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An Old Man's Love
- Narrated by: Tony Britton
- Length: 7 hrs and 45 mins
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An Old Man's Love
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Summary
Exclusively from Audible
William Whittlestaff, an aging bachelor, becomes a guardian to the much younger Mary Lawrie, the orphaned and penniless daughter of an old friend. Having lost the woman he loved to a richer rival many years ago, he now finds himself falling in love with Mary with intentions to marry her despite knowing that her love belongs to another man, John Gordon. John left three years previously in search of his fortune in order to make himself worthy of Mary. Not knowing if she will ever see him again, Mary accepts Whittlestaff's proposal only for her true love to return having made his fortune in the Kimberley diamond fields of South Africa. Though he knows Mary's true feelings, Whittlestaff is unwilling to be rejected once again and will not let Mary go back on her promise. John does not want to give up hope either. Who will win Mary's hand in marriage?
An Old Man's Love is the last completed work by Anthony Trollope, published posthumously in 1884. Trollope was one of the most successful and respected English novelists of the Victorian era with more than 40 published novels that are regarded by some as among the greatest of 19th-century fiction. Many of his works covered political, social and gender issues. Fans of his work have included former British Prime Ministers Harold Macmillan and Sir John Major.
Narrator Biography
In 1952, Tony Britton came to major attention after his role as Rameses in The Firstborn at London’s Winter Garden Theatre. A renowned classical stage star he has also appeared in numerous British films since the 1950s; most notably Operation Amsterdam (1959), Sunday Bloody Sunday (1971) and The Day of the Jackal (1973). In 1975 he won the Broadcasting Press Guild Award for Best Actor for his performance in The Nearly Man. In 2013 he performed in a Gala Performance of King Lear at the Old Vic, London.
Over the years Tony has lent his soothing voice to a huge collection of audio productions including Daphne du Maurier’s Jamaica Inn and Thomas Hardy’s The Mayor of Casterbridge.
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What listeners say about An Old Man's Love
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Vanessa H.
- 26-10-21
Laborious
Not one of Trollope’s best. Overly drawn out on a single subject and then at the end just gives a couple of lines on some matters. I listened to it all but can’t say I enjoyed it all
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- cyclingcarol
- 13-03-22
Brilliant, Sad and Amusing
Skilfully written. A gripping and sad tale of an elderly lover in a time of Victorian conventions. Well worth reading.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Pamela
- 22-12-21
Oh dear!
Trollope is one of my all-time favorite writers, so it's hard to give one of his books a thumbs-down review.
An Old Man's Love is Trollope's last novel, published posthumously. It has a thin plot, little action, and a very limited cast of characters. The interest in the novel comes from the internal struggle of the Old Man of the title, William Whittlestaff who at the ripe old age of fifty (!) is the old man of the title and it is he who proposes to Mary. She was previously in love with John a penniless man. Miraculously on the very afternoon after Mary agrees to marry Whittlestaff, John Gordon returns to claim her, having made his fortune in the diamond mines.
The bulk of the book is Whittlestaff's internal conflict on what he should do.
There is also a side story of an interfering, and garrulous housekeeper who is troubled by a drunken husband. Both these characters are extremely annoying and I wish they and their predictable mundane and unsavory lives had not appeared at all. The book is void of Trollope's usually wonderful writing, sly, dry wit or political, social or business intrigues. The book meanders along as if being paid by the word. But as the situation drags on and on, it loses any drama it had and after a while, I was just begging Trollope to get on with it.
It is far from Trollope's strongest work, and would not be a good starting point. It is probably best read only by those who have already basked in his stronger works, particularly his Barchester and Palliser novels.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Susan Whitehead
- 04-03-22
Old Man’s Love
Good but not one of Trollope’s finest. It was however beautifully read by Tony Britton.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- D
- 12-06-22
superb narrator old fashioned story
The story is slight by ATs standards but enjoyable. outstanding narration enhanced the story. very much of its time!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Frances
- 20-01-20
Outstanding narration
This is a very short novel compared with most of Trollope's works but it is none the less enjoyable. The characters are convincingly drawn and with much sensitivity, and the writing displays all the psychological penetration which readers of Trollope are familiar with.
I would particularly like to mention the narration by Tony Britton. This was masterly, particularly in the manner in which he brought the comic elements of certain characters to life, notably the curate and the housekeeper.
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7 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Nicola
- 22-08-21
Excellent
Trollope’s insight into the female psyche in his time has learning for the present - and Tony Britton’s narration is truly excellent.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 30-01-22
A bit long winded …
As Trollope sometimes is. Wanted to shake the female heroine at times - her pious, martyred attitude - so desirous of female characters in the 19th century are at odds with the way today’s emancipated women behave and think. Thank goodness times and attitudes have changed! This book hasn’t stood the test of time.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 29-10-23
Wonderful performance of irritating book
This story is full of irritating characters and a view of women that is hard to stomach even if considered in the context of its time.
The heroine in particular is not likable and it is hard to imagine someone of 25 years old would act like she does.
Nothing really happens and and it would have been better had the book been half its length.
The only redeeming factor is the brilliant delivery of the audio book by Tony Britton. Quite outstanding.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Lisa
- 06-04-22
Loved it
This interesting little story was brought life by the very talented narrator Tony Britton actor
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