These charming people
Tapestry of the fortunes, follies, adventures, gallantries and general activities of Ladies & LordsBy Michael Arlen
Length5h 39m
About this audiobook
In "These Charming People," Michael Arlen crafts a shrewd and elegantly witty social commentary on the lives of the American elite in the 1920s. Set against the backdrop of post-World War I prosperity, this novel offers a subtle yet incisive exploration of the superficial charm and underlying emptiness of high society. Arlen's distinctive literary style blends sharp dialogue with vivid descriptions, capturing the essence of an era defined by both glamour and disillusionment. The narrative, rich with irony and humor, invites readers to reflect on the complexities of human relationships and societal expectations. Michael Arlen, an Armenian-American novelist and playwright, emerged as a significant voice during the Jazz Age, a period that inspired much of his work. His unique background and experiences, including the impact of international displacement and the search for identity, deeply informed his portrayal of societal dynamics. Arlen's literary pursuits were influenced by contemporaries such as F. Scott Fitzgerald, yet he carved out a niche by employing a more satirical lens that scrutinizes his characters' intricacies. For readers interested in the intersection of class, culture, and the human psyche, "These Charming People" is an absolute must-read. Arlen's keen observations and vibrant prose will resonate with anyone passionate about the complexities of societal constructs and the enduring quest for authenticity. Dive into this classic work to uncover the alluring charm and profound disillusionment of a bygone era.
Audiobook details
Rating★★★★ 3.6 (25)
Includes Goodreads
GenreLiterary Classics, General Fiction
Length5 hrs 39 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateMar 2, 2025
LanguageEnglish
More from Michael Arlen
To Kill a MockingbirdHarper Lee12h 18m4.5 (7.4M)$29 · $0.00
These Precious DaysAnn Patchett11h 14m4.5 (45.2K)$29 · $0.00
The Great Gatsby: Original 1925 Edition (An F. Scott Fitzgerald Classic NovelFrancis Scott Fitzgerald4h 45m4.6 (9.3K)$18 · $0.00
The Complete Histories / History Plays of William Shakespeare (Annotated)William Shakespeare29h 42m4.6 (2.3K)$1.99 · $0.00
Braving the TruthRachel Held Evans11h 31m4.7 (359)$29 · $0.00
The Old Man and the Sea (Annotated)Ernest Hemingway4h 27m4.6 (1.4K)$2 · $0.00
Twelfth Night (The Unabridged Play) + The Classic Biography (Annotated)William Shakespeare, Sidney Lee16h 38m4.6 (1.4K)$2 · $0.00
Henry V (The Play, Historical Background and Analysis of the Character in the Play)William Shakespeare, William Hazlitt8h 50m4.6 (1.3K)$1.99 · $0.00
H. P. LOVECRAFT Ultimate Collection: Novellas, Short Stories, Poetry & Essays (Annotated)H. P. Lovecraft12h 28m4.6 (2.3K)$2 · $0.00
Time RegainedMarcel Proust16h 8m4.5 (10.6K)$1.99 · $0.00
Lessons in TruthH. Emilie3h 50m4.6 (1.4K)$4.70 · $0.00
TORAH - Bilingual Edition: English/Hebrew (Annotated)Max Margolis, JPS28h 26m4.6 (1K)$2 · $0.00
Betty Crocker picture cooky bookBetty Crocker, Inc. General Mills2h 13m4.5 (6.5K)$1 · $0.00
The Complete Tales of Beatrix PotterBeatrix Potter3h 36m4.5 (75K)$3 · $0.00
Anne of Green GablesL. M. Montgomery11h 1m4.5 (1.2M)$2.30 · $0.00
