on paper and in voice) is from a man. Women are considered to be the gossipers, yet this is presented as from a male perspective (even though I truly think it is a woman's perspective). The narration was superb!!

The movie, of course, made slight changes but none that were too harmful. And then there was the Soap Opera series on TV. But this book, as usual, is the best of all. Even with knowing most of the twists and turns, I wanted it to go on forever.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Guilty Pleasure

I was only 3 when the book came out, but throughout the 50s and 60s there were whispers (and shouts) about Peyton Place. I was still too young to sneak into the movie and when I finally saw it on late night TV, I yawned. That said, both the book and the narrator are a real treat and I found it surprisingly better written than it's trash reputation would suggest. The inner voices are surprisingly honest and I will publicly admit that listening made driving to and from work a great ride. Take the plunge! You'll enjoy!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Peyton Place a wonderful guilty pleasure!

Where does Peyton Place rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This was one of my favorite listens of all time. I would rank it very high on my book list. In the top 5 at least. It's amazing how topical it still is today.

What did you like best about this story?

I liked the openness of the writing and the depth of the characters.

Which scene was your favorite?

My favorite scene was when Dr. Swain decided to save Selena Cross by telling the court what Lucas Cross did to her and why she was justified in killing him. It's times like that when you realize that small towns may not be forgiving, but they do cut through the crap and come through when you need them to.

Who was the most memorable character of Peyton Place and why?

I loved Selena Cross the best. Here is a girl who had to grow up fast and never gave up. She was the strongest character in the whole story and I really rooted for her to survive her awful life.

Any additional comments?

Tim O'Conner did a wonderful job on his narration. He played a character (Elliot Carson) on the TV Peyton Place, but his character was not in the book. Selena Cross also was not in the tv show. So if you are a fan of the television show, this book is better than that. Selena was based on a real person who killed her father who had abused her for many years and buried him in the pig pen. When the publisher insisted on making Lucas Cross her step father, Grace Metalious was afraid they had ruined her book. This version of the book also includes an essay on how this book affected the nation in the 1950's when the country was going through another conservative book banning time. The essay is a good listen.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

should be a female narration

This guy's voice - Bleah. I love this story, I love the movie. I was really disappointed this way being read by a man. I listened to it - but it sounds like he's got a wad of cotton in his mouth which doesn't help. A story of a girl coming of age in a town full of scandals read by a dude. It's too weird. Feel like I wasted my time and download space.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Interesting Book

I wanted to listen to this book because one of my most favorite author's-Barbara Delinsky had written "Looking for Peyton Place" in 2005 and I wanted to know and learn about the book it was based on.

The original Peyton Place was a good book and kind of slowed down in some parts and in other parts kept me hooked. I didn't hurry to finish this one like I have some others because I have been so engrossed with them, but it wasn't a bad book necessarily.

An unexpected bonus after the book was completed is the 60 minute or so review by the narrator discussing the controversy surrounding the release of Peyton Place nearly 60 years ago. This was very interesting to listen too because I honestly didn't know that Grace Metalious was one of the first and few to blow the lid off such subjects as child abuse and whatnot and was such a controversial figure in her time.

The narrator does a fantastic job and was very enjoyable to listen too. I wasn't sure how a man could portray all of these womens voices, but I thought he did a great job!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Peyton Place

I vaguely remember hearing the grown-ups talk about this when I was a child. The weekly series was a real hit - and now I know why. This was a captivating story - it made you angry, happy and sad.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

fun4gracie

Listened to this book twice so far and probably will again. It is truly the best book I've listened to in 4 years. This was the #1 best seller in the 20 th century and after listening to it you will agree. Just terrific.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

great modern writing

excellent writing, magnifcent description,good characterization, to a large extent a coming of age saga. great portraiture of the human condition

highly recommended

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful