Portrait of Jennie

By: Robert Nathan

Narrated by: Stephen R. Thorne

Eben Adams is a young painter in Depression-era New York just looking to make a living. His work has thus far left influential art dealers unimpressed. Then Eben happens upon a young schoolgirl named Jennie in Central Park. Intrigued by her mystical quality and her knowledge of things that happened well before her time, Eben begins to sketch a portrait of the young girl. The drawing turns out to be the most emotional piece Eben has ever done, and he finally gets the boost in his career he's been seeking. But before he can finish the portrait, Jennie vanishes.

Saddened by the loss of his muse, he begins to scour the city for her, and when he does find her again, he is shocked to discover that she has aged several years since their last meeting. Who is this girl, and where did she come from?

This supernatural love story is a masterpiece of modern fantasy.

©2013 Robert Nathan (P)2013 Blackstone Audiobooks

Fun listen

I saw the 1948 movie a long time ago. (20, maybe 30 years ago? At some time in the distance time becomes abstract.) I never forgot the movie, as it stayed in a current part of the brain.

During the pandemic, wondering what to do next, I looked up the old movie and saw it was a novella. My credits were building up, so on an impulse I bought it. I was glad I did.

It was fun and different to read a book written in the 40’s for the 40’s. That made it a bit more fun and unique. The story is short and goes fast. Well read as well.

I loved the story.

I was intrigued and not disappointed. a very wonderful story throughout. I was not able to anticipate the next events. the ending, though sad, was fitting for the story. I highly recommend this for all ages.

The ethereal nature of Jennie.

Loved how the author dove right into Eban’s issues. Great artist w potential but hadn’t developed the “it” factor that would grab the viewer. Jennie seemed to have the same issue personally. She had never known a deep love. The book was different from the movie. In the book God gave them an opportunity to complete each other despite being from a different time. It was beautiful. Also the book’s ending tied up what the future would hold. The movie left me hanging w too many “what happened.”

Listen to the book AND see the movie

It's fascinating to ponder the reasons for the differences between the movie and the book. They complement one another in interesting ways. Sure, "Portrait of Jennie" is a sentimental wallow but it is an honest one and the movie is hugely underrated. Remember that in the late 1940's, love not separated by death was a serious theme in the recent aftermath of World War II.

I didn't even know that the movie was based on a book

About 10 or 12 years ago, someone was playing this movie and I found it quite fascinating. Unfortunately, I didn't get to watch the whole moovie; just enough to make me curious. About a week ago, I found the movie on Youtube and watched it. Being totally blind, there was quite a bit that I couldn't follow in the movie. While reading the comments, I saw where someone mentioned the book, so I ran straight to audible to search for it. Imagine my delight on finding it! I had no idea that this book and movie were so old. Even the movie came out before my mother was born, and I'm 51. I read the book, and now I have a much better idea of the scenes in the movie. Such an incredible story. The narrator is great as well.

Hate to say it The Movie is Better

This is a classic story by Robert Nathan which I first read it in High School Lit.and liked it for the unusual story line(at the time)
Then I saw the movie and LOVED IT.I believe Robert Nathan did the screenplay and really improved on his own story.The music by Debussay was haunting. However this audio book was spoiled by the narration. The voice did not fit. I thought I was getting Stephen Thorne (who has a deeper, more suitable voice for this book) and it is Stephen R Thorne????
It is still worth the listen though.,afterwords see the movie!

An excellent story

Strangely comforting. It seemed it could have been longer and still be an excellent story

Excellently!

Often I find that a narrator does not capture my sense of a book. This narrator is is EXCEPTIONAL. Wonderful! Worth your money.

disappointing

This was one if my favorite movies because of the 2 leading stars, but a dissatisfying love story. I was hoping the book would correct the unnecessary anguish in the plot. There are some beautiful scenes, but the illogical undeveloped concepts brushing time travel or alternative universes are too blatant to get lost in the love story. I have never found Nathan ability up to dealing with the messages he attempts ..
a shame.

Underwhelming

This is a modern fantasy of sorts, in which a painter meets a child who slips through time to visit him, aging quickly across the months of their friendship, trying, as she says, to catch up with him. The plot premise of this popular book is intriguing and appealing, but the delivery was underwhelming. The prose is often dull, the story barebones, and the characters not well-fleshed. It's only 125 pages, and it might have packed more punch had it been pared to the length of a short story instead.

Mr. Thorne's narration was average.