The Doctor's Wife
Gelesen von Kirsten Wever
Mary Elizabeth Braddon
(4,132 Sterne; 228 Bewertungen)
This is one of the Victorian “Sensationist” Mary Elizabeth Braddon's many novels (best known among them: “Lady Audley’s Secret”). It is extremely well written, fluid, humorous and, in places, self-mocking: one of the main characters is a Sensation Author. The motifs of the-woman-with-a-secret, adultery, and death are classic “sensationist” material. Yet this is also a self-consciously serious work of literature, taking on various social themes of the day. Specifically, Braddon presents the psychological struggle and cognitive dissonance which are the inevitable plight of the married middle-class woman with a strong sense of self, who is essentially constrained to live the life of her husband. In this, it echoes Flaubert’s “Madame Bovary.”
The heroine, Isabel Sleaford, was driven early in her childhood to bury herself in, and develop her sense of self through, romantic novels and poetry. She is thus ill-adapted to the conventional, provincial structures and strictures laid upon her when she marries the very good and adoring, but also boring and unimaginative, Dr. George Gilbert. Isabel forms friendships with men (including her husband's best friend) who are more amenable to her romantic inclinations, and inevitably encounters social condemnation as a result. The book shows how life’s tragedies and the world’s cruel judgments shape Isabel, as she grows more mature, somewhat embittered, but also – true to her nature – beautifully resilient. (Summary by Kirsten Wever) (17 hr 59 min)
Chapters
Bewertungen
Alice
(3,5 Sterne)
This book is very well written and well read but the story itself as a work of romantic fiction and not a biograph is not very exciting. I ended up skipping a few chapters at the end. They is no obsticles to overcome, only a rather boring heroine and the only eventfullness is the dying of characters.
The Doctor's Wife
Ortonz
(4,5 Sterne)
Loved the narraration. The twists and turns left me guessing until the unforeseen end. One character had a propensity to whine. I'll admit to forwarding through bits of that annoyance. All came round right at the last.
Jenn
(4 Sterne)
Compelling narrator greatly assists an at times tedious, wordy story. I did care about these characters and their lives.
Wonderful!!
Bonnee
(5 Sterne)
Initially I want too sure of this book but it turned out to be perfect for over who is intrigued by human relationships. While reading it I experienced wonderment, confusion, anger, sentimentality, etc., -- never once indifference. I ended up holding emotions for so many of the characters as I envisioned (and recalled) the naivite of my young years and how easily, even during this modern age, it might have been for me to stumble into a like situation. (That was just one example.) I'm so glad I listened to this book. It proceed to be a work of innocence, various (types of) loves and repentance. I enjoyed it thoroughly.
OK
null
(3 Sterne)
I did not care for the voice - she seemed bored with the story herself. Her pronunciations seemed good though. The story goes slow. Though the description were long and flowery, the style grew on me and I enjoyed much of that. The only character I really found myself liking was Sigsmund Smith who was such a very small character in the book. They all had likable moments though and you did find yourself understanding each of their points of view. I just found it bit slow overall.
Doctor's Wife
TheBookworm
(5 Sterne)
Although Braddon is sometimes dismissed as a mere sensation writer, she was much more than that. I can't honestly compare her to Austin or Trollope but she tackles a serious subject (you decide what it is) with honesty and sensitivity. And with humour, for one of her principal characters is... a successful penny dreadful author! (no spoilers!) Many thanks to Kristin Wever for her excellent, well-paced reading of this tragic-romantic novel. TheBookworm (Manchester, UK)
(5 Sterne)
This is another jewel that deserves to be better known. Isabel Gilbery is a far more interesting character than Anna Karenina & Mme Bovary, to whom the comparison is inevitable. There is keen insight and observation, wit, and as far as the melodrama, coincidence and prosiness are concerned this is, after all, a Victorian novel. Kirsten Wever is a beautiful reader who never gets in the way of the story.
Sometimes boring but a worthy story nevertheless
JaneC
(3,5 Sterne)
This book is long-winded, sometimes boring and sometimes too gloomy. The story is very sad but gives many ideas to reflect upon (early marriage and women's position in the world, true love, duty etc.). Anna Karenina? Madame Bovary? No, Izabel is a better woman, stronger despite all her childishness. A really deep and well-written character. The reader did a great job.