Audiobook Sample
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- Title: Stories of Successful Marriages
- Author: Walter Besant
- Narrator: LibriVox Volunteers
- Length: 03:40:44
- Version: Abridged
- Release Date: 11/01/2015
- Publisher: LibriVox
- Genre: Health & Wellness, Marriage & Family
- ISBN13: SABLIB9786999
The first time I pressed play on “Stories of Successful Marriages”, I was sitting in a sun-dappled courtyard in Seville, sipping thick hot chocolate that clung to my spoon like the lingering emotions in these Victorian tales. The juxtaposition couldn’t have been more perfect – the passionate Spanish sunlight illuminating these proper English stories of restrained affection and societal expectations. It reminded me of those evenings in Oaxaca where generations gathered to share stories, except here the wisdom came through the crackling digital audio of LibriVox volunteers rather than abuela’s smoke-tinged voice.
Walter Besant’s curated collection unfolds like a time capsule of marital ideals from 1858-1900, each story a carefully preserved specimen of Victorian relationship values. The audio production carries that distinctive LibriVox charm – the occasional page turn, the subtle shifts in narrator voices between chapters, the earnestness of volunteers breathing life into century-old prose. While the audio quality varies slightly between readers (as expected with collaborative projects), this actually enhances the experience, making it feel like you’re attending a literary salon where different guests take turns reading favorite passages.
The stories themselves are fascinating cultural artifacts. Listening to ‘Alethea’s Suitors’ while riding a train through the English countryside last autumn, I was struck by how the narrator captured the protagonist’s delicate balancing act between romantic inclination and familial duty. The vocal performance made me feel the weight of those silk dresses and starched collars, the unspoken tensions humming beneath polite conversation. It transported me back to my anthropology studies at NYU, where we examined how societal structures shape intimate relationships.
What makes this collection particularly compelling is Besant’s editorial vision. As a social reformer, he didn’t just compile pleasant tales – he created a subtle argument about what makes marriages thrive. Through stories like ‘The Reconciliation’ (my personal favorite, beautifully read by a volunteer with a rich, melancholic tone), we hear recurring themes: patience overcoming pride, small kindnesses weathering storms, shared purpose bridging differences. The narrators handle these nuanced emotions with admirable sensitivity, though occasionally the more archaic language benefits from slower enunciation than some volunteers provide.
Compared to contemporary marriage advice (which I’ve consumed plenty of during long flights, from Buenos Aires to Bangkok), these stories offer something refreshing – a focus on endurance rather than excitement, on character rather than chemistry. While modern ears might find some perspectives dated (particularly around gender roles), there’s profound wisdom in how ‘The Captain’s Wife’ portrays mutual respect growing over decades, or how ‘A Winter’s Tale’ demonstrates forgiveness as an active verb. The LibriVox narrators shine brightest in these emotional crescendos, their voices finding the humanity beneath the formal prose.
For travelers like me who carry stories across continents, this audiobook makes perfect company. The episodic nature suits fragmented listening – a story over morning coffee in Lisbon, another during an airport layover. I found myself reflecting on these tales during a homestay in Kyoto, watching a elderly couple run their ryokan with quiet synchronicity that echoed Besant’s ideals. The audiobook format, especially with multiple narrators, preserves that oral tradition quality I so cherish from my global storytelling encounters.
That said, potential listeners should approach this as both literature and historical document. Some stories lean toward moral instruction rather than entertainment, and the pacing reflects a bygone era. The audio occasionally requires patience too – a few sections have noticeable background noise, and the dramatic range varies between volunteer narrators. Yet these imperfections add authenticity, like faint foxing on antique book pages.
If you enjoyed George Eliot’s marital complexities or Anthony Trollope’s social commentaries, this collection offers similar insights in bite-sized portions. For modern equivalents, consider pairing it with Esther Perel’s work on relationship sustainability – the contrast between Victorian and contemporary perspectives is enlightening. And for fellow travelers, I recommend listening to ‘The Sailor’s Return’ while watching ocean waves – the narrator’s cadence mirrors the tidal rhythm in a way that connects these old stories to timeless human experiences.
With stories in my suitcase and a heart full of narratives yet to hear, I remain your fellow journeyer through the landscapes of love and literature.
Marcus Rivera
