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The Buccaneers
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They were confidantes to British prime ministers, poets, writers, and artists, their lives entwined with the most celebrated and scandalous figures of the day, from Oscar Wilde to Henry James. They were the lovers of great men - or men of great prominence... They lived in a world of luxurious excess, a world of splendor at 44 Belgrave Square and later at the even more vast Clouds, the exquisite Wiltshire house on 4,000 acres, the "house of the age", designed in 1876 by the visionary architect Philip Webb - the model for Henry James' The Spoils of Poynton.
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The Old Maid
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 582
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 162
Edith Wharton stands among the finest writers of early 20th-century America. In The Custom of the Country, Wharton’s scathing social commentary is on full display through the beautiful and manipulative Undine Spragg. When Undine convinces her nouveau riche parents to move to New York, she quickly injects herself into high society. But even a well-to-do husband isn’t enough for Undine, whose overwhelming lust for wealth proves to be her undoing.
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Consuelo Vanderbilt was young, beautiful and the heir to a vast family fortune. She was also deeply in love with an American suitor when her mother chose instead for her to fulfill her social ambitions and marry an English Duke. Leaving her life in America, she came to England as the Duchess of Marlborough in 1895 and took up residence in her new home: Blenheim Palace. The ninth Duchess gives unique first-hand insight into life at the very pinnacle of English society in the Edwardian era.
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3 out of 5 stars
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Narration is awful.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 146
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 136
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The Housekeeper's Tale reveals the personal sacrifices, bitter disputes and driving ambition that shaped these women's careers. Using secret diaries, unpublished letters, and the neglected service archives of our stately homes, Tessa Boase tells the extraordinary stories of five working women who ran some of Britain's most prominent households.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Utterly intriguing
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 54
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Performance4 out of 5 stars 48
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Story4 out of 5 stars 48
The highly acclaimed unexpurgated notes taken by James Pope-Hennessy for his official biography of Queen Mary, the present Queen's grandmother. Published in full for the first time and edited by much-admired royal biographer Hugo Vickers. When James Pope-Hennessy began his work on Queen Mary's official biography, it opened the door to meetings with royalty, court members and retainers around Europe. The series of candid observations, secrets and indiscretions contained in his notes were to be kept private for 50 years....
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5 out of 5 stars
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A real treat for English history afficianados
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 111
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 105
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In Behind the Throne, historian Adrian Tinniswood uncovers the reality of five centuries of life at the English court, taking the listener on a remarkable journey from one Queen Elizabeth to another and exploring life as it was lived by clerks and courtiers and clowns and crowned heads: the power struggles and petty rivalries, the tension between duty and desire, the practicalities of cooking dinner for thousands and of ensuring the king always won when he played a game of tennis.
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4 out of 5 stars
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Very Worthwhile
- By G. Cole on 12-13-18
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Rose
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- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 181
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 152
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 150
In 1928, Rosina Harrison arrived at the illustrious household of the Astor family to take up her new position as personal maid to the infamously temperamental Lady Nancy Astor, who sat in Parliament, entertained royalty, and traveled the world. "She's not a lady as you would understand a lady" was the butler's ominous warning. But what no one expected was that the iron-willed Lady Astor was about to meet her match in the no-nonsense, whip-smart girl from the country.
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4 out of 5 stars
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Winston Churchill was right about the poison...
- By Teaque on 04-11-14
Publisher's Summary
Set in the 1870s, the same period as Wharton's The Age of Innocence, The Buccaneers is about five wealthy American girls denied entry into New York Society because their parents' money is too new. At the suggestion of their clever governess, the girls sail to London, where they marry lords, earls, and dukes who find their beauty charming—and their wealth extremely useful.
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What members say
Average Customer Ratings
Overall
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3.5 out of 5 stars
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5 Stars21
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4 Stars18
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3 Stars14
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2 Stars5
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1 Stars7
Performance
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3.5 out of 5 stars
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5 Stars18
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4 Stars14
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3 Stars17
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2 Stars7
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1 Stars7
Story
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4 out of 5 stars
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5 Stars24
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4 Stars11
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3 Stars17
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2 Stars2
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1 Stars6
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- judy wiley
- Philadelphia, PA, US
- 10-24-16
A rare happy ending of sorts
I love Edith Wharton's writing but her stories often end sadly, especially for the women. This one ends abruptly because she died before finishing it. Fortunately, she mapped out the whole story before she died. The outline for the story ends happily for the main protagonist! The writing and the realistic depiction of society in both the United States and Great Britain is perfection!
