A Clergyman’s Daughter

George Orwell

Richard Brown (Narrator)

12-12-91

10hrs 18min

Abridgement

Unabridged

Genre

Fiction/Literary

As low as $0.00
Play Audio Sample

12-12-91

10hrs 18min

Abridgement

Unabridged

Genre

Fiction/Literary

Description

“The most sorrowfully funny piece of literature I can recall reading. The pathos of Dorothy’s life becomes so real, one loses all feeling of detachment…This is what social fiction must be––not dialectic, but idea transmuted into experience.” Kansas City Star

Dorothy Hare, the dutiful daughter of a rector in Suffolk, spends her days performing good works and cultivating good thoughts, pricking her arm with a pin when a bad thought arises. She does her best to reconcile her father’s fanciful view of his position in the world with such realities as the butcher’s bill. But even Dorothy’s strength has its limits, and one night, as she works feverishly on costumes for the church-school play, she blacks out. When she comes to, she finds herself on a London street, clad in a sleazy dress and unaware of her identity. After a series of degrading adventures—picking hops in Kent, sleeping among the down-and-outers in Trafalgar Square, spending a night in jail, and teaching in a grubby day school for girls—she is rescued. But although she regains her life as a clergyman’s daughter, she has lost her faith.

Praise

“The most sorrowfully funny piece of literature I can recall reading. The pathos of Dorothy’s life becomes so real, one loses all feeling of detachment…This is what social fiction must be––not dialectic, but idea transmuted into experience.” Kansas City Star

“Destined to become a classic…A beautiful example of the chilling somberness, sharp-toothed satire, and humor that were part of the Orwell genius.” Milwaukee Journal

“Orwell’s compassion for Dorothy Hare, ensnared by faith, birth, and gender to toil thanklessly as her minister father’s unpaid curate, is admirable, and his evocation, early in the novel, of a woman’s consciousness totally subsumed by the mostly trivial demands of others stands shoulder to shoulder with the best feminist fiction.” Amazon.com, editorial review

“Thanks to his masterful writing, Dorothy becomes a real person and her fate deeply significant. Richard Brown’s narration does justice to the text.” Library Journal

Details
More Information
Language English
Release Day Dec 11, 1991
Release Date December 12, 1991
Release Date Machine 692496000
Imprint Blackstone Publishing
Provider Blackstone Publishing
Categories Literature & Fiction, Genre Fiction, Literary Fiction, Fiction - All, Fiction - Adult
Author Bio
George Orwell

George Orwell (1903–1950), the pen name of Eric Arthur Blaire, was an English novelist, poet, essayist, journalist, and literary critic. He is best known for his works of social criticism and opposition to totalitarianism. He also wrote nonfiction about his experiences in the working class and as a solder. His work remains influential in popular culture and in political culture, and the adjective “Orwellian,"describing totalitarian and authoritarian social practices, has become part of the English language. In 2008, the London Times named him the second-greatest British writer since 1945.

Narrator Bio
Richard Brown

Richard Brown (1937–2005) (a.k.a. Joseph Porter), was a former ballet dancer, actor, and popular audiobook narrator. Born in England, Richard came to the United States early in his career and performed with numerous regional ballet companies. After retiring from the ballet, he pursued a career in acting and recorded dozens of audiobooks for numerous publishers.

Overview

Dorothy Hare, the dutiful daughter of a rector in Suffolk, spends her days performing good works and cultivating good thoughts, pricking her arm with a pin when a bad thought arises. She does her best to reconcile her father’s fanciful view of his position in the world with such realities as the butcher’s bill. But even Dorothy’s strength has its limits, and one night, as she works feverishly on costumes for the church-school play, she blacks out. When she comes to, she finds herself on a London street, clad in a sleazy dress and unaware of her identity. After a series of degrading adventures—picking hops in Kent, sleeping among the down-and-outers in Trafalgar Square, spending a night in jail, and teaching in a grubby day school for girls—she is rescued. But although she regains her life as a clergyman’s daughter, she has lost her faith.

Reviews

Write Your Own Review
Only registered users can write reviews. Please Sign in or create an account