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The Figure in the Carpet and Other Stories
- Narrated by: William Coon
- Length: 4 hrs and 51 mins
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Publisher's summary
Mystery stories - not exactly the genre you'd typically associate with Henry James. The three stories in this collection, however, explore the mysteries of the human psyche and the human heart.
"A Light Man" is a surprisingly modern story that examines the relationships between three men, one old and very rich, two young and very poor.
After returning from a prolonged period in Europe, Maximus Austin joins his friend Theodore Lisle at the luxurious estate of Frederick Sloane, who has hired Theodore as his secretary. It quickly becomes clear that Sloane's affections are fickle and that his fortune is up for grabs. But what exactly are the motivations of the two young men? Is one of them really more virtuous than the other? Henry James keeps us guessing, right up to the end of the story.
"The Madonna of the Future" asks: What does it mean to be an artist? In this classic tale, a young American tourist meets an odd character in Florence. Mr. Theobald clearly knows art, and he claims to be an artist, but no one has seen his work. As Mr. Theobald begins to reveal more and more of his life to his new friend, the mystery only deepens. He claims to have worked for years on his life's masterpiece, a modern version of the Madonna and Child. But what's really going on? Why won't he show the results of his labors? Is the true artist obligated to hide his art until it's reached the heights of perfection? Or should he make it available for others to judge? This story explores these questions as only Henry James can.
In "The Figure in the Carpet", author Hugh Vereker momentarily drops his guard and tells a young literary critic that his works contain a common theme, which no one has yet to uncover. But once you see it, like a figure in a Persian carpet, you can’t not see it. This revelation becomes a defining event in the lives of the unnamed narrator and his two friends….
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Story
Set in English society before the 1832 Reform Bill, Wives and Daughters centers on the story of youthful Molly Gibson, brought up from childhood by her father. When he remarries, a new stepsister enters Molly's quiet life, the loveable, but worldly and troubling, Cynthia. The narrative traces the development of the two girls into womanhood within the gossiping and watchful society of Hollingford.
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It's not about the ending!
- By Sandra on 07-25-05
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Howards End
- By: E. M. Forster
- Narrated by: Steven Crossley
- Length: 11 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
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Howards End is a beautifully subtle tale of two very different families brought together by an unusual event. The Schlegels are intellectuals, devotees of art and literature. The Wilcoxes are practical and materialistic, leading lives of "telegrams and anger". When the elder Mrs. Wilcox dies and her family discovers she has left their country home - Howards End - to one of the Schlegel sisters, a crisis between the two families is precipitated that takes years to resolve.
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Fantastic Narration in Delightful Story
- By Wren on 05-05-18
By: E. M. Forster
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A Room with a View
- By: E. M. Forster
- Narrated by: Rebecca Hall
- Length: 7 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
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In this rich new audio production, acclaimed British American actress Rebecca Hall brings one of E. M. Forster's most admired works to life in this classic tale of human struggle. A charming young Englishwoman, Lucy Honeychurch, is wooed by both free-spirited George Emerson and wealthy Cecil Vyse while vacationing in Italy. Though attracted to George, Lucy becomes engaged to Cecil despite twice turning down his proposals. On hearing of the news, George confesses his love, leaving Lucy torn between marrying the more socially acceptable Cecil or George, the man she knows would bring her true happiness. Should Lucy choose social acceptance or true love?
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A lovely performance, and a wonderful story
- By Robert on 01-19-19
By: E. M. Forster
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The Shuttle
- By: Frances Hodgson Burnett
- Narrated by: Tabi That
- Length: 19 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
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Rosalie Vanderpoel, the daughter of an American multimillionaire marries an impoverished English baronet and goes to live in England. She all but loses contact with her family in America. Years later her younger sister Bettina, beautiful, intelligent and extremely rich, goes to England to find what has happened to her sister. She finds Rosalie shabby and dispirited, cowed by her husband's ill-treatment. Bettina sets about to rectify matters.
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More than Lovely
- By jTacy67 on 01-17-18
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The Idiot
- By: Fyodor Dostoevsky
- Narrated by: Jefferson Mays
- Length: 27 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
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In The Idiot, Prince Myshkin possesses a childlike innocence and trusting nature that leave him vulnerable to abuse by those around him. Returning to St. Petersburg to collect an inheritance, Myshkin realizes he is a stranger in a society obsessed with wealth, manipulation and power.
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Avoid Constance Garnett
- By Anthony on 04-09-17
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Felix Holt, The Radical
- By: George Eliot
- Narrated by: Nadia May
- Length: 17 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
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Relinquishing thoughts of a materially rewarding life, the respectably educated Felix Holt returns to his native village in North Loamshire and becomes an artisan. He is a forceful young man of honor, integrity, and idealism, burning to participate in political life so that he may improve the lot of his fellow artisans.
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four and a half stars
- By connie on 01-02-08
By: George Eliot
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The Enchanted April
- By: Elizabeth von Arnim
- Narrated by: Nadia May
- Length: 8 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
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This is a journey of both escape and discovery for four exquisitely different women, a month of bliss and privacy for four weary souls. Their refuge on the Italian Riviera provides the perfect backdrop for a story about the search for spiritual harmony within and without.
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Excellent book, excellent narrator
- By Amazon Customer on 02-26-05
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The Tenant of Wildfell Hall
- By: Anne Brontë
- Narrated by: Alex Jennings, Jenny Agutter
- Length: 16 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
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Fleeing a disastrous marriage, Helen Huntingdon retreats to the desolate mansion, Wildfell Hall, with her son, Arthur. There, she makes her living as a painter. Finding it difficult to avoid her neighbors, she is soon an object of speculation and gossip. Brontë portrays Helen's eloquent struggle for independence at a time when society defined a married woman as her husband's property.
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Excellent performances of an abridged version
- By LSK on 04-21-19
By: Anne Brontë
What listeners say about The Figure in the Carpet and Other Stories
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- A reader
- 07-14-19
Annoying at many levels.
First annoyance was the narrator. The nasal voice and the monotonous tone.
Second annoyance was the affectation of the text peppered with French words.
And third is combination of 1 and 2: the narrator cannot pronounce French to save his life. I am French and I couldn’t always recognize the words.
Truth be told I may not be “connoisseur” enough to appreciate James. I am a mere “amateur”. ;)
I kind of like his Modern Madonna though.
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- N. K. Shapiro
- 02-22-15
Terrible reader
This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?
The reader has no idea how to read aloud, and continuously mispronounces, badly, the snippets of French in the text. Execrable. Avoid.
Would you be willing to try another one of William Coon’s performances?
Never.
Any additional comments?
Should withdraw this from sale. It's of such poor quality.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Mark
- 05-23-19
Public Domain Recording
I wish that Audible.com would stop selling public domain recordings with amateur speakers, which are available for free on Librivox.com
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4 people found this helpful