The Good Soldier cover art

The Good Soldier

Penguin Classics

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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

This Penguin Classic is performed by Billy Howle, known for his roles in Dunkirk, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and On Chesil Beach. This definitive recording includes an introduction by David Bradshaw.

The Dowells, a wealthy American couple, have been close friends with the Ashburnhams for years. Edward Ashburnham, a first-rate soldier, seems to be the perfect English gentleman, and Leonora his perfect wife, but beneath the surface their marriage seethes with unhappiness and deception. Our only window on the strange tangle of events surrounding Edward is provided by John Dowell, the husband he deceives. Gradually Dowell unfolds a devastating story, in which everyone's honesty is in doubt. This extraordinary novel of passion and betrayal is a masterpiece of narrative skill and emotional depth.

 Classics Linguistics Social Sciences Marriage
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I absolutely loved this novel. Even though the narrators memory can be a bit sketchy I think this adds to the story.

Great story

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Well done to Penguin for putting the book’s introduction *after* the recording of the book itself. It’s actually excellent but would be hard to appreciate and replete with spoilers if heard first.

Overall, a good recording of this novel, even if the odd bits of German are mispronounced and the narrator’s accent is a little too British for the character (who is Pennsylvanian Dutch).

Great book and sensible recording

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I found the book tedious I am afraid. In the end you just don't care as a reader. I suspect that Ford Maddox Ford and this book is a marmite choice. well, I like marmite but not this book.

tedious

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