• Through a Glass Darkly

  • By: Karleen Koen
  • Narrated by: Rosalyn Landor
  • Length: 9 hrs and 28 mins
  • 3.8 out of 5 stars (195 ratings)

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Through a Glass Darkly  By  cover art

Through a Glass Darkly

By: Karleen Koen
Narrated by: Rosalyn Landor
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Publisher's summary

As opulent and passionate as the 18th century it celebrates, Through a Glass Darkly will sweep you away to the splendors of a lost era. From aristocrats to scoundrels, its rich, vivid characters create their own immortality. Here is the story of a great family ruled by a dowager of extraordinary power; of a young woman seeking love in a world of English luxury and French intrigue; and of a man haunted by a secret that could turn all dreams to ashes.
Don't miss the prequel, Dark Angels.
©2003 Karleen Koen (P)2006 Random House Audio, Inc. Random House Audio, a division of Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

"A brilliant historical novel, a lovely romance, a gripping character study...there's something for everyone inThrough A Glass Darkly!" (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
"...action and intrigue enough to win a following who will demand this and further volumes in what is sure to become another sweeping saga." (Library Journal)

What listeners say about Through a Glass Darkly

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Abridged only?? Ridiculous!

I can't fathom why this book is only available in abridged format. I was so excited when I purchased it, only to read half a book! This is one of the most famous and respected historical fiction novels on Audible.
I'm bitterly disappointed and frustrated that the full audiobook is available. I hope the full book will be available soon.

Books like this shouldn't be abridged. Ruins the story!

A 5 star book in print. Don't waste your $ on this abbreviated version!

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39 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Perfect

I am reading Karleen Koen's novels in reverse order of publication--but that's just fine, since she worked backwards in time in composing them. Now Face to Face (unfortunately hard to find on audio) is the first written but last in Koen's ficitonal time frame, taking the granddauhghter of Alice Verney (heroine of The Dark Angels) to America. I enjoyed The Dark Angels so much that I couldn't wait to listen to Through a Glass Darkly, and it did not disappoint. I'll soon start reading a print version of Now Face to Face. I've been putting it off because I don't want this series to end. Hopefully Koen is hard at work on something new.

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15 people found this helpful

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

So disappointed only abridged

What did you like best about Through a Glass Darkly? What did you like least?

I LOVE this book but I was so disappointed that it was abridged. Why cut short such a wonderful story???

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14 people found this helpful

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

Not the full book.

This is an abridged version of the book. Still a good story, just wish I would have known. This version lacks the depth of the original

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10 people found this helpful

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

Disappointed

I had no idea the audio version was abridged. I loved the printed book when it came out years ago, including all the story lines of the secondary characters. This version left out all but the main characters, which is too bad. I would not have purchased it if I had picked up on the fact that it was an abridged version. I wish Audible would plainly label books when they are not the full version. Maybe they do, but I missed it.

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7 people found this helpful

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

Why abridged???

I have loved this book for years and it was beautifully read, but why on earth did they abridge it?!?

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6 people found this helpful

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

incomplete version

I loved the book, the audible was incomplete . I wish it had been the complete version.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

Couldn't get through it

I am sorry to skew these reviews with only a 2-star rating but I couldn't get through this book!

I was really looking forward to hearing this book and then getting the next in the series but this book turned me off to them.

I got more than half way through and turned it off and I don't seem to care to know what happens to the characters.

I listened to it mainly while driving to and from work and maybe my mind was too distracted but I couldn't keep all of the female characters straight as there seem to be a billion of them all with too-similar voices.

The main character, Diana, is whiny, annoying, immature and can't figure out what she wants. Unbelievable tragedy follows her to the point of ridiculousness (just wait for the second half!).

Sorry, but I can't recommend this book.

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5 people found this helpful

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

Very abridged version, buyer beware!

I read this book previously and is a great book, no issue there. But this version in audible cuts out about half the book to the point where it wouldn’t even make sense when they release the second part because they cut out everyone’s back stories! Don’t waste your time or money, go find a full version or read the book.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Great Story

Loved the book but a bit disappointed with the end. All in all, a good book.

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3 people found this helpful