The Critic's Daughter

A Memoir

By: Priscilla Gilman

Narrated by: Priscilla Gilman

Length: 11 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's summary

An exquisitely rendered portrait of a unique father-daughter relationship and a moving memoir of family and identity.

Growing up on the Upper West Side of New York City in the 1970s, in an apartment filled with dazzling literary and artistic characters, Priscilla Gilman worshiped her brilliant, adoring, and mercurial father, the writer, theater critic, and Yale School of Drama professor Richard Gilman. But when Priscilla was ten years old, her mother, renowned literary agent Lynn Nesbit, abruptly announced that she was ending the marriage. The resulting cascade of disturbing revelations—about her parents' hollow marriage, her father's double life and tortured sexual identity—fundamentally changed Priscilla's perception of her father, as she attempted to protect him from the depression that had long shadowed him.

A wrenching story about what it means to be the daughter of a demanding parent, a revelatory window into the impact of divorce, and a searching reflection on the nature of art and criticism, The Critic's Daughter is an unflinching account of loss and grief—and a radiant testament of forgiveness and love.

©2023 Priscilla Gilman (P)2023 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

Well Written but Indulgent

While I love a well-written biography, I admit to feeling a bit frustrated that the daughter doesn’t acknowledge how privileged a life she led. It’s tough to feel sorry for someone who gets to go to Yale or own multiple vacation properties! It’s a bit much. However, I concede it’s well written and interesting nonetheless.

A profound portrait of grieving an imperfect parent

This is a beautifully written memoir about a woman’s complicated feelings about her deceased father, who was both her protector and her burden until the day he died. I love books that reflect on one’s childhood with a mature outlook, Priscilla Gilman was conditioned to take care of her father, and it set her up for a life of unhealthy relationships until she identified the pattern. Gorgeously written and well told. Priscilla also has a background in performing, so this is a highly entertaining, engaging audiobook reading by the author,

Spectacular!

I couldn’t stop listening- Ms Gilman’s writing is masterful and compelling. Listening to her narration brought me fully into the fabric of her experience.

It’s a rare author who can read their own work

I was eager to listen to
P Gillman’s latest but quite disappointed in her delivery.
Distracting & difficult to hear.
Get the book if you must but forget the audio.

Not interesting

Buying this one was a mistake. All I’ve heard is name dropping, and feel like I’m supposed to be impressed by the people in her families life. Uninteresting, boring, will not be finishing.