A Coward Audiobook By Edith Wharton cover art

A Coward

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A Coward

By: Edith Wharton
Narrated by: John Chancer
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About this listen

Penned in 1899 by Edith Wharton, this short story features the proper Mrs. Carstyle; her husband, Mr. Carstyle; and their daughter, Irene, who are all are taken with their guest and an eligible bachelor named Vibart. Narrator John Chancer is a film and television actor with professional readings of many audiobooks to his credit.

Public Domain (P)2015 Blackstone Audiobooks Classics
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What a wonderful and moving literary short story. I used to read this genre often, but don't anymore. This one punches above its weight class, as do the very best of them. It's the first time I've listened to a literary short story rather than read it for myself. It took me a little longer to get oriented to the characters and setting, but otherwise it was a surprisingly similar experience, except I couldn't see the white space on the page following the author's last sentence, and had to wait a beat for the impact of silence. Flawlessly interpreted and read by the narrator. A classic.

Thank you Audible!

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Great listen for a commute somewhere. it's very nice and enjoyable. 15 words or more

Great commute listen

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Is this a straight up story or about something else? Whatever it might be, I am deeply dissatisfied. The story just ended.

What was this all about my?

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This story does seem to pull up short compared to any modern work. It seems like a chapter in an essay series rather than a standalone.
We are efficiently treated to several characterizations and some countryside setting by an excellent storyteller. What do people value and what makes people the way they are?

Atypical genre—just a characterization

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