The Tragic Muse
Written by Henry James
Narrated by Gareth Armstrong
4.5/5
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About this audiobook
Pressured into a political career by his traditional, establishmentarian family, Nick Dormer longs to be a painter. Eventually, encouraged by the carefree aesthete Gabriel Nash, reminiscent of Oscar Wilde, he resigns from Parliament and follows his artistic dream. His journey is counterpointed with that of budding young actress Miriam Rooth, the subject of Nick’s most successful paintings and the ‘tragic muse’ of the title, who too sacrifices an affluent life (marriage with Nick’s cousin Peter) for her art. However, her tireless spirit and immutable passion bring her great success on stage, and her fame and fortune far outshine Nick’s life as a struggling painter. Among the most unique and autobiographical of James’s novels, The Tragic Muse takes an honest look at the sacrifices and solitude of an artist and the prices paid when taking the path less travelled.
Henry James
Henry James (1843-1916) was an American author of novels, short stories, plays, and non-fiction. He spent most of his life in Europe, and much of his work regards the interactions and complexities between American and European characters. Among his works in this vein are The Portrait of a Lady (1881), The Bostonians (1886), and The Ambassadors (1903). Through his influence, James ushered in the era of American realism in literature. In his lifetime he wrote 12 plays, 112 short stories, 20 novels, and many travel and critical works. He was nominated three times for the Noble Prize in Literature.
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Reviews for The Tragic Muse
2 ratings1 review
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Wow. James is in love with theatre and art, and he uses all of his skill in narrating this story. It is told with multiple omnisciences; the pace moves rapidly, and I spent the weekend listening. Not an easy with the Victorian language, yet the author’s prose is magical. I immensely enjoyed it.