The Gilded Age

By: Mark Twain, Charles Dudley Warner

Narrated by: Bronson Pinchot

Length: 16 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's Summary

The Gilded Age is the collaborative work of Mark Twain and Charles Dudley Warner that satirized the era that followed the Civil War. This period is often referred to as the “Gilded Age” because of this book. The corruption and greed that was typical of the time is exemplified through two fictional narratives: one, of the Hawkins, a poor family from Tennessee that tries to persuade the government to purchase their seventy-five thousand acres of unimproved land; and second, of Philip Sterling and Henry Brierly, two young upper-class men who seek their fortune in land as well.

This book is widely considered one of the hundred greatest books of all time and is here to attract a whole new generation of readers, for the themes of this classic work are still relevant to our nation today.

MARK TWAIN (1835–1910) was born Samuel L. Clemens in the town of Florida, Missouri. One of the most popular and influential authors our nation has ever produced, his keen wit and incisive satire earned him praise from both critics and peers. He has been called not only the greatest humorist of his age but the father of American literature.

CHARLES DUDLEY WARNER (1829–1900), an American essayist and novelist, was born of Puritan ancestry. He traveled widely, lectured frequently, and was actively interested in prison reform, city park supervision, and other movements for the public good. He was the first president of the National Institute of Arts and Letters, and, at the time of his death, was president of the American Social Science Association. He first attracted attention by the reflective sketches entitled My Summer in a Garden, popular for their abounding and refined humor and mellow personal charm, wholesome love of outdoor things, comments on life and affairs, and delicately finished style, qualities that suggest the work of Washington Irving.

Public Domain (P)2011 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic Reviews

“Mark Twain was the first truly American writer, and all of us since are his heirs.” (William Faulkner)

An American classic, beautifully narrated

I really enjoyed this. I love Mark Twain and Bronson Pinchot reads him beautifully (also highly recommend Pinchot reading Twain's memoirs). It's startling to realize how well-established the short-term profit/self-interest first/speculator vein was in American culture in Twain's time. It gives some perspective on recent events. I listened to "How Markets Fail" just before this book, in a funny way they compliment each other ;-).

Surprisingly Current

The Gilded Age is one of the few Twain works I hadn't read, and I was pleasantly surprised. The American penchant for get-rich-quick schemes, and the corruption and hypocrisy of Washington politicians was already in full-force 150 years ago! The southern dialect of Senator Dilworthy is vintage Twain. Great satire, though the second half, which involves a murder trial, drags on a bit too long. It's all the more ironic that Twain followed the example of his characters who dream of quick riches, only to be bankrupted by their greed. Excellent narration by Bronson Pinchot.

Good Story

I haven't been introduced to a Mark Twain story I didn't like. This was a great story. Tedious at times, but the time it takes to consume it is not wasted. The narrator, Bronson Pinchot, was great. His handling of the characters was perfect.

can't take the accent i

I'm going to return this. the nearly continuous accent reminds me of something I don't like.

I was expecting a lot -- but was dissapointed

The first part was very enjoyable. There was an abrupt transition to the center part and it then bogged down in Washington DC. The depiction of congressional actions was disgusting and not at all humorous (if it was supposed to be). The ending was again enjoyable but seemed to be a less than adequate as a conclusion for the whole book. The ending left me wanting something more.

“The Gilded Age” by Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)

Far from the humorous story telling style one would normally expect from Mark Twain, “The Gilded Age” is nevertheless quite simply one the greatest tales he ever produced! In fact it is probably one of the the greatest dramatic works produced by anyone at anytime!
It may not quite achieve the stature of, say, Tolstoy’s “War and Peace” or even Twain’s own “Huckleberry Finn” but it deserves far more praise than it is often afforded.
And THIS oral presentation is itself well done and quite worthy of any listeners time and attention!

Always intriguing, flashes of greatness

What does Bronson Pinchot bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

Words don't flow off the page natural-like per later Twain work. Narrator does a great job of making up the shortfall. I hesitated to get this one because the preview excerpt doesn't do him justice.

Any additional comments?

As it has been since the fall of the Berlin Wall, thus it was in the aftermath of the American Civil War.