A very well written and researched book.

A very well written and researched book. However, not a 'story'. This would have made an excellent BBC documentary but lacks the flow of a proper story, essential for an audio book. Interesting subject matter and the famous figures of the time like Wilde and Bernhardt are brought in which gives a great feel of society in that time. I had to force myself to finish it with the incentive of following it with a more traditional story structure next time! The narrator is excellent and delivers the humorous parts very well. I wouldn't recommend the book though, unless to someone interested in the history of medicine or the development of gynecological procedures.

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3 people found this helpful

A bit of common sense when choosing a narrator!

I love Julian Barnes and again he produced a book where his intelligence and wit shines throughout. A bit long however and with a few repetitions, it would have come out much stronger if a little more concise. However, my main concern is the narrator. First of all, his delivery is a bit slow I think. Second, this book is all about France and French culture. Of all the possible readers, why pick someone with such a terrible French accent? I am French and I am not writing this to be pedantic but honestly, I had to concentrate really hard every time a French name or word was read out to work out who or what it was! It is not even consistent, sometimes it is said one way and 10 minutes later another way (and in most cases wrongly both times). Even more annoying is the way the narrator suddenly decides to start speaking English with a French Allo Allo way for no reason, most often when reading a letter or quoting someone. It is not the accent that annoys me, I don't find it offensive when it would be easy to do so, but once again it seems to be dispensed at pure random! Finally, there are a few sentences in the book that are read in German and it sounds to me that the narrator's German is at least as bad as his French. Why couldn't Julian Barnes record it himself? Or other actors at least vaguely francophone? Terrible pick. Such a waste...

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12 people found this helpful

A fascinating journey through Belle Epoque

I would have given 5 stars for this audiobook had it not included the anti-Brexit diatrible in Author's Note at the end. Like all the other metropolitan liberals, Julian Barnes thinks that his 'internationalist ' views, which are nothing more than championing a superstate vanity project, somehow make him and his ilk superior to the rest of the population. This type of sneering intelectual deserves to be shown the same contempt he bestows on his fellow countrymen. It's a shame that he had to end a fascinating book on such a sour note.

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1 person found this helpful

excellent book - shame about delivery

this is such a riveting account of the belle epoque in Paris - A wonderful telling of the life of Samuel Pozzi and his milieu, but I was mystified by the strangely automatic delivery of the reader. Julian Barnes writes in a very engaging and personal way but the reader seemed to be trying to eradicate all humanity from his voice. I have heard this style of reading before from Audible and I call it the sat nav voice. Please Audible - choose your readers well.

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Spellbound from start to finish- fascinating.

Learned so much about so many from this wonderful book. Wilde, de Polignac, Winoretta Singer, Tourette and Bernhardt. Art, music and finest application of Medicine beautifully explored and the belle epoque laid bare. Whole thing is spoiled somewhat by jarring and inappropriately political "Authors Note" recorded at very end. A postscript that is mercifully brief but brings reader/listener to question judgement of the person who's account they have just listened to. Did you really need to "J.B"?

Don't let my report of the grim epilogue recorded summer of 2019 deter you however. It is an outstanding book.

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4 people found this helpful

Very Entertaining

This was a very enjoyable listen and very well read. Extremely interesting period during La Belle Epoch.

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Lose Yourself in the Belle Epoch

I listened to this over a two day rose and ivy trimming project and it was a welcome distraction from the constant Covid news agenda as well as domestic and US politics. It took me a while to get into the documentary style of the book but I persevered and was eventually transported back into the richly evoked era of the Belle Epoch. I really enjoyed the story of Samuel Pozzi and the author's skillful blending of artistic and scientific themes. I loved the insights into medicine, writing, painting, the theatre, duelling, marriage, families, affairs, class, sexuality and professional as well as personal rivalry. All told, the book is a real pleasure and there's also a great documentary series to be made out of it.

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4 people found this helpful

Gave up due to poor narration

Going to ask for a refund - narrator sounded like an old record on a deck whose needle kept jumping. Like hiccups but without the hiccups. This may have been a production fault as I've listened to other books read by Saul Reichlin without hearing this problem. Despite continued effort I just couldn't concentrate on the book so I packed it in after about 2 hours. Life is too short to stuff a mushroom.

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