Try free for 30 days

1 credit a month to use on any title, yours to keep (you’ll use your first credit on this title).
Stream or download thousands of included titles.
Access to exclusive deals and discounts.
$16.45 a month after 30 day trial. Cancel anytime.
The Door cover art

The Door

By: Magda Szabó, Len Rix - translator
Narrated by: Siân Thomas
Try for $0.00

$16.45 per month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $27.99

Buy Now for $27.99

Pay using voucher balance (if applicable) then card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions Of Use and Privacy Notice and authorise Audible to charge your designated credit card or another available credit card on file.

Publisher's Summary

Intense, brilliant and moving, The Door is a compelling story about the relationship between two women of opposing backgrounds and personalities: one, an intellectual and writer; the other, her housekeeper, a mysterious, elderly woman who sets her own rules and abjures religion, education, pretense and any kind of authority. Beneath this hardened exterior of Emerence lies a painful story that must be concealed. One of Hungary's best-known writers, Magda Szabo' here explores themes of love, loyalty, pride and privacy, and the barriers and secrets that govern them.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©1987 Magda Szabo´ Translation © 2005 Len Rix. (P)2016 Naxos AudioBooks

What listeners say about The Door

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    12
  • 4 Stars
    3
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    12
  • 4 Stars
    1
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    12
  • 4 Stars
    1
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A remarkable novel about a singular life

This is one of the great novels of the last 50 years. Described superficially, it is the story of a Hungarian writer and her housekeeper. But it is very deeply a story about what it truly means to love another person and the responsibility that attaches to this. Shot through with spiky humour and haunting images, it is a book to lose yourself in. Beautifully read by Siân Thomas.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Sublime!

This is a magical, awe-inspiring book. Emerence is a wonderful character -- a bit like a Hungarian Olive Kitterage with more depth, passion and mystery. The central relationship is brilliantly written from the perspective of the writer, who seems to be an unreliable narrator to the extent that she lacks any real insight into Emerence. The fact that her dog is more clued in than she is a lovely touch. The writing is absolutely sublime in parts. There are some disturbing aspects to the story but it also warms the heart and is very funny in places. A really profound and transformative read.
The performance is brilliant -- one of the best audiobooks I've heard.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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.