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Mrs. Dalloway Audiobook
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(3.00) - 73,991 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Clarissa Dalloway, elegant and vivacious, is preparing for a party and remembering those she once loved.
In another part of London, Septimus Warren Smith is shell-shocked and on the brink of madness. Smith’s day interweaves with that of Clarissa and her friends, their lives converging as the party reaches its glittering climax.
Past, present, and future are brought together on a momentous June day in 1923.
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"Chose to read "Mrs. Dalloway" because of my interest in this stream-of-consciousness writing style - While I enjoyed the book, I was a little disappointed in the storyline, only because I thought it was written from an introspective narrative of the main character, and instead, found it was more an overall third person omnipotent view, relating the individual introspective narrative of several characters. All-in-all it was wonderful writing, and the way Virginia Woolf connected one character's thought stream to the next, without losing continuity was really extraordinary. The complex, prosaic structure in the writing was very enjoyable as well."
— d. (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“Mrs. Dalloway, often called Woolf’s most accessible novel..[especially as] narrated by the charming Scottish actor Phyllida Law.”
— BookRiot (audio review) -
“Phyllida Law’s beautiful reading may be the perfect way to experience Woolf’s modernist masterpiece…Law’s ability to render distinctions of class, of age, of sex, and of temperament is glorious, and makes for a gem of a literary experience. Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award.”
— AudioFile
Awards
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One of Time Magazine's Best 100 English-Language Novels from 1923–2005
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Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award
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A USA Today bestseller
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A BookRiot Pick of Classics Best Experienced in Audio
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A New York Public Library Staff Pick of Favorite Books of the Last 125 Years
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A London Times Pick at #10 of the 50 Best Novels of the Last 100 Years
Mrs. Dalloway Listener Reviews
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" yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes! (me, a good reviewer) "
— Valerie, 2/18/2014 -
" The 200-odd pages of consciousness may sound a little intimidating and, after reading 'To The Lighthouse', I thought I would never appreciate Woolf. However 'Mrs Dalloway' is beautifully written, with hints of character backgrounds that set the imagination wild. The thought processes are intelligent and witty, if horrifically dark at times. A very good read. "
— Rebecca, 2/16/2014 -
" It's hard to carry a whole narrative with stream-of-consciousness. In fairness, SofC was probably more interesting in 1925. It did, however, get me in the mood for some BBC drawing room dramas. "
— David, 2/12/2014 -
" Always lovely to spend the birthday with Ms Woolf and Mrs Dalloway. This one truly gets better with every read. I'd write more but Rumplemeyer's men are coming. "
— Salvatore, 2/10/2014 -
" thank the gods! i finally f-ing finished it! while i wouldn't say it was *well* worth the effort, i am very glad to have finally gotten through it, and it was very good after all. "
— Justin, 2/8/2014 -
" A classic example of the stream of consciousness style of writing. We learn more through the silences, the sections when Dalloway thinks that surely she should be happy...so why isn't she? That tell us more than what is spoken directly. Modern society and the demands on 'successful' women is the focus of this piece, with its frivolities hiding the ache resting beneath. A real work of art. Not my type of content really, but the poetic nature of the prose carried me along and made it wonderful to read in its own way. "
— BeeQuiet, 2/2/2014 -
" I think Woolf is just not my thing? I got what she was doing, I just didn't love it. "
— Cory, 1/23/2014 -
" I love Virginia Woolf's writing style and this book was no exception. Beautifully crafted. Definitely one I'm glad I read. "
— Danica, 1/18/2014 -
" Woolf's stream of consciousness writing is quite different. I found it easy to follow and interesting to read. "
— Ginny, 1/14/2014 -
" lovely book on a certain segment of post ww1 society "
— Pamela, 1/12/2014 -
" I was really looking forward to reading this when I did, and I really really wanted to love it. I didn't. I was more dissapointed in myself for not loving it, I mean it's a classic! "
— Afafia, 12/24/2013 -
" I can't get away from comparing this with Mme Bovary and wish to read them side by side soon. "
— Dotty, 12/12/2013 -
" O... M... G... is this painfully boring "
— Jason, 12/8/2013 -
" Mrs Dalloway will always be special. "
— Linde, 12/1/2013 -
" The first time I was so aware of style; Woolf's semi-colons were so adeptly placed and her rhythm so perfect, reading this felt like floating down a warm, gentle river at twilight. The excellently structured and tragic story simply made it all the better. A true classic. "
— James, 11/21/2013 -
" Mrs. Dalloway is one of my favorite novels. Love the experience of time and place in post WWI London. Beautiful and lyrical. "
— Erica, 9/21/2013 -
" Can't say the book spoke to me. I wouldn't call it poignant or heartfelt or a page turner. I'd say its brilliance lies in how unapologetic it is. Worth the read just for its style and flow. "
— O, 8/10/2013 -
" so hard to read with "...complex, incisive and idiosyncratic sentences..." but should try again....maybe "
— Lms7214, 5/31/2013 -
" Brilliant, obviously. "Absorbing, mysterious, of infinite richness, this life." "
— Jeanine, 5/2/2013 -
" Worst most beautiful writing ever. "
— Morgan, 3/18/2013 -
" Nearly a perfect novel. Annie Proulx's The Shipping News is the only book that comes as close to having a perfect last sentence. "
— Steve, 2/3/2013 -
" hard to read at first "
— Andrealang, 11/15/2012 -
" This book was a great read. Definitely would recommend this if you enjoy reading something a little more difficult. "
— Ashlee, 5/23/2011 -
" This book was a great read. Definitely would recommend this if you enjoy reading something a little more difficult. "
— Ashlee, 5/23/2011 -
" I loved it; however, I was more interested in Septimus and his story ... "
— Ashley, 5/19/2011 -
" Streaming conciousness - my arse! lol "
— Cherry, 5/18/2011 -
" Streaming conciousness - my arse! lol "
— Cherry, 5/18/2011 -
" fascinating,sad-you can already see her leaning towards death "
— Debi, 5/15/2011 -
" fascinating,sad-you can already see her leaning towards death "
— Debi, 5/15/2011 -
" Too tedious and demanding for too little return; however, some lines/ideas will knock your feet out from under you unexpectedly "
— Ctb, 5/7/2011 -
" Too tedious and demanding for too little return; however, some lines/ideas will knock your feet out from under you unexpectedly "
— Ctb, 5/7/2011
About Virginia Woolf
Virginia Woolf (1882–1941), one of the major literary figures of the twentieth century, transformed the art of the novel. She was a pioneer in the use of stream of consciousness as a narrative device. The author of numerous novels, collections of letters, journals, and short stories, she was also an admired literary critic and a master of the essay form.
About Phyllida Law
Phyllida Law, a Scottish actress, has appeared in Monarch of the Glen and Waking the Dead. Born in 1932, she is also the mother of actresses Emma Thompson and Sophie Thompson.