The Marble Faun

The Marble Faun of 1860 was the last of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s four major romances. Set in Italy, the narrative blends elements of the travel guide, fable, and gothic novel.

The main characters include Miriam, a beautiful painter with a mysterious past who is compared to Beatrice, Cleopatra and Eve, and Hilda, an innocent young woman with strong moral principles. The sculptor Kenyon has an eye for Hilda, whilst Donatello, the Count of Monte Beni, is besotted by Miriam. Donatello bears a resemblance to the statue type called the Faun of Praxiteles.

Themes of fragility and transience dominate, and the story is seasoned by cinematic descriptions of classic sites that made the book a travel guide to Rome for Victorian tourists.

©Public Domain (P)2020 Museum Audiobooks

An Endearing Tale

Worth a read for Donatello, the charming faun in the story. Overall it’s a beautiful story with picturesque imagery of Italy, romance, and tragedy by its end. The drawback would be Hawthorne’s overly detailed descriptions of the art and architecture in the book, but there are parts that are very good. If you can get past that (or even skip it), I suggest giving it a go.

Red Alert! Only half the novel!

This novel recording stops abruptly, halfway through the novel! And the reader is a little annoying.

Why only 1/2 of the book?!

The book is fine, the reader's voice for Hilda is obnoxious. But what I am most mad about is that Audible doesn't disclose that this is only Vol. 1! Come on now! I feel I've been swindled.

Only 50% of the novel.

As I stated in the header this audiobook is only half of The Marble Faun. I am immensely disappointed. Do not waste your time this version.

Intolerable “Italian” accent

I am returning this. Love the story but the attempt at an Italian accent is just awful and I can’t go on.