Listen free for 30 days

Listen with offer

Offer ends May 1st, 2024 11:59PM GMT. Terms and conditions apply.
£7.99/month after 3 months. Renews automatically.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
I Am My Own Wife cover art

I Am My Own Wife

By: Doug Wright
Narrated by: Jefferson Mays
Get this deal Try for £0.00

Pay £99p/month. After 3 months pay £7.99/month. Renews automatically. See terms for eligibility.

£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically.

Buy Now for £7.29

Buy Now for £7.29

Pay using card ending in
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.

Listeners also enjoyed...

Dracula [Audible Edition] cover art
Stories to Tell cover art
I Was Better Last Night cover art
The Ghost and Mrs. Muir cover art
My Happy Days in Hollywood cover art
A Girl Called Samson cover art
Jane Eyre cover art
Fahrenheit 451 cover art
David Copperfield cover art
The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey cover art
When Women Were Warriors Book I cover art
Jacob T. Marley cover art
A Christmas Carol cover art
The Winds of War cover art
Jack of Diamonds cover art
The Power of One cover art

Summary

This riveting Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning drama tells the fascinating, real-life story of Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, a transgender woman who managed to defy insurmountable odds. Based on interviews conducted by the playwright, I Am My Own Wife takes us on a theatrical journey that vividly chronicles the bravery, cunning, and strength that Von Mahlsdorf used to survive both the Nazi and Communist regimes of East Germany. Brilliantly performed by Jefferson Mays in a Tony-winning role, I Am My Own Wife is a thought-provoking, unforgettable portrait of an unlikely hero.

©2020 Doug Wright (P)2020 AO Media LLC
  • Original Recording Audiobook
  • Categories: LGBTQ+

More from the same

What listeners say about I Am My Own Wife

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    24
  • 4 Stars
    13
  • 3 Stars
    8
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    1
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    23
  • 4 Stars
    10
  • 3 Stars
    4
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    1
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    23
  • 4 Stars
    8
  • 3 Stars
    6
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    1

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Such an intriguing story

I absolutely love this story, having seen it in theatre, and Jefferson Mays' performance is truly wonderful

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

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

Brilliant

This is so well performed and a extremely interesting listen. I loved it! A really clever way of painting a picture of an era through the eyes of someone who didn’t fit.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

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

fascinating

this is not a long story so it will easily fit into a reasonably short journey. the performance is great and the story really interesting

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

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

Worth a listen

Enjoyed this podcast. It was unusual and entertaining. Worth a listen. Would love it was true.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

something a bit different

interesting insight to the GDR and attitudes of the time to transvestites. Not a great time to be an individual.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

An Important Story Dubiously Told

CW: Transphobia (Misgendering, Deadnaming, Violence), Homophobia, Antisemitism, Neurodivergent Ableism, Nazis, Stasi

I have a lot of thoughts I need to put together in a document (I can't deal with another meltdown after pouring my heart out about Townies by Neel Patel and then the internet eating it - PSA: MAYBE DON'T READ IF YOU'RE TRANS), but in the mean time it's incredibly important to tell the stories of and discuss important figures in our history, discussing them warts and all, but with the compassion and understanding we don't share the same experiences. However, this play and Patel's short story highlight the importance of research, understanding, empathy, consultation and sensitivity reading when writing outside our own experiences, and just how vital it is to raise own voices in the telling of our own tales.

I don't believe Wright or Patel had any malice in the creation of their works, it is clear how invested in and caring about Charlotte they were. This doesn't change the fact that the Patel's story exploits trans trauma for the sake of drama and the language Wright uses around Charlotte's identity is disrespectful and harmful throughout the play, particularly in the closing monologue.

I would love to see a trans creator work with Charlotte's complicated, inspiring, and heartbreaking story paying the appropriate respect to her identity and exploring the uncomfortable dichotomy of her life and actions.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

Interesting piece of history

Interesting piece of history Alternative life style violent father violent regime need to be inventive with the truth and masking lifestyle

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!