The Yellow Wallpaper

By: Charlotte Perkins Gilman

Narrated by: Sara Morsey

The great-niece of Harriet Beecher Stowe, Gilman wrote much about the unequal status of women within the institution of marriage.

By far the most enduring and remarkable of her stories is The Yellow Wallpaper (1892) Considered almost too shocking to print when it was written, it continues to intrigue and unnerve readers to this day.

Public Domain (P)2014 Sara Morsey

Powerful Reading of a Wonderful Story

Where does The Yellow Wallpaper rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is one of the best audiobooks I have heard. I love this story so much and Ms. Morsey is such an excellent storyteller!

What other book might you compare The Yellow Wallpaper to and why?

The Yellow Wallpaper is such a unique little story. I guess I would compare it to the Woman Warrior by Maxine Hong Kingston. I make that comparison not only because both pieces are wonderful examples of feminist literature but because of the isolation of the women in both stories. Both works are difficult to categorize due to the autobiographical nature -- Gilman's idea for the story was born out of her experiences as a patient, and Kingston's unique blend of autobiography, folklore and mutli-person narrative. Both are powerful feminist pieces to study.

What does Sara Morsey bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Ms. Morsey brings a depth to the story that was hauntingly beautiful. The woman is so vulnerable and that is portrayed beautifully through inflection and nuance. I loved the characterization of John as well.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes. And I am sure to listen again and again!

Any additional comments?

Do your self a favor and give this short story a listen!

Ghost story at its finest

Every article on ghost stories that I read last week suggested this story. It is indeed a triumph of the subtle style of storytelling that this art demands. Truly an exemplar!