Orlando

By: Virginia Woolf

Narrated by: Clare Higgins

Length: 8 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

Exclusively from Audible

Fantasy, love and an exuberant celebration of English life and literature, Orlando is a uniquely entertaining story. Originally conceived by Virginia Woolf as a playful tribute to the family of her friend and lover, Vita Sackville-West, Orlando's central character, a fictional embodiment of Sackville-West, changes sex from a man to a woman and lives throughout the centuries, whilst meeting historical figures of English literature.

The book opens with Orlando as a young nobleman in Elizabethan England who finds love with a Russian princess. During Charles II's reign, he is an ambassador to Constantinople and becomes a Duke. Orlando then goes on to wake as a beautiful woman, exploring the roles of women in the 18th and 19th centuries. Eventually becoming a wife and mother the tale ends in the year 1928, a year consonant with full suffrage for women. Upon plans to publish her 1588 poem 'The Oak Tree', written in the opening of the book, she reflects on her centuries of adventure.

An exploration of androgyny and the creative life of a woman, it is considered a feminist work. Arguably one of Woolf's most popular stories, it marked a turning point in her career, departing from her more introspective works. Receiving both critical and financial success, it guaranteed Woolf's financial stability.

There have been many adaptations made, including a 1992 film starring Tilda Swinton and an opera by composer Peter Aderhold which premiered at the Braunschweig State Theatre in in 2016.

Narrator Biography

Clare Higgins is an accomplished actress of screen and stage, winning three Olivier Awards for Best Actress for her roles in Sweet Bird of Youth (1995), Vincent in Brixton (2003) and Hecuba (2005). With a long and successful career in British and American theatre, she has also been a regular feature on our television screens. Her recent roles have included Miss Cackle in The Worst Witch (2017), Ohila in Doctor Who (2013 and 2015), Hazel Warren in EastEnders (2015) and Vivian in Rogue (2014).

Claire Higgins is probably best known for her memorable and sinister performance as Julia in the horror films Hellraiser (1987) and Hellbound: Hellraiser II (1988), with other film appearances including The Golden Compass (2007) and Small Faces (2006). With a voice and timing perfect for audio she has narrated many audiobooks, including Nick Hornby's How to Be Good and Joanna Trollope's The Best of Friends, and in 2009 portrayed Margaret Thatcher in the BBC Radio 4 drama A Family Affair.

Public Domain (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Clare Higgins's supple, silky voice does justice to Woolf's literary landmark. The language of Orlando, peppered with alliterative phrases, flows effortlessly with perfect pacing by Higgins, and Woolf's dry wit shines through her performance." ( AudioFile)

Interesting, but not for me

Interesting & at times, fascinating. However, I could never really get into the story itself. For me it was probably the setting & era. I wanted to like it more, but often found myself drifting away and even when I re-listened still didn't understand what was going on. I finally realized I didn't really care.

I would prefer to read Virginia Woolf

Okay, this was a stuff up. Do not listen to Virginia Woolfe on Audible (duh). Or rather, if you're someone like me who struggles to lie down and listen to intensely introspective thoughts for 9 hours without distraction, don't. My brother made the point that perhaps her writing does not translate as well to audio books: he is right. This one does not pass the test. And what's worse, I should have stopped, upgraded to kindle, returned it, moved on with my life.

It only appeared difficult to get into in this format, the story is very accessible when you pay close attention, the writing is contemplative and wry. The main character covers both genders and 300ish years, and there are enormous changes in society for one person to experience, the greatest being the role of women.

poetically written

Great reader. I loved the story, the imagery . Listening to this book was a unique experience. I would defiantly recommend this book

Beautiful story that's relevant for our times

I listened to this story a few months ago, and keep coming back to it in my mind. Some of the lines and descriptions of Orlando's life and travels are stunning. I've been on a Woolf trend lately, and find this to be one of her more accessible works if you're reading her for the first time. The story itself is so relevant to now, when gender and identity can be mutable and shifting -- it's really thought-provoking and inspiring to read a story written a century ago about a beautiful protagonist who can shift genders, and move through time like an unproblematic Dorian Grey.

Wolff at her complex best.

Struggled to finish
it was difficult to engage with the changing Orlando. I did admire her beautiful sentences.

Orlando

Heard lots of amazing things about this book so I wanted to give it a try... It's not the kind of book i'm used to reading but it was still interesting and the lady who read it was excellent!

nice to hear this book unabridged finally

prior only able to hear abridged version. nice to have this unabridged version. well done

Classic

Virginia Woolf in her finest prose. This is a classic I would encourage anyone to read.

A true masterpiece!

Quite possibly one of the most important books ever written, Orlando lets us peek deep into our own selfs and, reimagine the nature of our mind, our humanity. One could read this book every few years and discover something new. It is philosophical, revolutionary and utterly profound.

Highbrow literature

I believe 'one should' read Virginia Woolf and this was a painless way to peruse her thoughts and views expressed in fiction. It was maybe to highbrow for me, though, and a relief when it was done.