The Go-Between

By: L. P. Hartley

Narrated by: Sean Barrett

Length: 10 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

"The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there."

Haunting, moving, evocative, The Go-Between is L. P. Hartley's heartbreaking novel about social constraints and childhood innocence.

During the long, hot summer of 1900, young Leo Colston is invited to stay for a month at a lordly, aristocratic manor in Norfolk. There he falls in love with his friend's older sister, who commissions him to ferry secret messages to the local farmer, her lover. His naiveté sustains their affair until ultimately leading to an event that will change their lives irrevocably.

Download the accompanying reference guide.

©1953 L.P. Hartley (P)2016 Naxos AudioBooks

Great walk back in time.

Would you listen to The Go-Between again? Why?

This story keep me listening! Was get story!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Leo

What about Sean Barrett’s performance did you like?

Brought each character alive!

If you could take any character from The Go-Between out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Leo

Any additional comments?

I love listening to this story!!!

A modern classic

Wonderfully evocative novel of class struggle in England, characters you care deeply about, a terrific plot line.

Wonderful!

I had enjoyed this book back in the ‘70s and often thought about it since. In recent years I mostly “read” audio books and I realize that I am at the mercy of the narrator. Even a great book can be ruined by poor narration. So I was hesitant about this recording as I was fearful it might spoil the good opinion I had of it. To my great surprise, it did the opposite. Sean Barrett’s narration was perfect and left me with even more admiration for this great classic. I could hardly take a break from listening. I could not recommend it more.

A beautiful book

It doesn't happen often that a movie is as good as the book and vice versa, but this is the case of "The go between".
The story told through the eyes of a young boy is gripping and has the sweet and sad flavour of a very hot summer beautiful and bitter at the same time and it is beautifully told.
I liked the intimate tone of the performance quite a bit and the way the narrator brought the various characters to life.

Compelling story

The story of a young boy Summer, at a rich home, gripped me from the very start. It is artfully told and fun to listen to as well. The narrator does a great job. I listen to it on Ann Patchett recommendation, and it did not disappoint. 

Evocative and a little heart breaking

A beautiful opening line leads to a rather heartbreaking story, of lies and misunderstandings and class divides in pre-WWI England. The book must be better known in Britain than in the U.S. because I had only heard of it recently, even though I tend to be read a lot of British literature.

The reading was quite good, and managed to get me through a key plot point about cricket even though I know almost nothing about it.

Heartwarming

Great writing, very moving. Easy to relate to. I’ve listened twice. Both predictable outcome, yet unexpected also.

Wonderful

A beautiful story of English family and class difference at the turn of the 19 th century.
Well narrated and always interesting with unexpected turns and nuances in the story.
There is surprise and dignity in the ending v

brilliant

It totally brings you back to the feeling of being 12 and naive and easy to impress. The drama of the climax is well driven, subtle and brutal at the same time. Many long psychological descriptions like the good old literature but they are worth it, you understand the perspective of Leo perfectly.

A outstanding performance

This was an English set work at school which concentrated, at the time, on the abundant metaphors.
Many years later, for me, the metaphors are wonderful, but the social commentary is more important. Perhaps our teacher was reticent in highlighting the naughty bits. Perhaps we were too young to grasp the facts. Perhaps we were too privileged, as young white boys in South Africa, to appreciate the other 'classes'.
Forty years later I could not stop listening, all the more so for Sean Barrret's narration.
Get it. Emerse yourself in the story.