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The Age of Innocence
- Narrated by: David Horovitch
- Length: 12 hrs and 5 mins
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The Age of Innocence
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Summary
Exclusively from Audible
Countess Ellen Olenska, separated from her European husband, returns to old New York society. She bears with her an independence and an awareness of life which stirs the educated sensitivity of the charming Newland Archer, engaged to be married to her cousin, May Welland. Though he accepts the society's standards and rules he is acutely aware of their limitations. He knows May will assure him a conventional future but Ellen, scandalously separated from her husband, forces Archer to question his values and beliefs. With their love intensifying where does Archer's ultimate loyalty lie?
Wharton's audiobook is a love story that accurately portrays upper-class New York society in the late 19th century due to her insider's view of America's privileged classes. Having grown up in upper-class society, Wharton ended up becoming one of its most shrewd critics. Her depiction of the snobbery and hypocrisy of the wealthy elite, combined with her subtle use of dramatic irony, propelled The Age of Innocence to the position of an instant classic, winning the Pulitzer Prize in 1921 and making Wharton the first woman to win the prize.
Narrator Biography
Having studied at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London, David Horovitch has had a television career spanning over 40 years. One of his most notable roles was in 1984 as Detective Inspector Slack in the first BBC Miss Marple adaptation The Body in the Library. Due to the success of his character, he returned for four Christmas specials. He has had roles in other shows such as Just William (1994), Foyle's War (2002) and Wire in the Blood (2005) as well as film appearances in The Young Victoria (2009), 102 Dalmatians (2000) The Infiltrator (2016) and Mike Leigh's Mr Turner (2014). A long time star of the stage, in 2015 he played the role of George Frideric Handel in All the Angels by Nick Drake at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse. As well as narrating numerous audiobooks, David Horovitch also appeared in Audible's multicast drama The Oedipus Plays.
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What listeners say about The Age of Innocence
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- LC
- 31-01-20
Portrait of puritanical New York society
Describes the struggles of a man who doesn’t really feel he fits in the puritanical New York society, but is too weak to make his own way and live according to who he believes he really is. A portrait of weakness, desire and missed opportunity.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- David Bisset
- 13-07-18
An American classic
The book was written with consummate skill. David Horovitch's narration is of the highest quality: listening was a delightful experience!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Charlotte
- 31-01-23
Wonderful
Amazing. This was a wonderfully captivating story. I was lost in it and will think of it often
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
- Maureen
- 25-05-10
Most enjoyable
This book conveys you to a lost world. On the surface there is much that was attractive about the life of the wealthy upper class in New York in the 1870s. In this book, however, you are also presented with the constraints and restrictions of what, all too often, was a meaningless life.
Edith Wharton presents you with the agonising choices facing the young, in particular, when passion and the wish for freedom tempts them to flaunt accepted conventions and morality.
The book is beautifully written with many touches of humour.
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18 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- JF7588
- 03-04-16
Excellent
This was a novel I thought I knew - and the movie is so faithful to its detail and tone, it is possible to believe one has read it already. More than the film, it reveals that Archer is trapped and unhappy from the start. This seemed a flaw and there was an impatience that he seemed so passive and so ill-attuned to his own conscience, but this makes the climax all the more horrifying - there never was an escape - and its ending all the more wise. It is beautifully read.
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7 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- St Colms
- 19-10-20
A moving and elegant masterpiece
One of the best audible books I’ve ever listened to. A great story movingly told.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Mrs
- 10-08-17
Restrained and moving
I so enjoyed this audio book. The beautiful language so wonderfully read by David Horovitch. No fast moving plot but such intense exploration of frustrated thoughts at a time of stifling social propriety.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Nicola
- 26-10-21
Immersive
I really got caught up in the age in this well-written and read period piece.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- G R Powell
- 23-03-24
super audio
Good story brilliant reader. recommend to anyone who wants a brilliant audio. throughly enjoyed it
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Tany Alexander
- 21-02-24
absolutely gripping
I was surprised at how this novel spoke to me...about how we all get caught up in convention as we struggle to be true to ourselves...about double standards for men and women which still exist ...I was just captivated in a way I haven't been for years. I recommend it highly.
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