Crime and Punishment (The Unabridged Garnett Translation) (Annotated)Fyodor Dostoevsky24h 25m4.5 (15.4K)$1.99 · $0.00
The North American IndianEdward S. Curtis, Frederick Webb Hodge6h4.5 (1.2K)$2 · $0.00
The Picture of Dorian Gray: The Uncensored 13 Chapter Version + The Revised 20 Chapter Version (Annotated)Oscar Wilde16h 12m4.5 (2.8K)$1.99 · $0.00
Grimoire Of The Everyday WitchIsadora Lys / Virginia Santos5h 35m4.5 (3.9K)$9 · $0.00
Winnie-the-PoohAlan Alexander Milne2h 52m4.5 (401.1K)$3 · $0.00
WhistlerAnn Patchett10h 45m4.6 (4.6K)$29 · $0.00
Demon CopperheadBarbara Kingsolver21h 3m4.5 (949.4K)$46 · $0.00
To Kill a MockingbirdHarper Lee12h 18m4.5 (7.4M)$29 · $0.00
Remarkably Bright CreaturesShelby Van Pelt11h 17m4.4 (1.7M)$29 · $0.00
Something Like LoveBeverly Jenkins10h 21m4.6 (2.7K)$29 · $0.00
Black History CollectionFrederick Douglass, Harriet Ann Jacobs, Booker T. Washington, W.E.B. Du Bois27h 9m4.6 (2.6K)$18 · $0.00
The Old Man and the Sea (Annotated)Ernest Hemingway4h 27m4.6 (1.4K)$2 · $0.00
White HotIlona Andrews13h 18m4.5 (136.9K)$5 · $0.00
The Ghost by the Billabong (The Matilda Saga, #5)Jackie French14h 58m4.6 (773)$33 · $0.00
Cast in BloodMichelle Sagara16h 35m4.6 (607)$33 · $0.00
The Captain Blood Trilogy (Annotated)Rafael Sabatini29h 20m4.6 (1K)$3 · $0.00
Ship of the Line (Annotated)Cecil Louis Troughton Smith11h 13m4.6 (1K)$2 · $0.00
The George Orwell CollectionGeorge Orwell24h 46m4.5 (14.4K)$12 · $0.00
Time RegainedMarcel Proust15h 38m4.5 (9.2K)$2 · $0.00
Driving ForceElle James4h 58m4.6 (407)$20 · $0.00
When God Calls the HeartBrian Bird, Michelle Cox3h 24m4.6 (439)$10 · $0.00
Five Little IndiansMichelle Good10h 34m4.5 (64.5K)$29 · $0.00
Lolth's WarriorR. A. Salvatore13h 20m4.6 (2.4K)$33 · $0.00
The Things We Cannot SayKelly Rimmer13h 48m4.5 (359.1K)$33 · $0.00
The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du BoisHonoree Fanonne Jeffers29h 49m4.5 (58K)$8 · $0.00
You may also like
KahloGerry Souter1h 22m4.1 (515)$15 · $0.00
The Beautiful & DamnedF. Scott Fitzgerald16h 19m3.8 (127.1K)$1.99 · $0.00
The Party and Other StoriesAnton Pavlovich Chekhov7h 44m4.2 (1.2K)$2.30
If I Never Met YouMhairi McFarlane11h 17m4.0 (88.6K)$29 · $0.00
Madame BovaryGustave Flaubert15m3.9 (439.9K)$14 · $0.00
New Grub StreetGeorge Gissing21h 4m4.0 (9.2K)$2.30 · $0.00
The SeagullAnton Chekhov2h 10m4.1 (45.3K)$1.20 · $0.00
THE PORTRAIT OF A LADYHenry James27h 7m3.9 (104.3K)$1.99 · $0.00
The Return of the Native (Annotated)Thomas Hardy15h 56m4.0 (55.3K)$1.99 · $0.00
RosmersholmHenrik Ibsen3h 19m3.9 (5.3K)$1 · $0.00
Madame BovaryGustave Flaubert13h 2m3.9 (437K)$2.30 · $0.00
Frida KahloGerry Souter3h 20m4.2 (475)$13 · $0.00
Anna KareninaLeo Tolstoy39h 12m4.2 (1.1M)$1.20 · $0.00
Mosses from an Old ManseNathaniel Hawthorne8h 5m4.0 (2.5K)$4.70 · $0.00
Antic HayAldous Huxley10h 7m3.7 (6.3K)$2.30
KahloGerry Souter1h 37m4.1 (489)$13.50 · $0.00
All the Sad Young MenF. Scott Fitzgerald7h 24m4.0 (6.4K)$2.30 · $0.00
The Darling and Other StoriesAnton Pavlovich Chekhov7h 52m4.1 (892)$2.30
An Omnibus of Obsession and Betrayal – 4 Classic Psychological Fiction NovelsHenry James, D. H. Lawrence, Thomas Hardy, Kate Chopin28h 35m$2
The Radicalism of Shelley and Its SourcesDaniel J. MacDonald2h 49m$2 · $0.00