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The Blazing World cover art

The Blazing World

By: Siri Hustvedt
Narrated by: Eric Myers, Patricia Rodriguez
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Summary

Artist Harriet Burden, consumed by fury at the lack of recognition she has received from the New York art establishment, embarks on an experiment: She hides her identity behind three male fronts who exhibit her work as their own. And yet, even after she has unmasked herself, there are those who refuse to believe she is the woman behind the men.

Presented as a collection of texts compiled by a scholar years after Burden's death, the story unfolds through extracts from her notebooks, reviews and articles, as well as testimonies from her children, her lover, a dear friend, and others more distantly connected to her. Each account is different, however, and the mysteries multiply. One thing is clear: Burden's involvement with the last of her 'masks' turned into a dangerous psychological game that ended with the man's bizarre death.

This is a polyphonic tour de force from the internationally acclaimed author of What I Loved, an intricately conceived, diabolical puzzle that explores the way prejudice, fame, money and desire influence our perceptions of one another.

Emotionally intense, intellectually rigorous, ironic and playful, The Blazing World is as gripping as it is thought-provoking.

©2014 Siri Hustvedt (P)2014 Hodder & Stoughton

Critic reviews

"Hustvedt paints a scathing portrait of the art world, obsessed with money and the latest trend, but superb descriptions of Harry's work - installations expressing her turbulence and neediness - remind us that the beauty and power of art transcend such trivialities... Blazing indeed: not just with Harry's fury, but with agonizing compassion for all of wounded humanity." ( Kirkus (starred review))
"Hustvedt can capture a life-changing moment in one perfect phrase." ( Vogue)

What listeners say about The Blazing World

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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Engaging, complex and satisfying

Where does The Blazing World rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

One of the most enjoyable

Who was your favorite character and why?

The heroine, Harriet Burden, a clever and intense character, beautifully portrayed by the reader

Have you listened to any of Eric Myers and Patricia Rodriguez ’s other performances? How does this one compare?

No

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No

Any additional comments?

This was a long but gripping, audiobook, intricately woven, a great performance

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3 people found this helpful

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What did you like best about The Blazing World? What did you like least?

The story was intersting and engaging. I did not like the reading at all, I'm sorry to say

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Do you think The Blazing World needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

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