Audiobook Sample
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- Title: Love’s Shadow
- Author: Ada Leverson
- Narrator: Helen Taylor
- Length: 05:45:25
- Version: Abridged
- Release Date: 01/01/2017
- Publisher: LibriVox
- Genre: Fiction & Literature, Comedy, Satire & Parody, General
- ISBN13: SABLIB9786018
There’s something particularly delightful about discovering a sparkling social comedy while in transit – whether on a night train through the Moroccan desert or during a rain-soaked afternoon in a Lisbon café. Ada Leverson’s “Love’s Shadow”, the first in her “Little Ottleys” trilogy, proved to be one such gem for me, made even more vibrant through Helen Taylor’s narration in this free LibriVox audiobook edition.
The story unfolds like an intricately painted fan from the Edwardian era itself – delicate, ornate, and hiding sharp edges beneath its gilded surface. Leverson, often called ‘the Sphinx’ by her dear friend Oscar Wilde, crafts a world where drawing-room conversations glitter with wit while revealing the quiet desperation beneath London’s high society. Our protagonists, Bruce and Edith Ottley, are a study in contrasts: he, a self-absorbed hypochondriac with a talent for exasperation; she, a woman of quiet resilience navigating the absurdities of her marriage with grace and humor.
Listening to “Love’s Shadow” transported me back to evenings I spent in Buenos Aires, sharing maté with an elderly couple who bickered with such theatrical flair that their arguments became performance art. Leverson’s dialogue has that same rhythm – a dance of barbed compliments and veiled frustrations, all delivered with impeccable timing. Helen Taylor’s narration captures this perfectly. Her voice carries the lightness of champagne bubbles but never loses the undercurrent of melancholy that permeates Leverson’s world. She distinguishes characters with subtle shifts in tone: Bruce’s pompous declarations land with just the right amount of obliviousness, while Edith’s quieter moments feel intimate, as if she’s confiding in you alone.
The novel’s themes – love as performance, the constraints of marriage, and the societal masks we wear – resonate deeply, especially when experienced through audio. There’s an irony in hearing these characters dissect their artificial lives while you’re, say, walking through a modern city where people still posture for social media. Leverson’s satire remains startlingly relevant, and Taylor’s delivery ensures every arched eyebrow and suppressed sigh is felt.
That said, the audiobook isn’t without flaws. As with many LibriVox recordings, the audio quality varies slightly between chapters (a small price to pay for free access to such a treasure). And while Taylor’s narration is generally superb, some listeners might find her pacing leisurely – though I’d argue it suits the era’s cadence.
For those who adore Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Earnest” or E.M. Forster’s social commentaries, “Love’s Shadow” offers a similarly incisive but often overlooked perspective. Leverson’s wit is drier, her observations more intimate, as though she’s letting you in on a private joke at a crowded party. The supporting cast – a medley of lovelorn artists, gossipy matrons, and hapless romantics – add layers to this audio tapestry, each thread shimmering with humor and pathos.
If you’re seeking an audiobook that pairs well with a pot of Earl Grey and a rainy window, or if you simply want to time-travel to an era where words were weapons and wit was armor, this is your invitation. Let Helen Taylor’s voice guide you through drawing rooms and whispered scandals, and let Leverson remind you that some shadows – especially those cast by love – are best examined with laughter.
With a traveler’s curiosity and a book lover’s heart,
Marcus Rivera
