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- Title: Lady Audley’s Secret
- Author: Mary Elizabeth Braddon
- Narrator: Elizabeth Klett
- Length: 14:18:39
- Version: Abridged
- Release Date: 01/01/2016
- Publisher: LibriVox
- Genre: Fiction & Literature, Classics
- ISBN13: SABLIB9782577
It’s not every day you stumble across a tale that feels like it’s been whispered to you across time, carried on the wind from some fog-drenched Victorian estate. That’s exactly what I found when I dove into the “Lady Audley’s Secret” audiobook by Mary Elizabeth Braddon, narrated with captivating finesse by Elizabeth Klett. Available for free through LibriVox, this classic piece of sensational fiction unfurls like a dusty map to a hidden past – one I couldn’t stop exploring.
I first pressed play on this audiobook while winding through the narrow, cobblestoned streets of a small Portuguese village last summer. The air smelled of salt and roasted chestnuts, and the story’s gothic undertones matched the shadowy alleys I roamed. It reminded me of a time when I was driving through Chile’s Atacama Desert, the surreal landscape stretching endlessly as Gabriel García Márquez’s voice (well, his narrator’s) spun “One Hundred Years of Solitude” into my ears. There’s something about a great audiobook that transforms a journey – inner or outer – into something unforgettable. With “Lady Audley’s Secret”, I wasn’t just listening; I was there, peering over the shoulders of Lucy Graham as she donned her new title and buried her past.
Braddon’s 1862 novel is a masterclass in Victorian sensationalism – think madness, bigamy, attempted murder, and a seduction that’s more about power than passion. Lucy Graham, the golden-haired beauty who becomes Lady Audley, is a character you can’t quite pin down. She’s charming, cunning, and utterly ruthless when cornered, hiding a scandal so juicy it shocked readers of its day. The plot twists like a river cutting through a canyon, revealing secrets that feel both outrageous and eerily plausible. You can almost hear the rustle of her silk skirts as she schemes, the crackle of the fire as her world begins to unravel.
What hooked me most was how the story digs into the masks we wear – something I’ve seen time and again in my travels. I think of the grandmother I met in Oaxaca, her voice weaving tales of family betrayals and ghostly apparitions as we sat under a flickering lantern. She had this way of pausing, letting the silence build tension, just like Braddon does with her prose. That memory flooded back as I listened to “Lady Audley’s Secret”, especially in moments where the truth hangs heavy, unspoken, in the air.
Elizabeth Klett’s narration elevates this audiobook experience to something truly special. Her voice is warm yet precise, with a cadence that pulls you into the 19th-century drawing rooms and darkened corridors. She gives Lucy a delicate lilt that’s equal parts innocence and menace – perfect for a character who’s both victim and villain. The male characters, like the dogged Robert Audley, get a subtle gravitas that keeps them grounded, while the pacing never lets the tension slack. The audio quality, crisp and clear thanks to LibriVox’s volunteer efforts, makes this free audiobook feel like a gift from the literary gods.
That said, it’s not flawless. At just over 14 hours, the duration – 0.596284722222222 days, if we’re being technical – might test some listeners’ patience. Victorian novels love their detours, and Braddon’s no exception; there are stretches where the plot lingers on description or dialogue that feels more decorative than essential. I found myself drifting during a few of these, though Klett’s performance always tugged me back. And while the story’s shocks were groundbreaking in 1862, modern listeners might see some twists coming from a mile away. Still, the atmosphere – thick with secrets and suspicion – holds up beautifully.
Compared to other classics in the genre, “Lady Audley’s Secret” sits somewhere between Wilkie Collins’ “The Woman in White” and Charlotte Brontë’s “Jane Eyre”. It’s got Collins’ knack for suspense and Braddon’s own flair for melodrama, but lacks Brontë’s introspective depth. Yet for sheer entertainment, it’s hard to beat – especially as a free audiobook that delivers such a rich listening experience.
Who’s this for? If you love gothic tales, Victorian intrigue, or just a d*mn good story, this one’s calling your name. It’s perfect for long drives, quiet nights by the fire, or any time you want to lose yourself in a world where nothing’s quite as it seems. Fans of classics will appreciate its place in literary history; newcomers to the genre will find it an accessible entry point.
Listening to this audiobook felt personal, like uncovering a hidden history I was meant to find. It stirred memories of late-night storytelling sessions in far-flung places, where the line between truth and fiction blurred. Braddon’s words, paired with Klett’s voice, made me feel like I was sitting across from that Oaxaca grandmother again, hanging on every word. The story unfolds like a journey through a maze – each turn revealing something darker, stranger, and more human than the last.
Until our next adventure through pages and soundscapes, Marcus Rivera
