The Chartreuse of Parma (The Charterhouse of Parma)


Read by Antony Brown

(3.1 stars; 15 reviews)

This book is more often called The Charterhouse of Parma in English, because "Charterhouse" is the English word for a Carthusian monastery, whereas "Chartreuse" is the French word.

The book tells the life of a Lombard nobleman, born soon after the appearance of Napoleon's army in Italy. He has many adventures in love, war, politics, and the Church. The politics and the Church part of his life result from his doting aunt's becoming the Prime Minister's mistress, and the power behind the throne, in the Duchy of Parma.

The Prime Minister is a wish-fulfillment depiction of the author. Although nobody lives happily ever after, it is a happy book to read, quite unlike "The Red and the Black". (Summary by Antony Brown)

Proof-listened by abigayl & Kimberly Krause (18 hr 55 min)

Chapters

00 - Life of Stendhal; Author's Introduction 9:10 Read by Antony Brown
01 - Chapter I 31:52 Read by Antony Brown
02 - Chapter II 46:26 Read by Antony Brown
03 - Chapter III 34:02 Read by Antony Brown
04 - Chapter IV 40:25 Read by Antony Brown
05 - Chapter V 47:57 Read by Antony Brown
06 - Chapter VI 1:28:27 Read by Antony Brown
07 - Chapter VII 40:39 Read by Antony Brown
08 - Chapter VIII 33:41 Read by Antony Brown
09 - Chapter IX 20:20 Read by Antony Brown
10 - Chapter X 15:55 Read by Antony Brown
11 - Chapter XI 49:07 Read by Antony Brown
12 - Chapter XII 30:48 Read by Antony Brown
13 - Chapter XIII 54:31 Read by Antony Brown
14 - Chapter XIV 42:46 Read by Antony Brown
15 - Chapter XV 34:36 Read by Antony Brown
16 - Chapter XVI 35:23 Read by Antony Brown
17 - Chapter XVII 30:57 Read by Antony Brown
18 - Chapter XVIII 42:16 Read by Antony Brown
19 - Chapter XIX 36:37 Read by Antony Brown
20 - Chapter XX 52:29 Read by Antony Brown
21 - Chapter XXI 42:58 Read by Antony Brown
22 - Chapter XXII 39:10 Read by Antony Brown
23 - Chapter XXIII 46:52 Read by Antony Brown
24 - Chapter XXIV 41:37 Read by Antony Brown
25 - Chapter XXV 40:51 Read by Antony Brown
26 - Chapter XXVI 35:52 Read by Antony Brown
27 - Chapter XXVII 32:26 Read by Antony Brown
28 - Chapter XXVIII 37:18 Read by Antony Brown

Reviews

Court intrigue, affairs, all that stuff


(3 stars)

Set in northern Italy close to the Austrian border, this story takes place as Napoleon makes his final stand at Waterloo. The main character of the story is 17 at the time, and runs away from his home on Lake Como to join Napoleon's army. What follows is the story of him and his intrigues, and of his aunt, Gina, doing everything she can to forward him in his life, because she loves him (although she's 15 or so years older than him). Lots of love affairs; court intrigue in the kingdom of Parma, which has a weak and ridiculous ruler; selfishness and toadyism. Story's pretty good. Narrator does well, but I disliked the different voice for the French passages and the lack of translation (albeit neither of these are really the reader's fault - if you can't speak French, you find someone else to read the long French parts). Funny how the Chartreuse of Parma itself doesn't come into the story until the last 5 minutes or so.

Not as bad as other reviews made out


(3 stars)

The other reviews made this sound awful however, it is not as bad as all that. Once you get used to the voice he reads well. Yes there is a bit of confusion at the start but don't let this put you off.

Wonderful - but see note:


(5 stars)

The book is beautifully read, but beware that Chapter 3 is missing - the introduction repeats. This is not the reader's fault. I did a search online and found a Vibrivox version of the book with Chapter 3 intact.

recording is a mess


(0.5 stars)

Needs to redone or edited better. Chapter three is missing. The intro is in its place. Chapter two starts with a long passage in french.

not recommended


(0.5 stars)

-reader uses a sleepy, mumbling voice -chapters in a confused, incorrect order


(4 stars)

Not sure why the bad reviews. I enjoyed it very much.