Skip to main content.

The Evil Genius

Gelesen von LibriVox Volunteers

(4,178 Sterne; 59 Bewertungen)

The Evil Genius, one of Wilkie Collins' last works, is subtitled "A Domestic Scene". It is the intriguing tale of family Linley, including the "evil genius", and their governess Sydney Westerfield. In colorful pictures, Collins presents the story of this family, which becomes entangled in the often hypocritical Victorian perceptions of morality and decency. (Summary by Carolin) (12 hr 50 min)

Chapters

Before the Story - Miss Westerfield's Education - The Trial

14:24

Read by ToddHW

Before the Story - Miss Westerfield's Education - The Sentence

5:40

Read by ToddHW

Before the Story - Miss Westerfield's Education - The Letter

5:54

Read by ToddHW

Before the Story - Miss Westerfield's Education - The Garret

6:56

Read by ToddHW

Before the Story - Miss Westerfield's Education - The Landlord

3:47

Read by ToddHW

Before the Story - Miss Westerfield's Education - The Brute

9:37

Read by ToddHW

Before the Story - Miss Westerfield's Education - The Cipher

5:51

Read by ToddHW

Before the Story - Miss Westerfield's Education - The Diamonds

7:54

Read by ToddHW

Before the Story - Miss Westerfield's Education - The Mother

9:16

Read by ToddHW

Before the Story - Miss Westerfield's Education - The School

13:59

Read by ToddHW

First Book - Chapter I - Mrs. Presty Presents Herself

10:26

Read by Lynne T

First Book - Chapter II - The Governess Enters

7:43

Read by Lynne T

First Book - Chapter III - Mrs. Presty Changes Her Mind

15:16

Read by Lynne T

First Book - Chapter IV - Randal Receives His Correspondence

4:48

Read by bala

First Book - Chapter V - Randal Writes to New York

7:45

Read by Lynne T

First Book - Chapter VI - Sydney Teaches

6:38

Read by Mike Pelton

First Book - Chapter VII - Sydney Suffers

10:18

Read by Mike Pelton

First Book - Chapter VIII - Mrs. Presty Makes a Discovery

15:29

Read by Chill28

First Book - Chapter IX - Somebody Attends to the Door

25:35

Read by Chill28

First Book - Chapter X - Kitty Mentions Her Birthday

17:08

Read by acousticwave

First Book - Chapter XI - Linley Asserts His Authority

10:34

Read by Ernst Pattynama

First Book - Chapter XII - Two of Them Sleep Badly

9:12

Read by Judith Parker

First Book - Chapter XIII - Kitty Keeps Her Birthday

18:15

Read by Judith Parker

First Book - Chapter XIV - Kitty Feels the Heartache

12:46

Read by bala

Second Book - Chapter XV - The Doctor

7:11

Read by Lynne T

Second Book - Chapter XVI - The Child

8:14

Read by Chill28

Second Book - Chapter XVII - The Husband

17:28

Read by Chill28

Second Book - Chapter XVIII - The Nursemaid

5:15

Read by Lynne T

Second Book - Chapter XIX - The Captain

11:33

Read by Jacquerie

Second Book - Chapter XX - The Mother-in-Law

6:24

Read by Jacquerie

Second Book - Chapter XXI - The Governess

10:54

Read by Jacquerie

Third Book - Chapter XXII - Retrospect

4:48

Read by Chill28

Third Book - Chapter XXIII - Separation

6:34

Read by TriciaG

Third Book - Chapter XXIV - Hostility

9:50

Read by bala

Third Book - Chapter XXV - Consultation

21:13

Read by acousticwave

Third Book - Chapter XXVI - Decision

15:00

Read by Renate

Third Book - Chapter XXVII - Resolution

10:37

Read by SamR

Fourth Book - Chapter XXVIII - Mr. Randal Linley

7:47

Read by Lynne T

Fourth Book - Chapter XXIX - Mr. Sarrazin

19:05

Read by Mike Pelton

Fourth Book - Chapter XXX - The Lord President

15:55

Read by Mike Pelton

Fourth Book - Chapter XXXI - Mr. Herbert Linley

13:52

Read by Renate

Fourth Book - Chapter XXXII - Miss Westerfield

13:29

Read by Maryanka

Fourth Book - Chapter XXXIII - Mrs. Romsey

14:54

Read by acousticwave

Fourth Book - Chapter XXXIV - Mrs. Presty

12:20

Read by bala

Fourth Book - Chapter XXXV - Captain Bennydeck

21:58

Read by acousticwave

Fourth Book - Chapter XXXVI - Mr. and Mrs. Herbert

19:09

Read by acousticwave

Fourth Book - Chapter XXXVII - Mrs. Norman

15:51

Read by acousticwave

Fifth Book - Chapter XXXVIII - Hear the Lawyer

7:07

Read by David Mecionis

Fifth Book - Chapter XXXIX - Listen to Reason

11:11

Read by David Mecionis

Fifth Book - Chapter XL - Keep Your Temper

12:26

Read by David Mecionis

Fifth Book - Chapter XLI - Make the Best of It

11:13

Read by David Mecionis

Fifth Book - Chapter XLII - Try to Excuse Her

16:50

Read by Jacquerie

Fifth Book - Chapter XLIII - Know Your Own Mind

11:39

Read by Jacquerie

Fifth Book - Chapter XLIV - Think of Consequences

13:59

Read by bala

Fifth Book - Chapter XLV - Love Your Enemies

13:19

Read by Renate

Fifth Book - Chapter XLVI - Nil Desperandum

12:15

Read by Lynne T

Fifth Book - Chapter XLVII - Better Do It Than Wish It Done

14:56

Read by Lynne T

