Washington Square

By: Henry James

Narrated by: William Hope

Penguin Classics presents Henry James' Washington Square, adapted for audio and available as a digital download as part of the Penguin English Library series. Read by William Hope.

"Why, you must take me or leave me ... You can't please your father and me both; you must choose between us"

When timid and plain Catherine Sloper acquires a dashing and determined suitor, her father, convinced that the young man is nothing more than a fortune-hunter, decides to put a stop to their romance. Torn between her desire to win her father's love and approval and her passion for the first man who has ever declared his love for her, Catherine faces an agonising dilemma, and becomes all too aware of the restrictions that others seek to place on her freedom. James's masterly novel deftly interweaves the public and private faces of nineteenth-century New York society; it is also a deeply moving study of innocence destroyed.

Part of a series of vintage recordings taken from the Penguin Archives. Affordable, collectable, quality productions - perfect for on-the-go listening.

A beautiful melancholy

If you could sum up Washington Square in three words, what would they be?

avarice, disappointment, repression

What was one of the most memorable moments of Washington Square?

The final encounter between Catherine and her suitor is poignant and touching. You feel that the passage of time has brought knowledge to the heroine.

Which scene was your favorite?

I thought that the encounters between father and daughter were charged, yet restrained. Masterfully written.

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

No, I savoured the reading and wished it had gone on longer.

Any additional comments?

William Hope is a brilliant reader! I enjoyed the colourful, bright energy he gave to the text. I will seek out other books he has read.

Brilliant, well observed and sad. Heroine is tough

Listened to several samples and found this the most lively and fittingly American. I'd enjoy a woman reader too I think. Great novel for a three hour drive. Simple story that is so well observed regarding human character. Heroine has an awful time of it but I love her strength at the end.