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Madame Bovary: A Signature Performance by Leelee Sobieski

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Madame Bovary: A Signature Performance by Leelee Sobieski

By: Gustave Flaubert
Narrated by: Leelee Sobieski
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Summary

One hundred and fifty years ago, Gustave Flaubert set the bar for scandal, adultery, and financial catastrophe with Madame Bovary. Now, Audible Signature Classics presents two-time Golden Globe Award nominee Leelee Sobieski (Joan of Arc) in a singular new performance that highlights the ambiguity behind a brilliantly crafted character: was Emma Bovary depraved or just a victim of circumstance?

This is the story of a beautiful woman who marries a devoted, provincial doctor, but believes she was meant for something more—a life of luxury, leisure, and, above all, true and passionate love. She throws herself headlong into a reckless series of doomed affairs, with tragic consequences, and plunges her family into financial ruin.

Sobieski’s Emma is sultry but vulnerable, offering a sympathetic rendering of the feckless madame and her plight in this cautionary tale of love, passion, and desperation. Will you condemn the madame?

Listen to more one-of-a-kind performances from actors Elijah Wood, Kenneth Branagh, David Hyde Pierce, and more, only from Audible Signature Classics.

Public Domain (P)2010 Audible, Inc. Classics Family Life Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Fiction

Editor reviews

Popular actress Leelee Sobieski’s performs Gustave Flaubert’s classic Madame Bovary, articulating the masterful author’s mots justes while bringing a sultry and sumptuous touch to the story of mad passion. The novel, now a classic, was controversial when it was released in 1856, taking a turn away from the popular romantic works of its time to describe adultery in a more realistic light. The story concerns Emma Bovary and her yearning for more than the married life can offer, which, while resulting in tragedy and hardship, is not judged morally. Fans of this instrumental work of realism and first-time listeners alike will relish the ups and downs of this contemporary reading.
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It was very well read and a classic I was not familiar with. I downloaded simply to try out the whispersync audio with a free classic and found that I enjoyed it despite the rather old language which requires concentration to follow

A new classic for me

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The reader was terrible. I know that the book was free. I needed to finish it in a hurry. But her mispronunciations were awful and her voice/expression was drab even on 1.5.

Please Get a Reader Who Knows French

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Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would definitely recommend this to a friend, it is an often overlooked classic. Many people will have seen adaptations and know the basic story but perhaps not have read the book. The quality of language and description brings this story to life in a way that dramatisations cannot. The translation is good and the main characters are definitely understood in terms of their actions and motivations.

Which character – as performed by Leelee Sobieski – was your favourite?

Monsieur Bovary is a character that I've never quite understood when watching dramatisations before actually reading and then hearing the book. As a result of this reading I have a clearer picture of this misunderstood character and consequently much greater sympathy.

Classic and Tragic

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Leelee Sobieski reads the novel with energy and attack. Unfortunately, the material doesn't give much in return. None of the characters are likeable and I found the story by turns boring or annoying.

This one really wasn't for me.

No likeable characters and an annoying story

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Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

No - quite bleak and didn't connect with any of the characters. I didn't really care what happened to them.

Very bleak!

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