A Room with a View

By: E. M. Forster

Narrated by: Joanna David

Exclusively from Audible

The story of a young and affluent middle-class girl, Lucy Honeychurch is wooed by George Emerson and Cecil Vyse whilst vacationing in Italy. Though attracted to George, Lucy becomes engaged to Cecil despite twice turning down his proposals. On hearing of the news, George confesses his love, leaving Lucy torn between marrying the more socially acceptable Cecil, or George, the man she knows would bring her true happiness.

In this piece of social comedy, E. M. Forster is concerned with one of his favourite themes: the 'undeveloped heart' of the English middle classes, who are here represented by a group of tourists and expatriates in Florence.

One of Forster's most admired works, here brought vividly to life by narrator Joanna David, it is a classic tale of human struggle. Should Lucy choose social acceptance or true love? Forster's disapproval of the restrictive conventions of British society are mirrored in the novel through his strong observation of character and society.

A Room with a View was ranked 79th on the Modern Library's list of the 100 best English-language novels of the 20th century. The 1985 film adaptation by James Ivory won three Oscars.

Narrator Biography

Joanna has an extensive array of credits over stage, film and television. Her more recent television appearances include The Living and the Dead, Death in Paradise and Downton Abbey. She has worked with many great film directors, for example, Woody Allen on You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger in 2010. Her more recent film work includes Another Mother's Son and The Boy with the Topknot . Joanna is vice-president of the Theatrical Guild.

Joanna David has narrated a number of Audible favourites including Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale and Hilary Boyd’s Thursdays in the Park.

Public Domain (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

A marvellous book

And Joanna David is perfect reading it! It's as if book and reader were made for each other... Well done!

never tired of this sweet love story.

the narration was perfect. only thing missing was the opera music from the movie. I will listen to it over and over. xoxo

Critique of, and Bit of Romance in, Edwardian Eng.

A splendid novel centered on young Lucy Honeychurch, which both criticizes the restrained Edwardian era culture of England in which she lived and provides a little romance with the passion of Italy infused in juxtaposition.

Forster perceptively reviews the structure of society, and the imperfections and merits of each of its spheres, masterfully contrasting the reasoning of characters who are static (Medieval, dark, rooms) and those he sees as dynamic (Renaissance, light, views). To Forster, Italy represented the force of true passion, freedom and sexuality, as opposed to the societal constrictions of England at the time. Her trip to Florence opened Lucy to a new world of sensuality, and in a way this novel is a Bildungsroman.

Forster's novel, I think, should be applauded for the forward thinking views, in 1908, on feminism.

This is the type of fiction I especially admire, literature that through cunning comparisons "reveals truth" about society "that reality obscures." (Jessamyn West).



"When I think of what life is, and how seldom love is answered by love, it is one of the moments for which the world was made." E.M. Forster, A Room with a View

Soothing

This reminded me of a Jane Austen novel with its slyly humorous portrait of Edwardian society . The narrator was easy on my ears & there was a happy ending...all good. I have not seen the movie but can now definitely picture Maggie Smith as Charlotte.

Love d it

Had seen a movie years ago so I thought I knew what it was about, as always the book is so much better!