Howards End

By: E.M. Forster

Narrated by: Nadia May

Length: 11 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

A vibrant portrait of Edwardian England, Howards End examines personal relationships and conflicting values. The Schlegel sisters, Margaret and Helen, and their brother, Tibby, place their values in civilized living, music, literature, and conversation with their friends. The Wilcoxes, Henry and his children Charles, Paul, and Evie, are concerned with the business side of life and distrust emotions and imagination.

Howards End, a charming country house in Hertfordshire that belonged to Henry Wilcox's first wife, becomes the object of an inheritance dispute between the Wilcox family and the Schlegel sisters. Through romantic entanglements, disappearing wills, and sudden tragedy, the conflict over the house emerges as a symbolic struggle for England's very future.

(P)2006 Blackstone Audiobooks

should not be listed as

Some big and important chunks of the book have been omitted.

I enjoyed the book, but found the prose too dense to absorb while driving and listening - I read the text later, and discovered the missing material.

Gorgeous

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

An excellent accompaniment to my reading of this gorgeous novel. But, nevertheless, a five star performance; a female narrator for this novel is essential. The narrator enhanced the texture of the story and brought the characters alive.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Howards End?

Margaret's final confrontation with Henry after they discover Helen is pregnant and she is asking his permission to allow she and Helen to spend the night at Howard's End before Helen returns to Germany.

Which character – as performed by Nadia May – was your favorite?

Margaret definitely. She was spot on.

If you could take any character from Howards End out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Margaret.

Any additional comments?

E, M. Forster writes a masterpiece here. It is a gorgeous story, propelled by the action of the characters with insights by the third person narrator that is not intrusive at all. It is a lush, full story that examines greed, egoism, self-delusion, social and economic change its influence and incremental descent on the countryside. It also explores the meaning of and appreciation of things of culture and asceticism, and taking time for them rather than striving every moment for the toils of life. It explores family life and the differences of family, families of money and those who have none or little, and those who may have it and of which it has little meaning. This novel was as moving to me as Maugham's OF HUMAN BONDAGE, and Yates' REVOLUTIONARY ROAD. HOWARD'S END is a wonderful story but has so much to say about life. It is just one of those books one must read in one's life. It would be in my top ten books of required reading.

Wrong reader for this book.

This version of Howards End is included in my premier membership. Unfortunately, this is the wrong reader for this book. Maybe it’s my ears but I don’t think so. Nadia may has a lovely accent but her voice is too thin and high to be understood well without cranking up the volume which of course creates obnoxious problem of its own. Audible wants to pretend it’s offering features for premium memberships but I find more often than not, poor versions of books and multiple reader productions with awful music that nobody wants.
I had to spend a credit $$$ to purchase a different version. Very disappointed. If you’re a premium member try this one out. Maybe you won’t mind it. If you have to pay for it, choose another version.

Boring!!

What would have made Howards End better?

I decided to listen to the book before the series is released, usually the book is always better than the series, but this time I was so wrong! I found it boring and monotonous to listen to, the narrator tried her best, but the story just drones on and on

What do you think your next listen will be?

Diana Gabaldon's A Breath of Snow and Ashes....can't go wrong with Diana!

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

No

Terrific

I’ve read this in the past, and have listened to abridged versions. This is the full book, and the narration is truly outstanding . I recommend it to lovers of English literature

Performance ruined book

Narrator screeched her way thru a wonderful book. Couldn't finish listening, had to return it.

Tiresome

The narrator had the same voice all over! Found it boring after a while! Couldn’t finish it. Too many details!

Poorly narrated trite story

Annoying narration did absolutely nothing for this meaningless tale. If I had to live any of these lives I’d want to ‘end it all’.

the story starts out strong but fizzles

The story begins with two, arguably three, strong female characters. As the story progresses these strong females are diminished and acuestate to the males in the story. I say arguably three as Mrs. Wilcox has old fashioned views but seems to have adapted them of her own free will rather than being forced into them. So while I don't personally agree with the character's views I do think she is a strong character. The sisters however start out strong and independent but become more demure as the story progresses. I liked the story at the beginning and thought it had promise but was reminded, before the conclusion, of the times during which the story was created.

Wonderful

A great story about class and the changing attitudes about women during the late Victorian Age.