An enjoyable interlude.

I didn't think I had heard of this Jane Austin book but on listening to it realised that it had been made into a film in 2016 called Love and Friendship with Kate Beckinsale as Lady Susan. I loved this book and narration, with its letters read by the writers of them. It might have been her first book but you could definitely tell it was her work. At only 2 hrs and some long, it is an enjoyable interlude.

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Aargh! Jarring American accent.

I really tried to get into this book. But was ever put off by the irritating American accent. At times I could forget it, then the reader would say something like ‘Mart’n’ for Martin, it’s got an i in it! American narrators for American literature perfect. But native English narrators for British classics at least.
Trying to get past that it’s amazing that this was written by a 16 year old Jane Austin, very imaginative. I wonder how much was taken from her life experiences

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very funny period novel

Very rarely do you come across a story where the main character is a scheming manipulative person and still wanting to root for them. A simple story though and could have used more interactions between the characters. I wasn't sure though about employing people who aren't British as the pronunciation of a number of names and places was a bit strange.

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Ok, Small Audio error

The narration is ok. The audio jumps in Chapter 5 between 24:35 and 24:41.

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Great story, bad accents!

I really did try with this as I love the story. I could ignore the dodgy accents of American narrators for a while but I had to give up at Sir Reginald De Courcy and the variously American/ slight Cockney/ hint of West Country/hint of Yorkshire accent going on in letter 12. Completely bizarre and I'm now listening to another version!

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Good story, patchy voice acting

The main male narrator who reads the chapter headings is good. Everyone else is hit and miss.

It was like nails on a chalkboard when Sir Reginald read his letter. And, everytime that Catherine mimicked Lady Susan, I genuinely struggled to continue. All this to say, it was still really quite enjoyable. Good writing is good writing. If you find the ending rather abrupt - it is an unfinished work after all - watch Love and Friendship with Kate Beckinsale to spend more time in this wonderful universe. Beckinsale nails Lady Susan from this novella.

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What is this delivery!?

Who allowed this delivery? And I'm not even talking about the American accents. In places it sounds like the narrators are making fun of the material, are choking, or having a stroke.... Over the top and unnecessary.

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1 person found this helpful

American accents were a bit off-putting

Doesn't really work for a period drama for me, I struggled to finish it

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I have never known so many of the English gentry to have American accents

The story is classic Austen (albeit in an epistolary form) and is very enjoyable. I would, however, suggest finding a different recording as all of the characters in this one have a mid-Atlantic drawl which is most offputting.

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Short and sweet

Loved it like the rest of austen's work. Consistent pacing. Written as a series of letters which is interesting.

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