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Summer cover art

Summer

By: Edith Wharton
Narrated by: Grace Conlin
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Publisher's Summary

Wharton's most erotic and lyrical novel, Summer explores a daring theme for 1917, a woman's awakening to her sexuality. Eighteen-year-old Charity Royall lives in the small town of North Dormer, ignorant of desire until the arrival of architect Lucius Harney. Like the succulent summer landscape in the Berkshires around them, Charity's romance is lush and picturesque, but its consequences are harsh and real.

Praised for its realism and candor by such writers as Joseph Conrad and Henry James and compared to Flaubert's Madame Bovary, Summer was one of Wharton's personal favorites of all her novels and remains as fresh and relevant today as when it was first written.

(P)1994 Blackstone Audiobooks

Critic Reviews

"Reader Grace Conlin distinguishes both men's and women's voices easily, using hushed, intimate tones to convey the sweetness of the romance. Yet an ephemeral quality in her delivery casts a shadow of reality on the story and reminds the listener that seasons change." (AudioFile)

What listeners say about Summer

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Summer

Seasons and landscapes are so well done. They are a big part of the storyline.

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Bovary survives

Challenging being a female heroine in an Edith Wharton book. Charity at least survives in summer love. But no way was Edith going to let her off the hook completely. But impossible to read a Wharton book and not be thrilled by this brilliant and complex writer. Wit as sharp as a blade and writing that always cuts to the chase.

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