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Christopher Isherwood’s 1964 novel, A Single Man, explores a day in the life of George Falconer, a British professor living in Southern California, as he grapples with the grief of losing his partner, Jim. A new audiobook edition, released by Naxos Audiobooks, features a narration by actor Alex Jennings.
A Day Marked by Loss
The novel is set in 1962 and follows George over the course of a single day, beginning with his morning routine and extending thru his work at a college, a visit to the gym, and an evening with a friend. Isherwood masterfully portrays George’s internal struggles, his feelings of isolation as a gay man in a largely homophobic society, and the profound impact of Jim’s death in a car accident. The narrative is driven by George’s introspective thoughts and observations, revealing a man attempting to navigate a world that feels alienating and indifferent to his pain.
Alex jennings’ Performance
Alex Jennings, known for his roles in The Crown and A Very English Scandal, delivers a nuanced performance as the narrator. His ”clipped RP tones,” as described in initial reviews, effectively convey the character’s melancholy and suppressed anger.Jennings’ narration highlights the dissociative nature of grief and the facades people construct to cope with emotional turmoil. The audiobook runs for 4 hours and 38 minutes.
Further Listening
naxos Audiobooks and Penguin Audio offer several other compelling audiobook options:
Winter by Ali Smith
Narrated by Adjoa Andoh (known for her role in Bridgerton), Winter is the second installment in Ali Smith’s seasonal quartet.Inspired in part by Charles Dickens, the story centers on Sophia Cleves, a woman haunted by a ghostly vision in her Cornish home. The audiobook is 7 hours and 16 minutes long.
Flesh by David Szalay
Flesh, a Booker Prize-winning novel, traces the life of István, a Hungarian man, from his youth to middle age.