On Chesil Beach cover art

On Chesil Beach

 Preview
Try Standard free
Select 1 audiobook a month from our entire collection.
Listen to your selected audiobooks as long as you're a member.
Get unlimited access to bingeable podcasts.
Auto-renews at $8.99/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

On Chesil Beach

By: Ian McEwan
Narrated by: Ian McEwan
Try Standard free

Auto-renews at $8.99/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $12.24

Buy Now for $12.24

About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.


It is July 1962. Edward and Florence, young innocents married that morning, arrive at a hotel on the Dorset coast. At dinner in their rooms they struggle to suppress their private fears of the wedding night to come and, unbeknownst to them both, the events of the evening will haunt them for the rest of their lives.


© Ian McEwan 2007 (P) Penguin Audio 2007

 Coming of Age Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Movie, TV & Video Game Tie-Ins
All stars
Most relevant
Ian McEwan does a great job reading this memorable book.
His commentary at the end really is the icing on the cake!

loved everything about this audiobook.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This book is absolutely captivating. It affects the reader long after finishing. A very unique and beautiful perspective on what could have been between a young couple. I return to this book frequently because I love it so much. The interview with McEwan at the end is fantastic.

I always return to this novel

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Captivating and precise. As with all the other McEwan novels I've read. I especially enjoyed the interview at the end.

I think he's my favorite author

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
the narration by the author brings this story to life. The passion of this couple's love is torn apart on their wedding night. Subtle nuances references past abuse in a beautifully crafted story.

Beautifully crafted

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
An amazing peice of literature that leaves a lasting impression of the pains and mire of regret and first love amidst a changing time based landscape of self indulgence and sexual awakening.

Ian is a stellar writer and delivers this tale in perfect grandeur at an economical cadence to suite the frenetic pace of the narrative.

A poignant tale of young love and self inflection.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.