Summer cover art

Summer

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Summer

By: Edith Wharton
Narrated by: Grace Conlin
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About this listen

 Written in Paris in 1916 as Edith Wharton contemplated the German army's approach, Summer is her most erotic and lyrical novel. The setting for the book, however, is far away from Paris, in the same rigid New England she used for Ethan Frome. It is here that she explores her most daring theme, a woman's awakening to her sexual needs.

The book's heroine is an 18-year-old girl named Charity Royall. Living in the small town of North Dormer, she is ignorant of desire until she meets a visiting architect, Lucius Harney. Like the succulent summer in the beautiful Berkshires around them, their romance is lush and picturesque, but its consequences are harsh and real.

(P)1994 Blackstone Audiobooks Classics Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction France Summer American Literature

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Critic reviews

"Reader Grace Conlin distinguishes both men's and women's voices easily, using hushed, intimate tones to convey the sweetness of the romance. Yet an ephemeral quality in her delivery casts a shadow of reality on the story and reminds the listener that seasons change." ( AudioFile)
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This was my first audiobook download and I loved it so much that I stayed awake until 2.00 a.m. to hear it out. The reader perfectly captured the elegant, ironic tone of the writing without sentimentality. The story itself never falters, moving rapidly from one development to another while perfectly encapsulating both character and setting. It is extraordinary to think that this story of a small town girl's sexual awakening, understanding and betrayal was written in 1916.

Summer (unabridged), Edith Wharton

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How did I miss this? On the surface this can seem like a tale of morality but it's really, or possibly also, about sexism, inequality, poverty and the exclusivity of Puritanical culture. The book is beautifully read, and there is lots of space in the prose, which is evocative of the New England landscape, architecture and traditions. I enjoyed it so much.

Arresting story with a lot of space and landscape

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A classic tale which has stood the test of time and is still as relevant today as when it was first written.

Really enjoyed listening to this well read story.

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I'm looking forward to reading more by Edith Wharton. I found the narrator's voice slightly robotic, but I liked her accent, so gave her four stars.

Very enjoyable little book

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I enjoyed listening to this book by Wharton.
I’m a huge fan of her - I like the way she portrays the society of the Gilded Age, and all its pros and cons. In some ways, she could be likened to Austen in that she records the realities of what society expects from each other and how easy it is to "fall from grace".
I think one can learn a lot from her writing....she has almost a poetic turn of phrase and I like that.

A good listen

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This totally took me by surprise.
An excellent reading of a great story.
Would recommend.

Superb

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There are some excellent descriptions here and there. And Wharton writes with a fluid style that can carry you along. The narration for me is good, although I have read others had a problem with it. No, the weakness is in the plot and for me, this is Wharton's weaker area. There are too many contradictions and inconsistencies in the character's behavior.

Not Wharton's Best.

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I believe this novel is recorded/reproduced at the incorrect speed. As one or two others have mentioned, if you can slow the narration down to 0.9, it improves the listening experience drastically.

Incorrect Speed?

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I enjoy Edith Wharton s understated but perceptive view of the human condition. Her verbal literacy is delightful and unpretentious. The narrator was good to listen to and suits the narrative style. Very easy to identify with the main characters and their situation.

I enjoy Edith Wharton's understated but perceptive stories

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Maybe, there are certainly some indications that Lenox and Stockbridge and Pittsfield could have inspired the setting. Easy to listen to the narrator, novella length. Typical Wharton commentary on the social mores of the time with some lovely descriptions.

Set in the Berkshires?

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