Kept in the Dark

By: Anthony Trollope

Narrated by: Jill Masters

Completed only a few months before his death, Kept in the Dark is one of Trollope's most captivating novels. Yet unlike Trollope's other major novels - the Palliser series, The Claverings, the Barsetshire novels - Kept in the Dark succeeds without the use of considerable length or legions of characters that many thought were essential to his fictional world.

Kept in the Dark is a probing psychological portrait of the near destruction of a marriage - a novel that combines keen insights with vigorous emotional strength. Jealousy, guilt, excessive pride, and compulsion all sweep across its surface: in George Western, the self-willed and fatally-proud husband, who would rather destroy his own happiness than admit to any moral strain in his character; in Cecilia Western, whose peculiar mixture of pride and submissiveness forces her inexorably toward deceit; in the grinding hypocrisy of Cecilia's friend, Miss Altifiorla; in the overwhelming egotism of the rejected suitor, Sir Francis Geraldine. Trollope gives us a distinctive portrait of the Victorian world.

This excellent reading was originally recorded in 1986 in the days of reel-to-reel tape. Although the sound is not quite up to today’s digital standards, every effort has been made to enhance the recording. However, you may hear a slight "echo effect" in some places. This should not interfere significantly with your enjoyment of the story but, just to be sure, you may want to listen to a sample before purchasing.

Public Domain (P)1986 Jimcin Recordings

Two A's and a B

I give an A to the story and an A to the reader but just a B to the audio. It was clear enough but obviously done during pre-digital days since there was some "print-through," a slight echo effect that books done ten years or more ago have.
However...I soon stopped noticing that and was caught up in the book. So..if less than perfect audio bothers you, I suggest you listen to the sample first. If you don't mind an older recording...it's a wonderful story and well read.

Most Victorian

This is Trollope at his most Victorian with a central concern that makes me wonder why everyone is so het up.

Jill Masters is a good reader and adds needed colour to the story.

Horrible recording

Good example of a Trollope story, but unfortunately the recording quality renders it almost unlistenable.

Audio quality

Excellent story, as are all of Anthony Trollope's books. But the sound quality is deplorable! If sound could be corrected, I'd be willing to purchase it again to relisten.

Really 2.5 stars

Slow, repetitive, the least interesting Trollope I've ever read (or listened to). As others have commented, the audio quality is abysmal; it seems to be a copy of an old Books on Tape analog recording, with that telltale faint back dialogue those of us who have been with audio books since the old days of worn library cassettes will recognize.

interesting psychological profile

This book is an interesting psychological study. It reminds me a bit of Jane Bronte's Villette. I very much enjoyed the story. The narrator is also excellent. This tale is told from the heroine's perspective, and so a female narrator is quite fitting. I will search out other books by this narrator. Good story, good narration, five stars.

I am on a quest to read, and/or listen to, all of the authors recommended/enjoyed by C.S. Lewis, and so books by Anthony Trollope are on my list.

Fascinating Story

Wonderful story which was beautifully narrated and kept me absorbed. I could not stop listening to it. Tight story without one wasted word. Gives interesting psychological and historical perspective. Well worth a listen.

a Dark tale

What did you love best about Kept in the Dark?

Trollope is a master

Any additional comments?

There was a blurry section towards the end that was not due to my equipment, and really made it hard to listen to the book.

A Thin Story

A story read with little expression in which one event is stretched, and stretched, and stretched until it is so thin as to be barely perceptible. The most interesting characters are the 2 antagonists. The hero and heroine are too dull to notice.

most boring reader in the world

This is appallingly read, like the reader was taking valium - listen to a segment and you will realise what I am talking about. The novel itself, while powerful is a little repetitious (It was originally published as a serial - so Trollope keeps reminding you of the "previous episode" which can be a little dull. I brought it because it was on special for about $2, and I don't regret getting it for that price, but pay REAL money? I don't think so!!