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Dana
- Davis, CA, United States
- 02-11-13
An ok story with sass
What did you love best about The Buccaneers?
I love historical fiction written by female authors. This did not disappoint although at times the plot seemed to wonder. The characters were well development and the sassy humor caught my attention and kept me tuned in.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- John S.
- Seattle, WA United States
- 06-03-13
Any longer and it would've started dragging
First part of the book concerns some (nouveau riche) girls who try, but just aren't accepted by New York society - truly an example of Rich Peoples' Problems.
The young ladies head over to London where, in spite of the rigid class system there, they manage to snag a couple of swells. Part Two is a tale of "be careful what you wish for" as money and titles don't prove all they were cracked up to be - more Rich Peoples' Problems.
I give the work three stars as the writing quality is good, making it a decent read for those with a strong interest in Victorian literature.
A word on the audio narration: Flo Gibson can be an acquired taste, with her unusual cadence. I hadn't heard anything by her recently, so had to start over again with her style, but by the middle of the story either I'd become re-acquainted, or she'd hit her groove.
2 of 3 people found this review helpful
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Elizabeth F. Meadows
- 04-21-18
Too Slow!
The narrator was fine, but I was completely bored by this book. The interesting part was in the completion by Marion Mainwaring, which I had to read in print because it was not included in this audio book. Just skip to the short synopsis at the end of Chapter 29 and save yourself several hours.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Susan
- Martinsburg,, WV, United States
- 01-22-13
Suzie's review of the Buccaneers
Would you consider the audio edition of The Buccaneers to be better than the print version?
Yes
Who was your favorite character and why?
Nan
Any additional comments?
I love the time period of this story....I love the clothes, the rules, etc of the rich families.
1 of 3 people found this review helpful
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 02-07-18
Gave one star because can't give no stars!
Horrible story, horrible reader!! I wanted to scrape my ears off with a rusty spoon!!!!!!! HORRIBLE!!!!
0 of 2 people found this review helpful
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- SamanthaG
- Marietta GA
- 03-30-15
Narrator speaks too fast
Would you try another book from Edith Wharton and/or Flo Gibson?
No - my book club read The Age of Innocence a couple of years ago and I don't think I made it through that one either. This is also for book club. My problem with it so far (only to chapter 2) is that I can't understand the narrator because she speaks so rapidly AND has some sort of an accent. I've gone back to the beginning about 5 times and still can't concentrate enough on it for my mind not to wander.
Has The Buccaneers turned you off from other books in this genre?
Yes, though I'm sure my criticisms don't apply to the entire genre.
How did the narrator detract from the book?
See above - speaking too fast and with an (?) accent. I tried to slow the speed to .75, but that delivery wasn't good - sort of stuttering.
If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from The Buccaneers?
Didn't get that far.
Any additional comments?
I may try to get this as an e-book to read in print, but I'm thinking it may be a waste of money. Maybe I'll try a sample first.
0 of 2 people found this review helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Marianne
- PETERSHAM, MASSACHUSETTS, United States
- 11-01-13
Disappointed
If you could sum up The Buccaneers in three words, what would they be?
Don't know
Would you be willing to try another one of Flo Gibson’s performances?
NO
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
No
Any additional comments?
The reader was not very good and she gave Conchita an Irish accent which was odd.
0 of 2 people found this review helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Helmac
- 02-26-17
Reading
Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?
No, because I have found the reading very poor. Extremely disappointing as you will see from my library, I am an Edith Wharton fan
What did you like best about this story?
So far I am not liking anything best.
How could the performance have been better?
A better reader
If this book were a film would you go see it?
Probably because it is an Edith Wharton
Any additional comments?
No
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Roz
- 01-29-19
good book, awful naration
Really good book but the naration is poor and very irritating. The reader speaks so quickly that it's quite difficult to follow the story - disappointing.