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The House of Mirth audiobook cover art

  • The House of Mirth

  • By: Edith Wharton
  • Narrated by: Emma Messenger
  • Length: 15 hrs and 4 mins
  • Unabridged
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars 299
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In 1905 New York City, Lily Bart is a young, witty and beautiful socialite. Through a series of unfortunate events, she learns of the bitter consequences for a single woman without wealth, living in an uncaring society.

  • 3 out of 5 stars

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The Age Of Innocence audiobook cover art

  • The Age Of Innocence

  • By: Edith Wharton
  • Narrated by: Mary Sarah
  • Length: 8 hrs and 43 mins
  • Unabridged
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars 364
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Wharton’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel set in upper class New York City. Newland Archer, gentleman lawyer and heir to one of New York City's best families, is happily anticipating a highly desirable marriage to the sheltered and beautiful May Welland. Yet he finds reason to doubt his choice of bride after the appearance of Countess Ellen Olenska, May's exotic, beautiful 30-year-old cousin, who has been living in Europe. This novel won the first ever Pulitzer awarded to a woman.

  • 5 out of 5 stars

  • Beautiful Book But Less-than-Beautiful Performance

  • By Janna Wong Healy on 05-17-13
Ethan Frome audiobook cover art

  • Ethan Frome

  • By: Edith Wharton
  • Narrated by: Jim Killavey
  • Length: 3 hrs and 47 mins
  • Unabridged
  • Overall
    3.5 out of 5 stars 66
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    4 out of 5 stars 48
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Ethan Frome is a 1911 novel by Edith Wharton, set in turn-of-the-century New England, in the fictitious town of Starkfield, Massachusetts. It is the story of a poor farmer, lonely and downtrodden, his wife Zeena, and their pretty and vivacious cousin, Mattie Silver. This is a short but powerful and engrossing drama, and although it is the least characteristic of the author's novels, it has become her most celebrated book.

  • 5 out of 5 stars

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  • By Sarah on 08-31-17
Middlemarch audiobook cover art

  • Middlemarch

  • By: George Eliot
  • Narrated by: Juliet Stevenson
  • Length: 35 hrs and 38 mins
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  • Overall
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  • Performance
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Dorothea Brooke is an ardent idealist who represses her vivacity and intelligence for the cold, theological pedant Casaubon. One man understands her true nature: the artist Will Ladislaw. But how can love triumph against her sense of duty and Casaubon’s mean spirit? Meanwhile, in the little world of Middlemarch, the broader world is mirrored: the world of politics, social change, and reforms, as well as betrayal, greed, blackmail, ambition, and disappointment.

  • 5 out of 5 stars

  • Best Audible book ever

  • By Molly-o on 12-25-11
The Decoration of Houses audiobook cover art

  • The Decoration of Houses

  • By: Edith Wharton, Ogden Codman Jr.
  • Narrated by: Grace Conlin
  • Length: 5 hrs and 50 mins
  • Unabridged
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars 3
  • Performance
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One of the classic works on interior decoration, Edith Wharton’s The Decoration of Houses offers a comprehensive look at the history and character of turn-of-the-century interior design. Co-written with architect Ogden Codman, Jr., this invaluable reference provides us with numerous keen and practical axioms for house design, such as (1) The better the house, the less need for curtains, and (2) the height of a well-proportioned doorway should be twice its width.

Julian Fellowes's Belgravia audiobook cover art

  • Julian Fellowes's Belgravia

  • By: Julian Fellowes
  • Narrated by: Juliet Stevenson
  • Length: 15 hrs and 47 mins
  • Unabridged
  • Overall
    4.5 out of 5 stars 2,468
  • Performance
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Julian Fellowes's Belgravia is the story of a secret. A secret that unravels behind the porticoed doors of London's grandest postcode. Set in the 1840s, when the upper echelons of society began to rub shoulders with the emerging industrial nouveau riche, Belgravia is peopled by a rich cast of characters. But the story begins on the eve of the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. At the Duchess of Richmond's new legendary ball, one family's life will change forever.

  • 3 out of 5 stars

  • Fellowes is a Brand but the Narrator is a Marvel!

  • By M. T. Mirabile on 08-14-16

Publisher's Summary

From New York to Europe, the apartments of the nouveau riche to ancient French estates, Edith Wharton tells the story of Undine Spragg, a girl from a Midwestern town with unquenchable social aspirations. Though Undine is narcissistic, pampered, and incredibly selfish, she is a beguiling heroine whose marital initiation into New York high society from its trade-wealthy fringes is only the beginning of her relentless ambitions.

Wharton weaves an elaborate plot that renders a detailed depiction of upper-class social behavior in the early 20th century. By using a character with inexorable greed in a novel of manners, she demonstrates some of the customs of a modern age and posits a surprising explanation for divorce and the social role of women, which still resonates for the modern audience today.
Public Domain (P)2011 Tantor

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

Perfection

Would you consider the audio edition of The Custom of the Country to be better than the print version?

This narrator has extraordinary skill at cadence and differentiation between the large cast of characters. It was absolutely cinematic.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Custom of the Country?

Both the beginning and end are startling and are moments where the events in the tale seem to open into a wider critique that touches the here and now.

What about Lorna Raver???s performance did you like?

She beautifully performs all of the genders, ages and classes written without ever letting you notice that she is doing it. He pronunciation is flawless in French and English.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

In a world where too much is never enough, Undine Spragg is the hungriest of the hungry.

Any additional comments?

The book is enthralling. I had never read it, recently read a piece in the New Yorker about it, and had hoped it would be interesting. It was difficult to remove my i-pod, frankly.

7 of 8 people found this review helpful

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • AJ1906
  • 11-08-17

Fabulous!

Very good. Edith Wharton at her best. A great listen for a long journey. Excellent.

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
  • mancbella
  • 02-13-17

Stunning

Edith Wharton's best novel in my opinion. Undine Spragg is an incredible invention. Infuriating at times but worth it.