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The American

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The American

By: Henry James
Narrated by: Adam Sims
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About this listen

Self-made American millionaire Christopher Newman arrives in Paris brimming with hope and optimism, excited to experience the culture and, hopefully, find the perfect woman to become his wife. After a chance encounter with American expatriate friends, his attention is drawn to Madame de Cintré, 25-year-old widowed daughter of the late Marquis de Bellegarde.

Having fallen on hard times, the centuries-old aristocratic family permits Newman's courtship to proceed; however, they later persuade the widow to break off her engagement to the nouveau-riche businessman. When Newman finds himself in possession of a dark secret that threatens to destroy the Bellegarde family, he must decide whether to keep to his principles or exact his revenge.

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

Public Domain (P)2020 Naxos Audiobooks Classics France American Literature

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I dislike having to write reviews when awarding 5 stars should suffice. It’s annoying to have to write a minimum number of words

All of it

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In book after book Henry James warns us (Americans) about Europeans, but have we ever taken him seriously. A lovely book in which the tension is between love and manipulation. A sweet and bitter love story. I enjoyed the narrator very much.

Americans take note

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This was the third novel by Henry James that I listened to. I have quickly become fascinated by the magic of his writing, and want to read more and more of James. Luckily there are several titles still waiting for me to be read/heard.

In this novel the main character, the bright, independent, young and rich businessman Newman arrives from America to Paris. For some time it seems that with his positiveness he manages to make the nobility's dingy old mansions more lively and joyous. A French family with a 1000 years of history starts making a place for him amongst them. But the resistance against new and modern ways is strong. Newman's everlasting sunshine must be quenched. He has new money and he doesn't come from an old and respectable family. That is his great flaw. All the characters in the novel act according to their nature, they can't help it. The evil remains evil, and the generous generous - to the end. In addition to Newman, another very amiable character is housekeeper Mrs. Bread. I liked also how the narrator Adam Sims read her lines. Sims is an excellent narrator.

A most pleasurable read

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