Cecilia: Memoirs of an Heiress


Read by LibriVox Volunteers

(3.5 stars; 96 reviews)

The plot of Cecilia revolves around the heroine, Cecilia Beverley, whose inheritance from her uncle comes with the stipulation that she find a husband who will accept her name. This proves impossible, and she gives up her fortune to marry for love.

Jane Austen referred to Cecilia and other novels in her novel, Northanger Abbey: “'And what are you reading, Miss — ?' 'Oh! It is only a novel!' replies the young lady, while she lays down her book with affected indifference, or momentary shame. 'It is only Cecilia, or Camilla, or Belinda'; or, in short, only some work in which the greatest powers of the mind are displayed, in which the most thorough knowledge of human nature, the happiest delineation of its varieties, the liveliest effusions of wit and humour, are conveyed to the world in the best–chosen language. The title of Austen's Pride and Prejudice may have been inspired by a passage at the end of Cecilia: “remember: if to pride and prejudice you owe your miseries, so wonderfully is good and evil balanced, that to pride and prejudice you will also owe their termination.” (Summary adapted from Wikipedia by Karen Merline) (35 hr 49 min)

Chapters

Book I Chapter 01: A Journey 13:18 Read by Nikki Sullivan
Book I Chapter 02: An Argument 24:05 Read by Nikki Sullivan
Book I Chapter 03: An Arrival 17:56 Read by Nikki Sullivan
Book I Chapter 04: A Sketch of High Life 19:23 Read by Nikki Sullivan
Book I Chapter 05: An Assembly 25:39 Read by Nikki Sullivan
Book I Chapter 06: A Breakfast 14:10 Read by Nikki Sullivan
Book I Chapter 07: A Project 18:44 Read by Nikki Sullivan
Book I Chapter 08: An Opera Rehearsal 21:01 Read by Missie
Book I Chapter 09: A Supplication 18:00 Read by Missie
Book I Chapter 10: A Provocation 10:34 Read by Missie
Book I Chapter 11: A Narration 14:03 Read by Missie
Book II Chapter 01: A Man of Wealth 10:47 Read by Chris Jones
Book II Chaper 02: A Man of Family 13:10 Read by Samantha Di Piero
Book II Chapter 03, Pt. 1: A Masquerade 25:38 Read by kristiface
Book II Chapter 03, Pt. 2: A Masquerade 26:04 Read by Dawn
Book II Chaper 04: An Affray 28:04 Read by Dawn
Book II Chapter 05: A Fashionable Friend 17:06 Read by Amanda Hindman
Book II Chapter 06: A Family Party 19:14 Read by Amanda Hindman
Book II Chapter 07: An Examination 21:05 Read by valli
Book II Chapter 08: A Tete-a-Tete 11:19 Read by valli
Book III Chapter 01: An Application 18:45 Read by Janna
Book III Chapter 02: A Perplexity 11:59 Read by Janna
Book III Chapter 03: An Admonition 21:45 Read by Janna
Book III Chapter 04: An Evasion 13:46 Read by valli
Book III Chapter 05: An Adventure 21:00 Read by Dawn
Book III Chapter 06: A Man of Genius 29:12 Read by Dawn
Book III Chapter 07: An Expedient 11:24 Read by valli
Book III Chapter 08: A Remonstrance 10:52 Read by Christine Blachford
Book III Chapter 09: A Victory 17:05 Read by Christine Blachford
Book IV Chapter 01: A Complaint 12:29 Read by Lucy Burgoyne (1950 - 2014)
Book IV Chapter 02: A Sympathy 12:40 Read by Lucy Burgoyne (1950 - 2014)
Book IV Chapter 03: A Conflict 16:23 Read by Lucy Burgoyne (1950 - 2014)
Book IV Chapter 04: An Expectation 13:32 Read by valli
Book IV Chapter 05: An Agitation 21:18 Read by Janna
Book IV Chapter 06, Pt. 1: A Man of the Ton 19:25 Read by Janna
Book IV Chapter 06, Pt. 2: A Man of the Ton 23:29 Read by Janna
Book IV Chapter 07: A Reproof 15:32 Read by Janna
Book IV Chapter 08: A Mistake 8:56 Read by Janna
Book IV Chapter 09: An Explanation 15:07 Read by Janna
Book IV Chapter 10: A Murmuring 14:59 Read by Janna
Book V Chapter 01: A Rout 33:55 Read by Amanda Hindman
Book V Chapter 02: A Broad Hint 11:26 Read by Amanda Hindman
