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Adam Bede

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Adam Bede

By: George Eliot
Narrated by: Wanda McCaddon
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George Eliot's first full-length novel is the moving, realistic portrait of three people troubled by unwise love.

Adam Bede is a hardy young carpenter who cares for his aging mother. His one weakness is the woman he loves blindly: the trifling town beauty, Hetty Sorrel, who delights only in her baubles—and the delusion that the careless Captain Donnithorne may ask for her hand.

Betrayed by their innocence, both Adam and Hetty allow their foolish hearts to trap them in a triangle of seduction, murder, and retribution. Only in the lovely Dinah Morris, a preacher, does Adam find his redemption.

Addressing questions of morality and the role of women in society, Adam Bedeexplores the dangers of relying on religious and social norms to govern destructive desires.

(P)1995 Blackstone Audio, Inc. Classics Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Small Town & Rural Heartfelt
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Critic reviews

“Adam Bede has taken its place among the actual experiences and endurances of my life.”

“A first-rate novel.”

“Adam Bede was Eliot’s first long novel. Its masterly realism—evident, for example, in the recording of Derbyshire dialect—brought to English fiction the same truthful observation of minute detail that John Ruskin was commending in the Pre-Raphaelites. But what was new in this work of English fiction was the combination of deep human sympathy and rigorous moral judgment.”
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Beautiful lyrical writing and a fantastic performance. Kept me awake several nights wanting to hear more.

Wonderful

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A wonderful unabridged version with enjoyable narration by Nadia May (except for Tottie who is a pain anyway!) the whole saga is slow to set up, but George Elliot needs this to establish the background and develop a fascinating listen.

A wonderful rendition

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Eliot’s first novel has its faults, overly long and overly sentimental, but it’s a great story for all that. A genuinely shocking insight into the customs and beliefs of our forefathers.

Flawed but Rewarding

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I really enjoyed this book. On the whole the narrator read well, though I did find the over long pauses after each sentence spoilt the flow of the book.

A must read classic

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Would you consider the audio edition of Adam Bede to be better than the print version?

No, they each have their place.

What did you like best about this story?

I loved Eliot's characterisations and beautiful descriptions.

Which character – as performed by Nadia May – was your favourite?

They were all outstanding, Nadia May is a brilliant mimic and has an amazing voice range.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The whole book is profoundly moving, everything links together, you are aware that anything not understood early on will certainly be explained or developed later.

Any additional comments?

I think George Eliot would have been very pleased with Nadia May's work. A great choice.

Wonderful story

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