Mrs Craddock (Classic Unabridged Edition) (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. A cultured heiress of the landed gentry marries her steward, testing class, passion, and duty in 19th-century EnglandBy William Somerset Maugham
Length12h 34m
About this audiobook
Mrs Craddock is an incisive early novel of marriage, class, and romantic disillusionment, centred on Bertha Ley, an independent gentlewoman whose impulsive marriage to the handsome farmer Edward Craddock becomes a study in emotional starvation. Written in a coolly observant realist style, the book belongs to the late-Victorian and Edwardian tradition of social and psychological fiction, while its frank treatment of desire, boredom, and marital incompatibility anticipates Maugham's later moral clarity. William Somerset Maugham, trained as a physician and formed by close observation of human suffering, brought to fiction a clinician's eye for motive and self-deception. Before becoming one of the twentieth century's most widely read storytellers, he absorbed the influence of French realism and naturalism, particularly in their unsentimental treatment of provincial life. Mrs Craddock reflects his early interest in the conflict between social convention and private truth. This Classic Unabridged Edition is recommended for readers who value psychologically exact fiction and candid examinations of marriage beyond romance. It will especially appeal to admirers of Hardy, Flaubert, and early modern realism, offering a searching portrait of a woman's awakening within the constraints of her age.
This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience.
- A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes.
- The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists.
- A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing.
- An Author Biography reveals milestones in the author's life, illuminating the personal insights behind the text.
- A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings.
- Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life.
- Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance.
- Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.
Audiobook details
GenreLiterary Classics, General Fiction
Length12 hrs 34 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateApr 11, 2015
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1Introduction
24Chapter XVIII
2Introduction
25Chapter XIX
3Synopsis
26Chapter XX
4Historical Context
27Chapter XXI
5Author Biography
28Chapter XXII
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6EPISTLE DEDICATORY
29Chapter XXIII
7Chapter I
30Chapter XXIV
8Chapter II
31Chapter XXV
9Chapter III
32Chapter XXVI
10Chapter IV
33Chapter XXVII
11Chapter V
34Chapter XXVIII
12Chapter VI
35Chapter XXIX
13Chapter VII
36Chapter XXX
14Chapter VIII
37Chapter XXXI
15Chapter IX
38Chapter XXXII
16Chapter X
39Chapter XXXIII
17Chapter XI
40Chapter XXXIV
18Chapter XII
41Chapter XXXV
19Chapter XIII
42Chapter XXXVI
20Chapter XIV
43Analysis
21Chapter XV
44Reflection
22Chapter XVI
45Memorable Quotes
23Chapter XVII
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