Effi Briest (abridged)


Read by Margaret Espaillat

(4.3 stars; 18 reviews)

Effi Briest is a classic of Prussian Realism, relatively unknown in the English speaking world, but widely taught in German schools. This tragic tale tells the story of Effi, a young woman from an old and respectable family who, due to a sense of duty, marries Geert von Instetten, a much older Prussian official. The tragedy unfolds as a consequence of Instetten's strict following of his duties in society in response to his wife's indiscretions.

Thomas Mann once wrote that if one's library had to be reduced to six books, Effi Briest should be one of them. (Summary by Margaret ) (8 hr 51 min)

Chapters

Chapter 1 19:12 Read by Margaret Espaillat
Chapters 2 and 3 21:46 Read by Margaret Espaillat
Chapter 4 27:47 Read by Margaret Espaillat
Chapter 5 18:45 Read by Margaret Espaillat
Chapter 6 21:37 Read by Margaret Espaillat
Chapter 7 16:24 Read by Margaret Espaillat
Chapter 8 14:36 Read by Margaret Espaillat
Chapter 9 28:10 Read by Margaret Espaillat
Chapters 10 and 11 24:58 Read by Margaret Espaillat
Chapter 12 15:14 Read by Margaret Espaillat
Chapter 13 18:43 Read by Margaret Espaillat
Chapters 14 and 15 26:51 Read by Margaret Espaillat
Chapters 16 and 17 21:00 Read by Margaret Espaillat
Chapters 18-20 28:42 Read by Margaret Espaillat
Chapter 21 25:29 Read by Margaret Espaillat
Chapters 22 and 23 20:34 Read by Margaret Espaillat
Chapters 24 and 25 39:21 Read by Margaret Espaillat
Chapters 26-28 29:33 Read by Margaret Espaillat
Chapters 29-31 23:03 Read by Margaret Espaillat
Chapter 32 31:04 Read by Margaret Espaillat
Chapters 33 and 34 24:03 Read by Margaret Espaillat
Chapter 35 19:06 Read by Margaret Espaillat
Chapter 36 15:09 Read by Margaret Espaillat

Reviews

very poor abridgment


(3 stars)

Margaret Espaillat reading is excellent as always. But this translation of a very important type of fiction sounded like from a to b and back again over and over again due to its poor editing. Concede i've only reached about 4/5's of audio book and a good dramatic ending seems will not happen. And if it did, It would be made ridiculous with such a truncated translation. i know i should learn German then, but some of us have various barriers to learning a new language, especially for we late middle agers and our wise elders. Whether this was pruned recently or by the translator in 1939, its analogous to a tall complex hedge row trimmed to 1 foot high and a foot deep. three stars mostly for Margaret's reading

Very good


(5 stars)

I tried to read this in German for school, but it was so boring and one could swear the author never heard the saying "show, don't tell". I found the audio book more bearable. Having read the German and English versions, I feel I can confidently say, the only thing which made this enjoyable was the way in which the story was delivered in the audio book.


(5 stars)

This was a beautiful and somewhat tragic story. I loved it. Many thanks to Margaret for bringing this book to life!

excellent reading


(4.5 stars)

The narrator is fantastic. Tis a lovely story, the translation is so so…


(3 stars)

Poor Effi. 'Twas a hard life.

Enjoyable!


(5 stars)

Excellent narration and interesting story.