The American
Henry James
Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019)
One of James’s early novels, The American plunges right in to one of the writer’s most enduring subjects, that of the innocent, or at least inexperienced, American abroad, seeking to come to terms with the social customs and conventions of an old European aristocracy (think of Daisy Miller, Portrait of a Lady, The Wings of the Dove and others). The aptly named Christopher Newman, having made a small fortune from business in California, has come to the Old World for the first time, determined to enlarge his experience by learning all he can of it. In Paris he meets an old acquaintance, Tom Tristram, who (though he himself has little interest in educating himself about Europe) shows him around, and introduces him to the young widow Claire de Cintre, whose family – the aristocratic de Bellegardes – distrust his American brashness and commercialism. Claire, nonetheless, agrees to marry him, thus pulling Newman, rather more deeply than he is prepared for, into a society that closely guards its secrets, and forcing him to face new and quite unexpected questions.
(Introduction by Nicholas Clifford) (14 hr 1 min)
Chapters
| 01 - Chapter I | 24:54 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
| 02 - Chapter II | 28:23 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
| 03 - Chapter III | 42:26 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
| 04 - Chapter IV | 35:36 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
| 05 - Chapter V | 34:20 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
| 06 - Chapter VI | 32:06 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
| 07 - Chapter VII | 35:58 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
| 08 - Chapter VIII | 25:17 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
| 09 - Chapter IX | 19:25 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
| 10 - Chapter X | 35:32 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
| 11 - Chapter XI | 22:15 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
| 12 - Chapter XII | 35:33 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
| 13 - Chapter XIII | 38:38 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
| 14 - Chapter XIV | 26:34 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
| 15 - Chapter XV | 29:52 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
| 16 - Chapter XVI | 41:06 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
| 17 - Chapter XVII | 45:03 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
| 18 - Chapter XVIII | 28:50 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
| 19 - Chapter XIX | 38:54 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
| 20 - Chapter XX | 28:56 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
| 21 - Chapter XXI | 30:26 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
| 22 - Chapter XXII | 41:37 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
| 23 - Chapter XXIII | 20:15 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
| 24 - Chapter XXIV | 38:31 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
| 25 - Chapter XXV | 35:31 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
| 26 - Chapter XXVI | 25:22 | Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) |
Reviews
Great book. Great reader
Peter S
Well done!
Why we read James…
Scott in Sandy Eggo
James is a Realist who tackles real life challenges and characters that are still true to this day. We should know that when we enter into the bargain of any of his great works that we will be facing Life head on without the promise of rainbows and unicorns at the end. May I suggest to a future reader of this great story that we consider what we can learn from his perspectives and employ such considerations and its unintended consequences as part of our own life’s learning experience; and perhaps be aware of some certain people’s unremitting, inflexible dogmatic belief systems that prevail even in today’s society. That’s why we consider James’s works to be timeless.
Uggh
Angels Walk
I can say, without a whisper of a doubt in my mind, that Nicholas Clifford is the only redeeming quality, of this depressing, & highly frustrating, Henry James novel. Unless I take into consideration just how much I like his (Mr.James') writing style, the period in which he lived & wrote, , , , ,blah, blah, blah, , ,
a Favorite James Story
jenniebrown
I was originally too intimidated to read Henry James but I’m so glad to have passed that point! James has become a beloved favorite. As always, Professor Clifford is flawless. You are missed Professor Clifford ❤️❤️❤️
Frustration Confirmed
A LibriVox Listener
I was very frustrated by this author as well. The author is clearly very talented.....but leaves the audience pained.I don't want to give away the ending....but there isn't one. The narrator is an absolute pleasure to listen to.
A LibriVox Listener
a very amusing novel that incidentally gives a picture of what travel in Europe was like
great reading of a classic.
Hayley.
A wonderful reading of one of James earliest novels.
Couldn't stop reading this!
Oriana Calabrese
Amazing story, brilliant reader