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Possession

By: A. S. Byatt
Narrated by: Virginia Leishman
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Publisher's summary

Winner of England's Booker Prize and a literary sensation, Possession is an exhilarating novel of wit and romance, at once an intellectual mystery and a triumphant love story.

As a pair of young scholars research the lives of two Victorian poets, they uncover their letters, journals, and poems and track their movements from London to Yorkshire - from spiritualist seances to the fairy-haunted far west of Brittany. What emerges is an extraordinary counterpoint of passion and ideas.

©1990 A.S. Byatt (P)1999 Recorded Books
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What listeners say about Possession

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

audible poetry

When holding the book in my hands, I found the long sections of history and myth woven into poetry interesting in what they revealed about the characters and the author. Strangely, many of these same sections became tedious when translated to the oral format. Perhaps I had jumped ahead or not paid full attention when reading? But when listening there is no effective way of moving the story forward without possibly missing the plot narrative. "Get on with it already!" I cried several times. A warning, the theoretical polemics of post-modern "social scientists" may seem impenetrable to those not embroiled in the verbiage of modern academia; those involved in these fields may see themselves parodied with ironic accuracy. It is words and, as stated by the author, "lists of words that arranged themselves into poems" that form the beauty of this book that ultimately leaves the romantic in tears.

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37 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

not to be missed

brilliant story, beautiful prose and then there is the poetry, to say nothing of the dog.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

A long, lexical love story

very long, complicated 19th century syle poetry and prose, but fantastic narration kept me hooked.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Laudable but unenjoyable

I was excited to listen to this one. I'm an English major and wanted a book I could "get stuck into." Beautifully crafted and worthy of praise in terms of quality of prose, but it left me cold. I couldn't connect or empathize with any of the characters.

Sadly, I just didn't find it rewarding enough to see it through to the end.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Beautiful

Unequivocally beautiful and digestible. Perfect format, easier to comprehend than the written version, for me. the whole experience was a pleasure I didn’t want to end, but I shared the hunger of her characters to discover how the story turned out. So satisfying to have access to the brilliant A.S. Byatt’s magical language without over-taxing my tired brain! Love love love!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

The greatest book I've ever read.

I have read a lot and this is number one. Before it, Tess of the d'Urbervilles was the best. Ms. Byatt has created a truly unique and, at the same time, truly historical masterpiece. If you love classic literature, don't miss this. I have read and listened to it maybe eight or nine times since 2003, and I discover something new each time; I wonder at the author's craftsmanship each time.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Fabulous

This story of discovery takes you from authors in Victorian to their researchers in today's England written with rich language.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Clever story and good writing but a little cold

This is a fine book in many ways. The double plot (the story of the researchers, and the story of their subjects) is nicely managed. And the imitation of 19th century styles in prose and poetry is very well done. But even though I'm steeped in the 19th century and British literature, I still found the book a little unexciting, clever, but a bit cold. I found I enjoyed the slightly humorous 21st century more interesting than the very serious 19th century story. The narrator is fine. And throughout, there are some very nice touches in the writing.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Slow start worth finishing

Stick with this very circular tale because once the dance is finished it is a delightful romp worth hearing until its conclusion

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Love-Hate

I have mixed feelings about this book. At times, I was intrigued, and at other times, I just wanted it to be over. The overall story is original, mysterious, and romantic. The author’s vocabulary is vast, but the story can be very wordy and flowery. There was lots of poetry, which dragged on, but loved when the story was being told.

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