A Duet with an Occasional Chorus
By Arthur Conan Doyle
Length7h 36m
About this audiobook
A Duet, with an Occasional Chorus is a charming domestic novel by Arthur Conan Doyle that explores the first year of marriage between a young couple in late-Victorian England. Frank Crosse and his new wife, Maude, are deeply in love but soon discover that even the happiest marriages require compromise, humor, and understanding. The novel unfolds almost like a series of vignettes or "duets" (conversations) between husband and wife, interspersed with the "occasional chorus" of commentary from their meddling relatives and friends. Doyle departs from mystery here, instead offering keen observations of everyday life – from setting up a new home and budget squabbles to social calls and minor misunderstandings. The tone is warm, gently comedic, and often sentimental. Notably, Doyle wrote this book as an ode to marital harmony in an era when cynical literature was more common, stating his aim was to portray marriage "as it often is – a partnership of affection and adventure". The climax is low-key (no big dramas, just a scare that Maude might be gravely ill, which she isn't), reinforcing that true happiness lies in the ordinary. A Duet ultimately celebrates the sweetness and trials of marriage, showcasing Doyle's versatility in writing a quiet "idyll of domestic life" that remains relatable and sincere.
Audiobook details
Rating★★★ 3.3 (62)
Includes Goodreads
GenreRomance, General Fiction
Length7 hrs 36 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateAug 1, 2025
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1A Duet With An Occasional Chorus
2DEDICATION: TO MRS. MAUDE CROSSE
3I. THE OVERTURE—ABOUT THAT DATE
4II. THE OVERTURE CONTINUED—IN A MINOR KEY
5III. THE OVERTURE CONCLUDED
Show all chaptersShow less
6IV. THE TWO SOLOS
7V. IN BRITAIN’S VALHALLA
8VI. TWO SOLOS AND A DUET
9VII. KEEPING UP APPEARANCES
10VIII. THE HOME-COMING
11IX. LAYING A COURSE
12X. CONFESSIONS
13XI. CONCERNING MRS. BEETON
14XII. MR. SAMUEL PEPYS
15XIII. A VISIT TO MR. SAMUEL PEPYS
16XIV. TROUBLE
17XV. A RESCUE
18XVI. THE BROWNING SOCIETY
19XVII. AN INVESTMENT
20XVIII. A THUNDERCLOUD
21XIX. DANGER
22XX. NO. 5 CHEYNE ROW
23XXI. THE LAST NOTE OF THE DUET
24XXII. THE TRIO
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