Fifth Book - Chapter XLVIII - Be Careful!

11:54

Read by Chill28

Fifth Book - Chapter XLIX - Keep the Secret

14:14

Read by acousticwave

Fifth Book - Chapter L - Forgiveness to the Injured Doth Belong

7:31

Read by acousticwave

Fifth Book - Chapter LI - Dum Spiro, Spero

9:14

Read by acousticwave

Fifth Book - Chapter LII - L'homme propose, et Dieu dispose

15:33

Read by acousticwave

Fifth Book - Chapter LIII - The Largest Nature, the Longest Love

11:29

Read by Renate

Fifth Book - Chapter LIV - Let Bygones Be Bygones

12:28

Read by bala

Fifth Book - Chapter LV - Leave It to the Child

18:35

Read by rookieblue

Bewertungen

Crummy story in so many ways...

(1 Sterne)

I have both read and listened to Collins' stories, and I can honestly say this is the worst one so far. First, it was WAY too long; I ended up reading through about 1/3 of the chapters because they just drag out without need. A husband gives in to the temptation to KISS another woman, so for that his wife throws him out and divorces him at the instigation of her nasty and mean spirited mother. The old bat should have gotten a comeuppance, but nope, she basically hangs around causing issues and lying her way around with the supposed intention of helping her daughter. In reality, she's a grasping schemer. A happy ending would have, in my opinion, ended with her at the underside of a train. The recordings are mixed, some are good, some are awful, tinny, accents so heavy you can't really follow the story line. It made what was already a rotten story unbearable. Lastly - Am I the only person who has noticed that EVERY recent book has the chapter chopped off at 30 characters long? Books prior to this year have the whole chapter name in the properties, but recent books are always lopped off. Hard to tell what chapter you are on with that, especially with this book. I see 8 chapters with the title of "Fourth Book - Chapter XXX". I ended up listening out of order 3 times because I got confused as to which chapter I was really on. The page listing doesn't have that problem, but if you download the zip file and extract it to media player, you will see what I mean. I can't recommend this book, it is just awful.

Good book.

(3 Sterne)

I liked the book ,and I think Wilkie Collins is great authors.But some of the readers ruined the book for me.I wish that this book or all the books in general should be read only by one reader.I give only three stars because of the readers.I don't mean no disrespect but I have an accent of my own as well and it is very hard for me to understand other people who accents too.I would of liked that the first reader would have read the whole book,because he seems like a great reader.

Re title being truncated

(0 Sterne)

The whole chapter title is still there, and displays in full in VLC Media Player. I do not use Windows Media Player, but I can see that Windows Properties (in Win7) shows only 30 characters. This must be a MS Windows issue, I'm afraid, and I can only suggest using a different player. ETA On reflection, this shouldn't really be a problem on any player, as the title is always prefixed with the section number, so the play order is always clear.

Betrayal

(4 Sterne)

I like the part when Sidney finally repented her conduct. But I hate the ending when Herbert was able to get back to her wife and kid. If Katherine should get the justice, the author should've made Herbert die, so she could be free and married the Captain. But of course it was only my vanity. Lol. I hate the ending but still think WK is awesome. And thank you for all the volunteers.

Bittersweet story

(5 Sterne)

Another great story from WC. A Rollercoaster of emotional ups and downs as you are led through the mischief and misery of infidelity, and the hope for a 'happy' ending. A previous reviewer had noted a missing chapter--that's been corrected. I think it ended as well as a story like this can end.

(3 Sterne)

I was forced to abandon this selection as one of the readers had such a thick accent. After listening to book 1, chapter IV, on 3 occasions,I surrendered. I tried again several days later. unfortunately the same narrator showed up for additional chapters . It neccessrily lessened the enjoyment of the story.

A long story

(3 Sterne)

It took me a long time to get to the end of this book. the ending was not satisfying. most of the reading was quite good but I did have some difficulty understanding some of the accents. I would have liked to know what happened to Sydney.

very good read

(5 Sterne)

a few of the readers made me want to stop the book all together. The last reader really took away from the book!!! He really over did what he thought the voices should be . It was like he hadnt known the characters at all.