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Mildred Pierce cover art

Mildred Pierce

By: James M. Cain
Narrated by: Christine Williams
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Summary

Mildred Pierce had gorgeous legs, a way with a skillet, and a bone-deep core of toughness and determination. She used those attributes to survive a divorce in 1940s America with two children and to claw her way out of poverty, becoming a successful businesswoman. But Mildred also had two weaknesses: a yen for shiftless men and an unreasoning devotion to her monstrous daughter.

Out of these elements, Cain created a novel (later made into a film noir classic) of acute social observation and devastating emotional violence - and a heroine whose ambitions and sufferings are never less than recognizable.
©1941 James M. Cain (P)2007 Blackstone Audio Inc.
Classics Literary Fiction Psychological Crime Fiction Mystery
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Critic reviews

"[James M. Cain is] the poet of the hard-boiled school of the American novel." ( Washington Post)
"A novel that, once begun, will almost surely be read to the end....it reflects no codes, no restrictions, and none but the primordial necessities. It is a bath in sensation." ( New York Times Book Review)

What listeners say about Mildred Pierce

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Profile Image for John

Enjoyable

A good story, well read. I did enjoy the film too which was a bit different. Well worth it

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Profile Image for Mrspatriciacherry

Good story bad narration

I simply had to turn off this audiobook in the end. The raucous narration spoilt it fir me. I put up with it until chapter ten.

A pity because the story itself is a good one.

Unfortunately I couldn’t get the printed book, which would by better because of sight problems.

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Profile Image for K. Sewell

Suspense without murder

This was my first James M Caine and I thoroughly enjoyed this unpredictable story of Mildred and her vile daughter. I admire novels that create suspense without murders or even violence. The story is about Mildred’s overriding need to be a good mother. Most women will forgive their offspring just about anything, but Mildred goes a step too far. It also follows this unassuming woman’s rise from ignominity to success and riches, and although cast as a decent person who rewards loyalty, is not adverse to manipulation. The ending was as surprising as it was satisfying.

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Profile Image for Cara Pratten

what a story..timeless

Love every minute if this book. Very well written. A timeless story of a mother's triumphs and struggles

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Profile Image for Anonymous User

A class act.

Such a classic.
Well read, I loved the narration.
It really helped that I had Joan Crawford in my mind throughout.
A real snapshot into a life in vintage America.

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Profile Image for Anonymous User

A window on times gone by

A sad story of a woman trying to do her best but not achieving the result she wanted.loved the style and the narrator

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Profile Image for I. M. Forrest

Excellent

Gripping story spanning twenty years of mother love, the great depression and the American dream

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Profile Image for Sadie Ryan Author

Loved it.

Loved this book, the story is wonderful, Mildred is so well scoped out you can't help but like her. Much better than the film.

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Profile Image for MissyG

The book is always the best!

Seen an old black and white version of the film along with an more contemporary TV adaptation of this story , but they say “ can’t beat the book” and so perfectly true .

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Profile Image for S Martin

Great book well read

I saw the film first years ago and was excited to read the
book

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