Where Angels Fear to Tread

By: E. M. Forster

Narrated by: Edward Petherbridge

Length: 5 hrs and 7 mins

Publisher's summary

When attractive, impulsive English widow Lilia takes a holiday in Italy, she causes a scandal by marrying Gino, a dashing and highly unsuitable Italian 12 years her junior. Her prim, snobbish in-laws make no attempt to hide their disapproval, and when Lilia's decision eventually brings disaster, her English relatives embark on an expedition to face the uncouth foreigner. But when they are confronted by the beauty of Italy and the charm and vitality of the disreputable Gino, they are forced to examine their own narrow lives. Their reactions are emotional, violent, and unexpected.

©2009 AudioGO (P)2015 Blackstone Audiobooks

Not my favorite my EM Forster

Great reading, well performed. Well written, just not my favorite story. Room With A View is just so good.

Exquisitely written, heartbreaking

E. M. Forester is a true master. Such clever dialogue and social commentary.
The story is agonizing and beautiful. Timeless.

A Beautiful Tragedy

I wasn't sure I would like this story as I don't generally care for tragedies, but the beauty won me over. The beauty of the prose, the beauty of the imagery, the beauty of the tragedy.

I understand the complaint of inconsistent volume, but I think it lent itself well to the story, and I think it was intentional.

Excellent!

an incredible story well told be the narrator. unpredictable with such beauty. what an ending

Greatly Enjoyed

Narrator is excellent. E.M.F.’s dialogue never disappoints. Short novella, definitely worth the time. Made into a movie as well.

Classic Must Read

Th reader absolutely brings this story to life. A true tragedy that stays with you for it's so beautifully written.

It packs a punch

I've read Howards End and loved it. It is beautifully woven, offers insights, makes you wonder - makes you, in fact, want to visit Howards End. Then I read A Room With a View - also enjoyable. Lighter, but a life and love affirming joy. And now I've finished Where Angels Fear to Tread ... you get much of the same class difference explorations and there's quite a twist early on, and a love story you hope will one day happen ... and then it packs a punch, a real punch. No spoilers, of course. Definitely on par with Forster's best works.

Exquisite

An amazing achievement from a mere 26 year old. This novel contains a maturity and depth far beyond the author’s years. I personally liked this much more than A Room With a View. A must read for any Forster fan.

Another Journey of Insight and Nuance

Enjoyed yet another EM Forster work in audio-loved again that the characters come to life in so many ways: by description, their voices, and their internal observations.

c.f. - A mediocre Austen with a bad ending.

Having received this as a free Audible book, I decided to give Forster a second chance. I realized in this book that they make me think of short, mediocre Jane Austen stories which end badly. This one was less constant drivel in the first half than was Room With a View, but never got much better than the better half of the latter. Its redemption for this reader was 1) Italy and 2) brevity.

Furthermore, the narrator started each sentence strongly, then faded into a whisper. It was impossible to hear the ends of sentences and sometimes he would whisper whole sentences to indicate they were only thinking, or said in a whisper. Tesrrible in an audiobook. I'm glad that 1) It took place in Italy, 2) It was free, and 2) It was short.