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Headlong Audiobook
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(3.03) - 1,337 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
An unlikely con man wagers wife, wealth, and sanity in pursuit of one of art’s elusive old masters.
Martin Clay, an easily distracted philosopher, and his scrupulous art-historian wife are invited to dinner by a boorish local landowner to assess the value of three dusty paintings moldering in the freezing breakfast room. But blocking the soot from the chimney is nothing less, Martin believes, than one of the world’s lost treasures, camouflaged by misattribution and the grime of centuries. Thus begins a wild trail of lies and concealments, soaring hopes and sudden panics, as Martin embarks on an obsessive quest to prove his hunch, separate the painting from its owner, and resolve one of the great mysteries of European art.
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"Superb, albeit a challenge. The protagonist is a philosopher - who presumably should know about ethics - doing some very unethical things. His lies and subterfuges lead to some suspenseful (almost too much so) scenes, as well as some very comical ones: his guilt and inexperience in dishonesty causes him to misread situation after situation. He is way out of his depth in self-transformation from academic to criminal. Also, much interesting history: 16th Century politics and art. The present-day characters, while not the kinds of people most of us ordinarily run into, come across as real (both in natural gifts and flaws). A challenge to read because of the slowness and psychological subtleties. As with all good stories, keeps you (or at least me) reading to find out what will happen."
— Peter (4 out of 5 stars)
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“Rueful and amusing…Frayn is that rare writer who succeeds as both a novelist and a dramatist.”
— New York Times Book Review -
“Finely wrought and highly comical…a perfect introduction to a writer who likes to pull the rug out from under your feet while offering you the most seductive of smiles.”
— Seattle Times -
“Delightful...deadpan hilarious and wonderfully written…as effective a work of historical reconstruction as it is a comedy.”
— Philadelphia Inquirer -
“Exceedingly funny, both in event and in intellectual high jinx.”
— Boston Sunday Globe -
“Headlong offers an enthralling and refreshingly grown-up take on the alarming speed with which our morals shift to accommodate our desires, and on the lofty and low ways in which the great art of the past continues to affect us.”
— Elle -
“Art historians will rejoice over the subject matter and the intricate descriptions of the paintings and their provenance…[Davidson’s] vocal changes bring forth believable characters with pleasing sounds.”
— AudioFile -
“Davidson’s decidedly British accent helps bring the story alive.”
— Booklist
Awards
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A 1999 Man Booker Prize Finalist
Headlong Listener Reviews
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" A tense plot is inextricably bound up with scholarly research. I'm yet to be disappointed by Michael Frayn's ability to create compelling narratives from diverse subject matter. "
— Richard, 2/7/2014 -
" A farcical novel about art theft. I read it for a book group and did not like it as much as I had hoped I would. "
— Dee, 2/6/2014 -
" An amazingly inventive tale - art history, thriller, and medieval life, all wound into one delightful story. "
— Jack, 1/31/2014 -
" I'm becoming bogged-down in the art history section of the book. I also can't help wondering why the main character didn't just do the right thing and make an offer on the painting--or at least be halfway honest about it. He goes to such great lengths after a single glimpse at the painting in question. Obsessive, much? "
— Janice, 1/30/2014 -
" 4.5 stars... I loved Headlong. The flighty main character, his poor suffering wife, his burbling baby, the tax evading neighbor and the neighbor's giggling wife, made their less than idyllic country life a counterpoint to the 15th century Netherlands where Bruegel's paintings were meticulously created. The references to Bruegel's paintings were very interesting and I really enjoyed the facts that peppered this piece of fiction.... "
— Beth, 1/29/2014 -
" An excellent book about a guy frantically researching in a bunch of books... Who knew that was fun? "
— Bradford, 1/25/2014 -
" Came highly recommended. THis book is a gentle spoof on the British class differences- the has- beens vs. the wannabes,- on art history, and on art collecting and fraud. Very British humor. "
— Alice, 1/15/2014 -
" Hilarious and smart "farce" of academic art history, mystery thriller, and love triangle. Frayn at his best. "
— Robert, 1/14/2014 -
" One of my favourite books-I read it a long time ago but I keep thinking about it. "
— Carol, 1/7/2014 -
" A fantastic read for art lovers. "
— Kaila, 1/1/2014 -
" Would you like to learn about the life and times of Pieter Bruegel the Elder while cringing painfully the whole way through? This might be your sort of book. "
— Ariela, 12/20/2013
About Michael Frayn
Michael Frayn is the author of thirteen plays, including the classic comedy Noises Off, and Copenhagen, which was named Play of the Year by the Evening Standard and won the Drama Critics Circle award. Frayn has also written seven novels and three screenplays, as well as being a journalist, documentary filmmaker, and translator of Chekhov. Headlong is his first novel to appear in the United States since 1993. He lives in London.
About Frederick Davidson
Frederick Davidson (1932–2005), also known as David Case, was one of the most prolific readers in the audiobook industry, recording more than eight hundred audiobooks in his lifetime, including over two hundred for Blackstone Audio. Born in London, he trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and performed for many years in radio plays for the British Broadcasting Company before coming to America in 1976. He received AudioFile’s Golden Voice Award and numerous Earphones Awards and was nominated for a Grammy for his readings.