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What Maisie Knew

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What Maisie Knew

By: Henry James
Narrated by: Maureen O' Brien
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About this listen

Maisie is an innocent six year-old, torn between her divorced parents, pathetically isolated yet tragically involved. The only emotional constant in Maisie's life is Mrs. Wix, a motherly old governess.

©2010 AudioGO Ltd (P)2014 Audible, Inc. Classics Witty
All stars
Most relevant
I found the story repetitive and didn’t know what to make of it at the end. But Henry James has to be taken seriously so I’m glad I persisted. The reader was good.

A Curious read

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A long and painful story, worth persisting with. An array of convincing characters. Look out for a Jamesian ending.

Superlative performance

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Unfortunately I had to stop listening to this as there is some soft interference as if a pot of porridge is coming plopping to the boil next to the lips of the performer. Henry James may have been working something out about his childless state and what he might get out of knowing a child. But to modern ears there are queasy moments when Sir Claude is told he can do what he likes with the child etc. Also ghastly is the emotional devastation of the child's psyche detailed which we see as socially acceptable.

Sound interference

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I almost think that despite the narration being no doubt excellent I would have enjoyed, sympathised with the tale better in print. This is because Mrs Wix was spoken in a rough, unattractive, almost illiterate, dangerously bigoted way. Which made Maisie’s attachment to her more inexplicable. The rows and scenes are exhausting to follow, too.

Wonderful vocabulary, complicated story

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A very wonderful piece of writing about the journey from innocence to knowing. Characters are complex, compelling and so well drawn. The story of negligence and selfishness of adults, and the resilience and wisdom of a child is still relevant today.

Funny and poignant

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