The Red Room

By: August Strindberg

Narrated by: William Peck

"The Red Room" (Swedish: "Röda rummet") is a satire of Stockholm society, it has frequently been described as the first modern Swedish novel. While receiving mixed reviews in Sweden, it was acclaimed in Denmark, where Strindberg was hailed as a genius. As a result of "The Red Room", Strindberg became famous throughout Scandinavia. Edvard Brandes wrote that it "makes the reader want to join the fight against hypocrisy and reaction".

A young idealistic civil servant, Arvid Falk, leaves the drudgery of bureaucracy to become a journalist and author. As he explores various social activities - politics, publishing, theatre, philanthropy, and business - he finds more hypocrisy and political corruption than he thought possible. He takes refuge with a group of "bohemians", who meet in a red dining room in Berns Salonger to discuss these matters.©2017 SAGA Egmont (P)2017 SAGA Egmont

Ruined by the narrator

Any additional comments?

Though I was very much looking forward to Strindberg's novel, the narrator's flat, dull voice ruined the experience. I returned the audible book without finishing it. If Audible gets a new reader I would love to try it again. Don't the editors ever listen to the works they have commissioned?

What I am reading?

Well, first of all, I am glad that I picked up this book to read. What am reading? A masterpiece of pre-post-modern fiction. As far as reading is concerned, do no blame Peck. Audible should have recorded all the novels of Strindberg, as all as all the novel by Thomas Bernhardt (can anyone explain tom why this genius is not getting the right recognition). What about John Berger? Or Raymond Roussell (a crucial influence on the philosophy of M. Foucault)? Nothing by Georges Perec, except in French. And nothing by John Barth. Nothing by Jean Rhys. Only one novel (Magus) by John Fowles. The Tartar Steppe by Buzzati. And yet over thirty recording of Great Expectations - and more are coming. It is all about profit, I know. We need another recording of Wuthering Heights (I have no idea what the hype is about- I found the novel to be a slog).

A