Catalina

By: W. Somerset Maugham

Narrated by: Davina Porter

Set in the time of the infamous Spanish Inquisition, Catalina is a novel both richly historical and affectingly human. Two eminent persons, natives of the city, were arriving after an absence of many years, and great doings had been arranged in their honor. In the Lady Chapel of the church a crippled girl prayed to the Blessed Virgin whose day it was, too. No greater things were planned for the girl, Catalina, but greater things awaited her.

©1948 W. Somerset Maugham (P)1987 Recorded Books, LLC

I don’t understand the hype

This book started strong but finished so quickly it left you feeling like you missed an entire portion of the story. Narration was good enough but a bit “formal” for the story itself.

Satire at us best

The fact that this is satire intended to ridicule the absurdity of the catholic religion (and all religion at that) has escaped the notice of some reviewers.
This story is brilliant satire.

From a W. Somerset Maugham's fan: No!

I love Somerset Maugham's books, but this one was ridiculous. It is clearly written by someone who is neither religious nor spiritual (neither am I, but that's why I don't write about saints or tzadikim). LOL
The writing is magnificent, as always (i.e. grammar, idioms, word choice, description). But the plot is ludicrous, all-over-the-place, confounding, nonsensical. It is, in short, a stupid story. So much so, that at some point I had to return to my Audible library and check "who wrote this?" Because I thought it may be a contemporary Young Adult author...
However, the reader is very good. She does an excellent job as narrator and characters' impersonator. I'd gladly listen to other things read by Davina Porter.