Edith Wharton was a complex and brilliant woman, as this well-reviewed biography of the famous novelist makes clear. She also traveled a lot and entertained tirelessly, when she wasn't writing. Kate Reading narrates the tour of Wharton's life with her usual excellent pacing and clear enunciation; even the many French quotes--Wharton spent much of her life in France--are perfectly pronounced. It's not a lively reading, but that may simply be because Wharton herself, or this abridgment, isn't that lively. With its emphasis on dates and events, this is a listen for someone already interested in the author, not for the casually curious.
Pub Date: April 10, 2007
Duration: 8 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
James Michener tells the real stories behind the man and his books. The recording is read with skill and consistency although the reader does little to enhance the robust, larger-than-life incidents related in the book. Due to the first-person narrative format, there is no opportunity for the narrator to change his voice. This makes some chapters monotonous as they go on and on in the typical Michener style. The listener may also become confused because the stories are not told chronologically. This is not a great choice for the audio format, but Michener fans may stick with it to the end.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 22 hrs
Publisher: Books on Tape
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
In a quest for a sense of inner contentment and self-worth, Gloria Steinem brings the reader on a journey of investigation and discovery. Steinem reads the text herself in a straightforward and friendly, but not intimate, presentation which is so easy to listen to it invites repetition--thus ensuring the painless relearning of the lessons of the book. It's difficult to tell from the reading that this audiobook is abridged; each section can stand alone. Nonetheless, the listener wished the book were unabridged. Steinem left me wanting to learn more.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 3 hrs
Publisher: Dove Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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