SUMMER

There is no one like Edith Wharton to explore the complexities of human relationships, and narrator Laurel Lefkow is an excellent guide to that exploration. This audiobook features Charity Royall, a young woman who is struggling against society's constraints as she tries to develop her own sense of self. When she becomes caught up in an inappropriate relationship with a man of questionable character, society's rules come crashing down on her. Lefkow is a steady narrator with a lovely placid voice. Her tone works well with Wharton's prose, and her pacing fits the audiobook's mood. Dialogue is convincing, and special consideration is given to Charity herself: She is the ideal blend of innocent victim and sassy iconoclast. This performance is a treat for all listeners. L.B.F. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2024]