The Paris Wife

I wished I had died before I ever loved anyone but her, Ernest Hemingway wrote of his first wife, Hadley Richardson. This remarkable audiobook imaginatively recreates Hemingway's world as seen through Hadley's eyes. Narrator Carrington MacDuffie portrays this ardent yet grounded woman well, capturing her departure from ordinary life as she falls headlong in love with "Nesto." Hemingway pronounces Hadley "a good clear sort" of person, and MacDuffie beautifully expresses her levelheaded nature as lover, mother, and eventually, estranged wife. MacDuffie's ability to subtly characterize conversations between Hemingway and Hadley through slight shifts in tone and pacing is admirable. She's equally artful at depicting the many others populating the author's world--from son Bumby to Southern mistress Pauline. This terrific production will absorb all listeners, not just Hemingway fans. J.C.G. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award (c) AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine

May 2, 2011
McLain's novel covers the marriage of Hadley Richardson and Ernest Hemingway, from their romantic, early years in Parisâwhere they slow danced to the sounds of the accordion drifting up from the apartment below, lunched with Gertrude Stein, and had cocktails with the Fitzgeraldsâto their marriage growing more complicated as Ernest's literary career takes off. Carrington Macduffie's voice for Ernest is harsh and guttural, which makes him sound less charismatic and makes it difficult for the listener to understand why Hadley puts up with him as long as she does. Macduffie's voice for Hadley is stilted and timid at firstâHadley is perpetually fumbling for the right word, but she gradually sounds increasingly self-assured. Macduffie's ability to communicate Hadley's transformation vocally makes for moving listening. A Ballantine hardcover.