Washington Square (Blackstone Audio Edition)

By: Henry James

Narrated by: Lloyd James

On New York City's Washington Square lives Catherine Sloper, a shy and plain-looking young woman who is tyrannized by her wealthy, overbearing father. When young Morris Townsend begins to court her, Dr. Sloper, distrusting his motives, threatens to disinherit Catherine.

In accordance with her father's suspicions, young Townsend disappears, leaving Catherine to humiliation, heartache, and lonely spinsterhood. Years later, after her father's death, Townsend returns, and Catherine must make up her own mind about his intentions.

This 1881 novel was adapted into the popular movie The Heiress.

(P)1999 Blackstone Audio Inc.

Critic reviews

"Washington Square is a perfectly balanced novel...a work of surpassing refinement and interest." (Elizabeth Hardwick)
"It's James at the top of his form." (AudioFile)

not my favorite narrator

Narrator pauses too long between every single sentence, which wasn't helped by increasing the speed.

Excellent reading

Superbly well performed. James at his perceptive best, fine delineation of sensitive and victimised young woman. Reader brings out the awfulness of the family members and suitor around her.

Excellent oration of an excellent novel

I thoroughly enjoyed the story and the narrator's performance. So bittersweet and admirable. I love Catherine and her strong resolution.

A little slow by today's standards

Enjoyed the book, but a little long winded for today's reader. Would like to have learned more about Catherine up front. Narrator was good though.

Fabulous

This book's characters just jump out of the narration, it's absolutely wonderful. James' understanding of a certain female character is uncanny. I adored this book and was so sorry when it ended!

Surprise

This is the first time that I have found the movie better than the book. But then we are talking about a movie with Oivia de Havillian and Montgomery Cliff!!

Surpisingly enjoyable

I always found Henry James's books to be too dense to be enjoyable. However, now that I am older and perhaps wiser, I found this one to be completely delightful. The narrator makes it all come alive. He is one of the best narrators I have ever heard. Highly recommended

The very best.

I regret never having read James until recently. I’m thinking he may be among the top ten writers in English. I was beginning to think I had exhausted classic literature until I discovered this goldmine of characters, conflict, storytelling and irony. More than the gilded age, it may well be the golden age of written and rendered portraiture.

Love, betrayal, loss...

This is a very sad story of a simpleton who is swindled in love by a rogue. Her intrusive aunt fuels this toxic relationship, yet her overprotective father suffocates it to the point the rogue leaves town and the girl is left to become an old maid. I believe there are better stories of misplaced love out there, but it was a beautiful and simple tale of betrayal and lost trust. Save yourself the 7 hrs listening time, however, and invest it in "Wuthering Heights". Also, the narrator has a fine voice, but he was all wrong for this story. He was much too "flat", which unfortunately made the story a bit flat.

Remind me to never read Henry James again

Story ambles and rambles and then just ends after going nowhere with no redeeming virtue