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The American
- Narrated by: Adam Sims
- Length: 14 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Literature & Fiction, Classics
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PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
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Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall
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Performance
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- Marelle
- 10-08-20
A most pleasurable read
This was the third novel by Henry James that I listened to. I have quickly become fascinated by the magic of his writing, and want to read more and more of James. Luckily there are several titles still waiting for me to be read/heard.
In this novel the main character, the bright, independent, young and rich businessman Newman arrives from America to Paris. For some time it seems that with his positiveness he manages to make the nobility's dingy old mansions more lively and joyous. A French family with a 1000 years of history starts making a place for him amongst them. But the resistance against new and modern ways is strong. Newman's everlasting sunshine must be quenched. He has new money and he doesn't come from an old and respectable family. That is his great flaw. All the characters in the novel act according to their nature, they can't help it. The evil remains evil, and the generous generous - to the end. In addition to Newman, another very amiable character is housekeeper Mrs. Bread. I liked also how the narrator Adam Sims read her lines. Sims is an excellent narrator.