The Custom of the Country (version 2)
Edith Wharton
Read by Elizabeth Klett





Edith Wharton's 1913 novel is a devastating critique of American upward mobility, told through the journey of Undine Spragg from fictional Midwestern Apex City to New York to Paris. Undine is determined to acquire money and position through marriage, even if it means multiple divorces. - Summary by Elizabeth Klett (14 hr 15 min)
Chapters
Chapter 1 | 22:42 | Read by Elizabeth Klett |
Chapter 2 | 20:33 | Read by Elizabeth Klett |
Chapter 3 | 12:23 | Read by Elizabeth Klett |
Chapter 4 | 29:09 | Read by Elizabeth Klett |
Chapter 5 | 21:35 | Read by Elizabeth Klett |
Chapter 6 | 15:01 | Read by Elizabeth Klett |
Chapter 7 | 18:08 | Read by Elizabeth Klett |
Chapter 8 | 15:35 | Read by Elizabeth Klett |
Chapter 9 | 17:37 | Read by Elizabeth Klett |
Chapter 10 | 25:34 | Read by Elizabeth Klett |
Chapter 11 | 24:33 | Read by Elizabeth Klett |
Chapter 12 | 26:04 | Read by Elizabeth Klett |
Chapter 13 | 21:08 | Read by Elizabeth Klett |
Chapter 14 | 24:44 | Read by Elizabeth Klett |
Chapter 15 | 26:17 | Read by Elizabeth Klett |
Chapter 16 | 20:34 | Read by Elizabeth Klett |
Chapter 17 | 18:44 | Read by Elizabeth Klett |
Chapter 18 | 35:05 | Read by Elizabeth Klett |
Chapter 19 | 13:34 | Read by Elizabeth Klett |
Chapter 20 | 29:46 | Read by Elizabeth Klett |
Chapter 21 | 31:33 | Read by Elizabeth Klett |
Chapter 22 | 14:37 | Read by Elizabeth Klett |
Chapter 23 | 12:58 | Read by Elizabeth Klett |
Chapter 24 | 23:24 | Read by Elizabeth Klett |
Chapter 25 | 12:11 | Read by Elizabeth Klett |
Chapter 26 | 20:46 | Read by Elizabeth Klett |
Chapter 27 | 13:01 | Read by Elizabeth Klett |
Chapter 28 | 11:06 | Read by Elizabeth Klett |
Chapter 29 | 16:23 | Read by Elizabeth Klett |
Chapter 30 | 12:23 | Read by Elizabeth Klett |
Chapter 31 | 14:07 | Read by Elizabeth Klett |
Chapter 32 | 13:43 | Read by Elizabeth Klett |
Chapter 33 | 9:46 | Read by Elizabeth Klett |
Chapter 34 | 10:27 | Read by Elizabeth Klett |
Chapter 35 | 20:57 | Read by Elizabeth Klett |
Chapter 36 | 8:16 | Read by Elizabeth Klett |
Chapter 37 | 17:43 | Read by Elizabeth Klett |
Chapter 38 | 20:25 | Read by Elizabeth Klett |
Chapter 39 | 18:11 | Read by Elizabeth Klett |
Chapter 40 | 16:02 | Read by Elizabeth Klett |
Chapter 41 | 15:49 | Read by Elizabeth Klett |
Chapter 42 | 11:46 | Read by Elizabeth Klett |
Chapter 43 | 14:02 | Read by Elizabeth Klett |
Chapter 44 | 15:47 | Read by Elizabeth Klett |
Chapter 45 | 13:59 | Read by Elizabeth Klett |
Chapter 46 | 27:06 | Read by Elizabeth Klett |
Reviews
Loved to Hate





Moji
Loved Elizabeth Klett's reading while busy hating Undine.
psycho b-word women is not a new phenomenon





darthlaurel
Destructive, weak, conniving, and /or passive women are the bane of so many people's existence. Every version is on display in this story. As well as a few (very few) good ones. Amazingly well read. Very sad the main character didn't die a terrible death.
It just AINT right....





Y. Michelle Webb
The satisfaction of no satisfaction, lol!
Brava!





TheBookworm
Edith Wharton has never been a favourite of mine. The Age of Innocence left me flat and i couldn't even finish the House of Mirth. So I approached this one with skepticism and was ready to dump it after a chapter. Was I in for a surprize! This is a griping and insightful critique of upper middle class American culture at the turn of the 19th century. I won't give it away but the story reveals how the "custom of the country" created a certain kind of woman and the inevitable outcome. The protagonist is far from likable and yet we stick with her to the end-- which is quite brilliant in itself. As always, Elizabeth Klett does a wonderful job of narration. Tone, pace, everything is spot on. Well done Elizabeth and thank you for making me look twice at this great author. Surely one of the great American novels. TheBookworm (Manchester, UK)
Excellent, mannered and erudite





Ozoneocean
Elizabeth Klatt gives a fine reading, as usual, very appropriate for the work. It's a cutting story about an ambitious, yet shallow woman, as she cuts her way through the men of America and Europe, always seeking something better, never satisfied. Undine has no scruples and not a single unselfish bone in her body. She's calculating, coniving and willing to use all her natural tallents and weapons at her disposal to achieve any objective she desires in her continual quest to have all that she wants from life.





Sara Virginia
First, wonderful job by the literary dream team, Wharton and Klett! Second, I was irate every minute of this book. I'm truly glad that I don't know anyone named Undine because I don't think I could stand to talk to them until I cool down. I can't remember any character I have hated so passionately as Undine.





Laurence in massachusetts
A very good reading and pleasurable to listen to: The reader handles Wharton’s language very well including the many foreign names, places, titles etc. A vast improvement over version 1 - which has many different readers, many of whom are very poor.
Mr. Spragg. ill equipped to tame his shrews.





1nsVn
Undine's in dire need of a lass wupping. Elizabeth Klett's narration makes a mediocre or bad book better, and a good read GREAT 👌