The Ballad of the Sad Café

By: Carson McCullers

Narrated by: David Ledoux, Joe Barrett, Therese Plummer, Kevin Pariseau, Suzanne Toren, Edoardo Ballerini, Barbara Rosenblat

Audie Award Finalist, Short Stories/Collections, 2014

A classic work that has charmed generations of readers, this collection assembles Carson McCullers' best stories, including her beloved novella The Ballad of the Sad Cafe. A haunting tale of a human triangle that culminates in an astonishing brawl, the novella introduces readers to Miss Amelia, a formidable southern woman whose cafe serves as the town's gathering place. Among other fine works, the collection also includes "Wunderkind", McCullers' first published story, written when she was only 17, about a musical prodigy who suddenly realizes she will not go on to become a great pianist.

©1951 Carson McCullers, copyright renewed 1979 Floria V. Lasky (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"The readings are uniformly fine, with appropriate regional accents that are more hinted at than broad. These subtle stories would be easy to overplay, but they get the delicate touch they require. Don't expect complete resolutions and happy endings, but do expect to hear from one of our finest storytellers through the voices of these top narrators." (AudioFile)

See below. Unusual story contrnt & what are the connections? Hard to follow.

Disjointed content. Hard to put it together as a continuous storyline. Connecting narrative missing for me.

Carson McCullers at her best

The characters are created with such depth. After all these years, they still ring true

Charming

an interesting group of short stories with color and character.
they are not all perfect but enjoyable

Unrest, a thinker.

A group of stories. Some catch you unaware with abrupt endings. Enjoyed but, left me thinking about what was being presented, Was there a message here? It held me to the end., but left me in the air, feeling unfinished.

Literate short stories

A beautifully narrated collection of literary short stories. Listen to them for the precise, evocative prose. These are character studies, not plot driven narratives. All of the readers are superior !