Book V Chapter 03: An Accomodation 10:18 Read by Bereni
Book V Chapter 04: A Detection 12:51 Read by Bereni
Book V Chapter 05: A Sarcasm 13:49 Read by Bereni
Book V Chapter 06: A Surmise 8:38 Read by Bereni
Book V Chapter 07: A Bold Stroke 17:24 Read by MorganScorpion
Book V Chapter 08: A Miser's Mansion 7:14 Read by Ezwa
Book V Chapter 09: A Declaration 11:32 Read by Amanda Hindman
Book V Chapter 10: A Gamer's Conscience 14:07 Read by Amanda Hindman
Book V Chapter 11: A Persecution 21:04 Read by Amanda Hindman
Book V Chapter 12, Pt. 1: A Man of Business 27:10 Read by Amanda Hindman
Book V Chapter 12, Pt. 2: A Man of Business 23:23 Read by Amanda Hindman
Book V Chapter 13: A Solution 32:58 Read by Amanda Hindman
Book VI Chapter 01: A Debate 23:51 Read by MorganScorpion
Book VI Chapter 02: A Railing 11:29 Read by MorganScorpion
Book VI Chapter 03: An Antique Mansion 19:13 Read by valli
Book VI Chapter 04: A Rattle 15:25 Read by MorganScorpion
Book VI Chapter 05: A Storm 13:52 Read by MorganScorpion
Book VI Chapter 06: A Mystery 20:47 Read by MorganScorpion
Book VI Chapter 07: An Anecdote 15:23 Read by Amanda Hindman
Book VI Chapter 08: A Conference 17:03 Read by Amanda Hindman
Book VI Chapter 09: An Attack 26:30 Read by Amanda Hindman
Book VI Chapter 10: A Retreat 12:51 Read by Dawn
Book VI Chapter 11: A Worry 17:12 Read by Linda McDaniel
Book VII Chapter 01: A Renovation 19:01 Read by Bridget Gaige
Book VII Chapter 02: A Visit 18:25 Read by Bereni
Book VII Chapter 03: An Incident 16:28 Read by Bereni
Book VII Chapter 04: A Proposition 20:16 Read by Raerity
Book VII Chapter 05: A Letter 21:30 Read by Linda Lee Paquet
Book VII Chapter 06: A Discussion 21:22 Read by Linda Lee Paquet
Book VII Chapter 07: A Retrospection 27:02 Read by Linda Lee Paquet
Book VII Chapter 08: An Embarassment 9:10 Read by Edith Phern
Book VII Chapter 09: A Torment 48:21 Read by Bereni
Book VIII Chapter 01: An Interruption 28:28 Read by Julie VW
Book VIII Chapter 02: An Event 25:17 Read by Julie VW
Book VIII Chapter 03: A Consternation 22:14 Read by Michelle Crandall
Book VIII Chapter 04: A Perturbation 29:33 Read by Bereni
Book VIII Chapter 05: A Cottage 29:44 Read by Bereni
Book VIII Chapter 06: A Contest 37:09 Read by Dawn
Book VIII Chapter 07: A Message 18:27 Read by Michelle Crandall
Book VIII Chapter 08: A Parting 20:41 Read by valli
Book VIII Chapter 09: A Tale 40:06 Read by valli
Book VIII Chapter 10: A Shock 11:45 Read by valli
Book IX Chapter 01: A Cogitation 20:57 Read by valli
Book IX Chapter 02: A Surprize 29:48 Read by valli
Book IX Chapter 03: A Confabulation 30:29 Read by valli
Book IX Chapter 04, Pt. 1: A Wrangling 32:51 Read by valli
Book IX Chapter 04, Pt. 2: A Wrangling 23:56 Read by Bereni
Book IX Chapter 05: A Suspicion 21:58 Read by Michelle Crandall
Book IX Chapter 06: A Disturbance 41:17 Read by Bereni
Book IX Chapter 07: A Calm 16:24 Read by Bridget Gaige
Book IX Chapter 08: An Alarm 28:06 Read by Bridget Gaige
Book IX Chapter 09: A Suspense 16:07 Read by Raerity
Book IX Chapter 10: A Relation 21:04 Read by Raerity
Book IX Chapter 11: An Enterprise 16:00 Read by Becca B
Book X Chapter 01: A Discovery 10:56 Read by Neeru Iyer
Book X Chapter 02: An Interview 29:48 Read by Sarah Prusoff
Book X Chapter 03: A Summons 13:39 Read by Frances Marcinkiewicz
Book X Chapter 04: A Deliberation 19:44 Read by Frances Marcinkiewicz
Book X Chapter 05: A Decision 22:53 Read by Frances Marcinkiewicz
Book X Chapter 06: A Prating 28:41 Read by Dawn
Book X Chapter 07: A Pursuit 21:23 Read by Bereni
Book X Chapter 08: An Encounter 24:08 Read by valli
Book X Chapter 09: A Tribute 24:27 Read by valli
Book X Chapter 10, Pt. 1: A Termination 26:45 Read by Michelle Crandall
Book X Chapter 10, Pt. 2: A Termination 24:56 Read by Michelle Crandall

