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Summer

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Summer

By: Edith Wharton
Narrated by: Grace Conlin
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Summary

 Wharton's most erotic and lyrical novel, Summer explores a daring theme for 1917, a woman's awakening to her sexuality. Eighteen-year-old Charity Royall lives in the small town of North Dormer, ignorant of desire until the arrival of architect Lucius Harney. Like the succulent summer landscape in the Berkshires around them, Charity's romance is lush and picturesque, but its consequences are harsh and real.

Praised for its realism and candor by such writers as Joseph Conrad and Henry James and compared to Flaubert's Madame Bovary, Summer was one of Wharton's personal favorites of all her novels and remains as fresh and relevant today as when it was first written.

(P)1994 Blackstone Audiobooks Classics Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction 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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Such an engaging story of a young woman's life at the time. Edith Wharton's use of the language is so lovely I went back just to repeat certain phrases and passages. Narration very good too

beautifully written

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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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From a strange remote rural beginning in life Charity gradually has her eyes opened to the world by an architect from the big city . Her old guardian suddenly shows new facets of his character and the indolent Charity has her coming of age. A charming, slow paced book.,beautifully narrated, to relax & also to quicken to.
I recommend this classic coming of age novel from 1917

Innocent eyes opened to the world

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

Superb

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