Washington Square

This 1880 novel takes place in the New York society familiar to James from his childhood and is from the same period in his life that produced PORTRAIT OF A LADY. Here too he is concerned with the judgment, and fate, of a sheltered young lady of means who may not understand the true motives of the man who courts her. Catherine Sloper is the unexceptional, overdressed only child of Dr. Austin Sloper, who cannot believe that the attractive and shiny young Morris Townsend could be drawn by his daughter's charms alone, such as they are--and Dr. Sloper is a man of action. It's James at the top of his form, and Lloyd James reads effectively, if with an odd lack of energy. B.G. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine

James's classic tale of a plain but potentially wealthy girl caught between two manipulative men comes brilliantly to life in this well-abridged production. William Hope ably captures the cruel indifference of Catherine's father, the greedy charm of her suitor, Morris, and the unassertive but gradually steely tones of Catherine herself. Only after her father's death can she summon the inner strength to cast off the one man who has touched her romantically. As a period piece and an absorbing story, this is--and has always been--a winner. Among other abridged titles in the HighBridge Classics series: VANITY FAIR, SENSE AND SENSIBILITY and James's PORTRAIT OF A LADY. J.B.G. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine

One of James's more accessible novels, Washington Square tells of an American heiress whose martinet father frowns upon her one and only suitor. Here we can enjoy the subtle psychology and nuanced phrasing that later grew so complex as to baffle the casual reader. And enjoy it we do in John McDonough's sensitive interpretation. He perfectly captures the author's patrician manner, reading in appropriately measured tones that deliver every shade of subtext. As this is one of the first psychological novels, the heroine's personality is of paramount importance; McDonough's impersonation admirably captures her transition from shy insecurity to confirmed spinsterhood. Thanks to McDonough, the tape is an excellent introduction to a great American author. Y.R. Winner of AUDIOFILE Earphones Award (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine

This work is certainly a period piece, taking place in late-nineteenth-century New York, and its themes of morality, dignity, and responsibility place it outside the realm of most fiction being written today. Still, this story of a woman, Catherine Sloper, choosing her fiancée over her father despite the terrible consequences is absorbing, and ranks as one of the author's best efforts. Lorna Raver doesn't just read this book; she inhabits it. Her voice is clear and includes a hint of huskiness that serves her well when creating male characters. It also allows her to alter her pitch ever so slightly to perfectly capture the females. Raver uses pauses for dramatic effect and narrates as though every word deserves its place on the page. R.I.G. (c) AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine

With this performance, narrator Adam Sims sounds both historical and contemporary, bridging the time span between James's nineteenth-century novel and the present day with style. His brisk pace and youthful tone seem modern, while his sharp-edged, superbly enunciated syllables hark back to an earlier time. This dichotomy works to the listener's advantage: One feels transported back in time without any problems with comprehension or attention. As Catherine Sloper grows up under the eye of her widowed father, she is found wanting, according to the standards of her social status. When a dashing suitor appears on the scene, his intentions are questioned, and the conflict ensues. This is a good performance of a great classic. L.B.F. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine