Brideshead Revisited

By: Evelyn Waugh

Narrated by: Jeremy Irons

Selected by Modern Library as one of the 100 best novels of the century and called "Evelyn Waugh's finest achievement" by the New York Times, Brideshead Revisited is a stunning exploration of desire, duty, and memory. Read by Jeremy Irons, star of the acclaimed 1981 television series based on the novel.

The wellsprings of desire and the impediments to love come brilliantly into focus in Evelyn Waugh's masterpiece - a novel that immerses us in the glittering and seductive world of English aristocracy in the waning days of the empire. Through the story of Charles Ryder's entanglement with the Flytes, a great Catholic family, Evelyn Waugh charts the passing of the privileged world he knew in his own youth and vividly recalls the sensuous pleasures denied him by wartime austerities.

At once romantic, sensuous, comic, and somber, Brideshead Revisited transcends Waugh's early satiric explorations and reveals him to be an elegiac, lyrical novelist of the utmost feeling and lucidity.

"A genuine literary masterpiece." (Time)

"Heartbreakingly beautiful...The 20th century's finest English novel." (Los Angeles Times)

©1973 Laura Waugh (P)2012 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"Evelyn Waugh's finest achievement." (John K. Hutchens, New York Times)

"A many-faceted book....beautifully told by one of the most exhilarating stylists of our time." (Newsweek)

A great book and performance

Where does Brideshead Revisited rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This recording was right up there at the top...

What did you like best about this story?

Not so much the actual story but the prose; extremely well written.

What does Jeremy Irons bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Jeremy Irons was the only one to read this as he was also the star of the BBC series. In addition his voice was beautifully fit for this English story and his interpretation of the character's voices was wonderful.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I wanted to savor it so listened in meaningful segments.

Any additional comments?

It was wonderful to see just how well the book was interpreted for the TV series and many of the pictures of the series were just as Evelyn Waugh had described them in the book.

Beautifully performed

I was so happy to have listened to Jeremy Irons reading of Brideshead Revisited. Writer Evelyn Waugh has perfectly captured a time in British history that reveals the Everyman issues on a backdrop of the British hierarchy. Issues of religion, family dysfunction, alcoholism, marriage, homosexuality, class, war, cultural ennui; all weaved together into what at first appears to be a sad story of some unappealing upper class characters, which slowly unfolds into a story of acceptance and hope and the connection to spirituality in individual ways. Mr. Irons performance is pitch perfect on every level.

Brideshead Revisited, classic 20th century novel

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, Evelyn Waugh is a poetic writer. Every sentence carefully crafted. A good book to read and a good one to listen to. I listened on my Kindle, while reading the book. Not simultaneously, but flipping back & forth. You get to see the elite life of Brits in the first half of the 20th century, and terrific character development too (especially the men).

A Masterpiece Thoroughly Enjoyed

The prose is beautiful in this book. Jeremy Irons does a masterful job as narrator. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.

Tour de Force

This is a beautiful book beautifully and so thoughtfully read by Jeremy Irons. There are times when he's reading the prose that you'll think he's reading from a book of poetry.

Gorgeous

Jeremy Irons reading Brideshead - perfect. Thank goodness for this transporting expérience while folding laundry and peeling apples

Perfect

Jeremy Irons is brilliant—not simply reading, but performing, not just going through the words, but telling a story. I am sad to have it end.

Beautiful reading of an amazing story!

Jeremy Irons is one of the very few persons who could do justice to this masterpiece. A story about love, family, addiction, the soul, and beauty in the midst of ugliness. A sad tale, but hopeful. I finished it and immediately hit play to start it again.

Wonderful!

Jeremy Irons beautifully recreates this wonderful story. I was never taken out of the narrative and thoroughly enjoyed every minute.

Wonderful!

Jeremy Irons is the best narrator I've ever heard and cannot imagine anyone else doing such a superb job,. He truly made the story come alive and I wish the story had never ended.