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Digital Audiobook
The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton

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The House of Mirth

Author
Edith Wharton
Narrator
Laurel Lefkow
Publisher
Naxos AudioBooks
Publish Date
1 November 2019
Run Time
13 hours 58 minutes
Format
Audiobook
Genre
Classic fiction
$13.95

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What to expect

A single woman of 29, Lily Bart is Edith Wharton’s quintessential trapped heroine. Orphaned following the death of her parents, Lily understands that she must use her beauty, grace and charm to attain the social position she longs for, but she is caught between her desire for wealth and a strong moral conscience, which sabotages every opportunity she encounters. Lily’s employment as a maid finds her visiting the houses of New York’s upper echelons, where she is invited to live lavishly and party with her patrons until the early hours. She meets many eligible bachelors and rich men; however, she is captivated by Laurence Seldon, a struggling attorney who sees through the glossy superficiality of upper society. She cannot bring herself to marry a man of working class, nor a millionaire whom she does not love. Thus begins her downward spiral into penury…

Critics Review

  • Narrator Laurel Lefkow turns her talents to the narration of Edith Wharton’s best-known novel. Lily Bart believes she is made for the finer things in life, but due to the financial challenges she faces upon losing her parents, she has to use her grace, beauty and charm to climb her way up to New York’s high society. Lily’s morals, however, lead her to sabotage her every attempt to marry into wealth and comfort. Lefkow’s soft, lilting voice guides listeners through the behaviours and expectations of the haves and the have nots featured in this work. She expertly expresses Lily’s frustrations at being so close to a life of wealth and privilege.

    V.B., AudioFile

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Details
Author
Edith Wharton
Narrator
Laurel Lefkow
Duration
13 hours 58 minutes
Release Date
1 November 2019
ISBN
9781781980149
Format
Audiobook
Publisher
Naxos AudioBooks
Genre
Classic fiction

Synopsis

A single woman of 29, Lily Bart is Edith Wharton’s quintessential trapped heroine. Orphaned following the death of her parents, Lily understands that she must use her beauty, grace and charm to attain the social position she longs for, but she is caught between her desire for wealth and a strong moral conscience, which sabotages every opportunity she encounters. Lily’s employment as a maid finds her visiting the houses of New York’s upper echelons, where she is invited to live lavishly and party with her patrons until the early hours. She meets many eligible bachelors and rich men; however, she is captivated by Laurence Seldon, a struggling attorney who sees through the glossy superficiality of upper society. She cannot bring herself to marry a man of working class, nor a millionaire whom she does not love. Thus begins her downward spiral into penury…

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