Bel Ami, or The History of a Scoundrel


Read by Martin Geeson

(4.5 stars; 59 reviews)

“He had faith in his good fortune, in that power of attraction which he felt within him - a power so irresistible that all women yielded to it.”

Though firmly set in 1880s Paris, Maupassant's gripping story of an amoral journalist on the make could, with only slight modifications of detail, be updated to the 1960s, to the Reagan-Thatcher years, or maybe to the present day. Anti-hero Georges Duroy is a down-at-heel ex-soldier of no particular talent. Good-looking but somewhat lacking in self-confidence, he discovers an ability to control and exploit women - whereupon his career in journalism takes off, fuelled by the corruption of colleagues and government arrivistes. He may be a provincial Don Juan, but he is neither accident-prone nor heading for a fall...

A Hollywood screen adaptation is in preparation at the time of recording.
(Summary by Martin Geeson) (8 hr 15 min)

Chapters

01 - Poverty 28:00 Read by Martin Geeson
02 - Madame Forestier 25:20 Read by Martin Geeson
03 - First Attempts 20:03 Read by Martin Geeson
04 - Duroy Learns Something 17:18 Read by Martin Geeson
05 - The First Intrigue, part one 16:18 Read by Martin Geeson
06 - The First Intrigue, part two 16:06 Read by Martin Geeson
07 - The First Intrigue, part three 14:29 Read by Martin Geeson
08 - A Step Upward, part one 16:04 Read by Martin Geeson
09 - A Step Upward, part two 21:23 Read by Martin Geeson
10 - A Duel with an End 25:34 Read by Martin Geeson
11 - Death and a Proposal 36:34 Read by Martin Geeson
12 - Marriage, part one 17:47 Read by Martin Geeson
13 - Marriage, part two 19:24 Read by Martin Geeson
14 - Jealousy 14:11 Read by Martin Geeson
15 - Mme Walter Takes a Hand, part one 14:52 Read by Martin Geeson
16 - Mme Walter Takes a Hand, part two 16:53 Read by Martin Geeson
17 - A Meeting and the Result 21:36 Read by Martin Geeson
18 - Madame Marelle, part one 22:15 Read by Martin Geeson
19 - Madame Marelle, part two 13:32 Read by Martin Geeson
20 - The Will 23:33 Read by Martin Geeson
21 - Suzanne, part one 18:05 Read by Martin Geeson
22 - Suzanne, part two 17:49 Read by Martin Geeson
23 - Divorce 18:31 Read by Martin Geeson
24 - The Final Plot 19:40 Read by Martin Geeson
25 - Attainment 20:03 Read by Martin Geeson

Reviews

Very enjoyable


(5 stars)

This is a great yarn. The reader has an usual style, he almost sounds surprised at every sentence but don't let that put you off. Once you become accustomed to his intonation, he is actually rather wonderful. He does dialogue brilliantly and his French pronunciation is very correct albeit with an English accent. Great stuff!

I agree


(5 stars)

each of the reviews that say the narrator was perfect for this story I am in complete agreement; couldn't have been better; great author, great narrator; 100% enjoyed listening to Bel Ami!


(3 stars)

Rather odd stress points in the reading; however, that's preferable to a monotone. Beautiful pronunciation of the French.


(5 stars)

fascinating story, the reader has his very own style but it fits the story perfectly. merci beaucoup

Martin Geeson's Reading = 5 stars


(5 stars)

Story = engrossing. Martin Geeson makes it extra yummy.

Martin Gleeson is a great narrator. He does a great job!


(5 stars)


(2 stars)

great reader, such a shame the text is bowdlerized!


(5 stars)

Very intriguing story. High audio quality.