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A Son at the Front
- Narrated by: Robin Siegerman
- Length: 11 hrs and 51 mins
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A Son at the Front
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Publisher's Summary
"What an incalculable sum of gifts and virtues went to make up the monster's daily meal." So observes American expatriate painter John Campton, whose only son is conscripted to military service in France at the beginning of WWI. In Edith Wharton's saga, A Son at the Front, we share the character's anguish as thousands of young men are sacrificed to the insatiable appetite of the war. The lessons are as relevant today as they were almost 100 years ago.
This recording includes, as afterword, an essay by war scholar Peter Buitenhuis, Edith Wharton and the First World War. This provides background and context to the narrative, and highlights Wharton's prodigious war charity work and remarkable war correspondence.
What the critics say
If Edith Wharton is an acquired taste, then this audiobook, narrated superbly by Robin Siegerman, is an ideal first course. Set during WWI, the novel highlights the efforts of a young man's parents to keep him out of the war. Instead of avoiding the fighting, the recent college graduate joins the French army. Wharton's dialogue is precise, and her narrative brings even the most mundane moments to life. But it is on the battlefield and in other graphic scenes that the skills of Siegerman complement or enhance the story. Siegerman channels Wharton, using inflection, tone, and a sense of emotion that keeps the listener focused until the audiobook's satisfying conclusion.
D.J.S. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2021]
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What listeners say about A Son at the Front
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 2021-02-15
Stunning narration!
This audiobook delivered the listening experience I so desperately craved - a thought-provoking perspective on some of the fallouts of World War I. As expected, this is a finely-crafted piece of fiction. What stuns is the narrator’s ability to subtly exude the psychological complexities of the varied characters, most notably the protagonist John Campton. As an added bonus, Robin Siegerman concludes the audiobook with an informative afterword that delves into Edith Wharton and other authors of her time. If you enjoy historical fiction and books set in France, I would highly recommend this audiobook.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Steve Uzielli
- 2019-09-11
Compelling performance!
While the story dragged at times the narrator brought the story to life with dramatic flare. The story line breaks your heart, all the more so with added gravitas delivered through the narrator’s performance. Highly recommended!
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