Reviews

Great Book, Terrible Reading


(1 stars)

I really appreciate the readers making it through this fantastic book, but must acknowledge their renditions were terrible. Punctuation is often disregarded, tone often does not match the events being read, and at times the reader is almost impossible to understand. I made through to the end and appreciate the readers for making an audio version accessible but would love to see another version of this book with better readers.

Duncalino


(2.5 stars)

With all due respect, Valli should not be a reader especially the PRINCIPAL reader of a long popular novel with mass appeal. There are many books in the public domain and so why not give less imposing reading assignments to well meaning volunteers who are not up to par because of foreign accent, poor pronunciation due to small vocabulary, monotonous reading tone, over the top dramatic interpretation etc. I had to download the book so that I could skip Valli's many chapters and keep up with the story.

Very Long and Very Poor Reading


(2 stars)

This might be a good book but it is very long, almost 1000 pages and some of the reading is so very, very poor. Many chapters are read without pauses for punctuation and transitions from one character to another and with many mispronounced words, poor command of the English language, and read at the pace and style of someone just learning to read. Accordingly, I would skip this one.

Cecilia memoirs of an heiress, The truth will never change.


(4.5 stars)

This is a wonderful book with very charming characters and vivid description of every situation. The story is not just about romance, its also about benevolence, generosity, friendship and most important it teaches a good lesson about patience and prudence. People might not be what they show and one should not judge a book by its cover's. Last of all we all should be convinced and unyielding of what we know to be the truth.

Good book, but the readers


(3 stars)

I loved the book, but bless their hearts they did their best, the readers were distractingly bad at some chapters. This book needs revisiting with different readers in the future. If you can tough it out at some points, you'll enjoy the book. Just give it some patience.


(3 stars)

Although I appreciate volunteer readers, it's important that they read English & understand punctuation, tone, & pronunciation. It would be great if many of the chapters were redone. One reader, Vali, was nearly unintelligible. I feel that I missed parts of the book, due to the poor, painful reading.

Excellent book, 1-2 terrible orators


(2.5 stars)

I loved this book but I had to purchase the book and have it read by siri rather than listen to Valli one of the readers. Her rendition is truly terrible and should be redone by someone who speaks English.

poorly read


(1 stars)

Very poorly read. Agree completely with the other review. Could not make it past the second chapter. I was very interested in book because of the jane Austin connections. Perhaps another reader could tackle this book to bring the magic to life.