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The Well-Beloved

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The Well-Beloved

By: Thomas Hardy
Narrated by: Robert Powell
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About this listen

 Set on the Isle of Slingers, this novel follows the exploits of Jocelyn Pierston, a sculptor who falls in love successively with three generations of island women, seeking female perfection, just as he strives to realise the ideal woman in stone.Public Domain (P)2014 Audible, Inc. Classics

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A strange little book. One of Hardy’s later works and the last of his novels to be published. More lighthearted than his usual work. Worth reading but not on the same level as Tess or The Mayor Casterbridge.

Hardy’s Quirky Rom-Com

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Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

I like Thomas Hardy novels, but despite this one being read by one of my favourite voice actors, it was not enough to hold my attention. The story rambles and I lost all sympathy with the protagonist. I didn't finish the book.

Would you ever listen to anything by Thomas Hardy again?

Yes.

What does Robert Powell bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

He has a beautiful voice and reads very well, bringing his characters to life. He manages to read the female parts in a very believable way, as well, which is no mean feat.

Did The Well-Beloved inspire you to do anything?

Only to stop reading it! To be honest, it did get me to sleep quite well on a number of nights, which is no bad thing since I often find it difficult. But then, probably almost any book read by Robert Powell would have done that job.

Any additional comments?

I'm glad I tried it, since it was one of the few Hardy's I have never read.

Love the voice, but it's not enough

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Not Hardy's best and his portrayal of the ageism prevalent against women of a certain age jars with modern sensibilities or at least it should. Still the conceit of a sculptor with an idealised version of womanhood in the flesh as opposed to stone is as ever nicely worked. The various complications of changing relationships including the round robin jiltings are reminiscent of a Shakespearen plot or less charitably a soap opera .The Wessex description of the "Island" ie Portland Bill and the export of Portland stone by ship to London are of historical interest. There are some echoes of Hardy's personal life .

Ineresting but not brilliant

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Lesser known Hard nove. Enjoyable walking my home island with the characters. Great narrator. Do listen.

Fickle Love on Portland and in London

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Written between the bright lights of Tess of the D’Urbervilles and Jude the Obscure, The Well Beloved does not shine nearly so brightly. It feels like a thought-experiment that the author tried out but didn’t quite work.

The main problem is that there isn’t much to the story - a man is constantly questing for his Well-Beloved – a fantasy of the ideal woman – and becomes infatuated with many women, but the illusion is always fleeting. The quality of Hardy’s writing carries us through some interesting early chapters, but the fantasy becomes tiresome and, towards the end, a 60-year-old man is paying court to a 20-year-old and it feels like the author is struggling to know where to take it. However, Hardy gets through this difficultly and there is a touching charm to the end of the book.

It is a short novel with some lovely prose, but mostly the story is not engaging enough and I can only recommend it for Hardy completists.

Robert Powell gives a strong reading, making the best of the material, but even he can't make this an engrossing book.

Well Narrated but only for Hardy Completeists

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Robert Powell makes the book come alive. The story is so unusual but really captivating as we see in the three ages some constants but with subtle changes through aging.

A really enjoyable story

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I was in great anticipation finding that Robert Powell was the narrator of this Thomas Hardy story, as I'm a longstanding admirer of Robert's work. Sadly I am bewidered, disappointed and decidedly irritated by this experienced and well respected actor's continuous mis-pronounciation of the commonplace female name of 'Avice' throughout the entire book. It's pronounced 'AY-VISS.' Not pronouncing the 'A' like the 'A' in 'hat' and 'cat'. Like in the word 'Avarice'. What's wrong with him? Has he never met a lady with this name in his long life. Does he not research his projects beforehand? Obviously not. I expected more from this esteemed actor's narration here. It spoils the entire listening experience for me. I guess I'll read the book myself to overlay a more positive memory of the novel.

A good story spoiled

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