The Relentless City (Unabridged) (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. A Satirical Novel set between London and New YorkBy E. F. Benson
Length10h 26m
About this audiobook
The Relentless City is E. F. Benson's sharply observed transatlantic novel of modernity, money, and social performance. Set amid the glittering pressures of New York and the older codes of English society, it examines a world in which ambition, marriage, reputation, and commerce are inseparably entangled. Benson writes with polished irony and a Jamesian attentiveness to manners, yet his satire is brisker and more theatrical, capturing the nervous energy of an age increasingly ruled by wealth and publicity. Edward Frederic Benson, born in 1867, was the son of Archbishop E. W. Benson and moved easily within the educated, upper-middle-class circles he so often anatomized. His fiction reflects both intimacy with privilege and skepticism toward its rituals. Before becoming best known for the Mapp and Lucia novels and his ghost stories, Benson repeatedly explored the social transformations of the Edwardian period; this book draws on his fascination with status, cosmopolitan mobility, and the psychological costs of fashionable life. This unabridged edition is recommended for readers interested in Edwardian fiction, social satire, and Anglo-American cultural exchange. It will especially appeal to admirers of Henry James, Edith Wharton, and Benson's own comedies of manners, offering a witty yet serious portrait of a city—and a civilization—driven by relentless appetite.
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.
- 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
Rating★★★★ 3.7 (11)
Includes Goodreads
GenreHumor, Literary Classics
Length10 hrs 26 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateAug 10, 2015
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1Introduction
14Chapter X
2Introduction
15Chapter XI
3Synopsis
16Chapter XII
4Historical Context
17Chapter XIII
5Chapter I
18Chapter XIV
Show all chaptersShow less
6Chapter II
19Chapter XV
7Chapter III
20Chapter XVI
8Chapter IV
21Chapter XVII
9Chapter V
22Chapter XVIII
10Chapter VI
23Epilogue
11Chapter VII
24Analysis
12Chapter VIII
25Reflection
13Chapter IX
26Memorable Quotes
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