Ethan Frome

Published in 1911, Wharton's novel is set in the desolate New England town of Starkfield. Ethan Frome, a painfully loyal farmer and his demanding wife, Zeena, are trapped in a cheerless marriage. When her cousin Mattie comes to work for them, Ethan and Mattie struggle against forbidden feelings, but inevitably, they fall in love. Scott Brick's able narration conveys the pervasive dreariness of lives only briefly relieved by the advent of possibility. However, as with many of Wharton's novels, irony dominates. Brick's performance offers a familiarity with Downeast colloquialisms and thoroughly believable New England accents. He brings Wharton's characters to oppressive life in this unrelentingly grim story. This production opens with a brief summary of the author's life, offering insights for first-time Wharton readers. S.J.H. (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine

Kids will respond to the audio version of Ethan Frome, in the same way they have responded to the book. First, kids enjoy short fiction, and Marilyn Langbehn's fully voiced reading is short. Also kids like strong feelings, and what is stronger than Ethan's restrained fury at Zeena? Finally, kids are intrigued with irony and view with awe Ethan's twisted fate. Langbehn voices perfectly the carping, invidious Zeena. But in using her voice far below its natural range for Ethan, she weakens his characterization and the ironic effect. This, coupled with careless production editing, prevents full immersion in the text. This is a good audiobook but not a great one. P.E.F. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Edith Wharton's fateful tale of a farmer torn between his bitter, conniving wife and his vibrant, young cousin, between duty and fulfillment, sometimes shows its age. Richard Thomas's performance is true to the source: Its strengths and weaknesses are those of the novel. Thomas's female voices are genuine because he does not attempt to sound like a woman. His New England accent--suggested rather than emphasized--likewise rings true. Most compellingly, his pauses during dialogue evoke a time when listeners allowed speakers to finish, and considered their answers before responding. Thomas's pauses conjure the stillness of the winter countryside and the distances between the characters. T.J.W. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine

Nathan Osgood doesn't quite do justice to Edith Wharton's wonderful novel. The brief work relates the tragic life of a young Massachusetts farmer unhappily married to Zeena, a whining hypochondriac. When Ethan falls in love with Zeena's vivacious cousin, Mattie, the two are unable to act on their feelings and impulsively attempt a suicide that leaves them both maimed. Osgood's narration is confident enough and his gentle voice nicely suits Ethan's character, but his interpretation of Zeena is simply not miserable enough. He also ignores cues in the text so that when Wharton indicates that dialogue is "stammered," or spoken "solemnly" or "flatly," Osgood makes no adjustment in his delivery. D.B. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine

This slim Wharton novel is often overlooked--likely because it lacks the author's celebrated Old New York setting and intrigue--but this performance of the classic may earn it a second visit. Adam Sims delivers an excellent narration, capturing Frome's distinct New England demeanor and secondary characters' voices with equal attention to detail. The story of doomed lovers transcends despair to capture the imagination, thanks to Sims's energetic and appealing deep voice. What might be dismissed on the printed page as dreary comes to life. Listeners will empathize with Frome's plight and vividly picture themselves enduring the cold Massachusetts winter. If your English class of years gone by formed your opinion of this novel, try it again with this audiobook. L.B.F. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine