Roxana: The Fortunate Mistress


Read by Edmund Bloxam

(4.2 stars; 40 reviews)

The full title of the novel is Roxana: The Fortunate Mistress Or, a History of the Life and Vast Variety of Fortunes of Mademoiselle de Beleau, Afterwards Called the Countess de Wintselsheim. The novel concerns the story of an unnamed "fallen woman", the second time Defoe created such a character (the first was a similar female character in Moll Flanders). In Roxana, a woman who takes on various pseudonyms, including "Roxana," describes her fall from wealth thanks to abandonment by a "fool" of a husband and movement into prostitution upon his abandonment. Roxana moves up and down through the social spectrum several times. (Summary by Wikipedia) (16 hr 24 min)

Chapters

Section 01 5:29 Read by Edmund Bloxam
Section 02 19:36 Read by Edmund Bloxam
Section 03 19:00 Read by Edmund Bloxam
Section 04 25:05 Read by Edmund Bloxam
Section 05 31:35 Read by Edmund Bloxam
Section 06 21:12 Read by Edmund Bloxam
Section 07 18:30 Read by Edmund Bloxam
Section 08 23:37 Read by Edmund Bloxam
Section 09 25:48 Read by Edmund Bloxam
Section 10 18:22 Read by Edmund Bloxam
Section 11 36:48 Read by Edmund Bloxam
Section 12 15:44 Read by Edmund Bloxam
Section 13 24:54 Read by Edmund Bloxam
Section 14 26:20 Read by Edmund Bloxam
Section 15 28:17 Read by Edmund Bloxam
Section 16 44:10 Read by Edmund Bloxam
Section 17 30:41 Read by Edmund Bloxam
Section 18 14:34 Read by Edmund Bloxam
Section 19 30:56 Read by Edmund Bloxam
Section 20 27:39 Read by Edmund Bloxam
Section 21 24:44 Read by Edmund Bloxam
Section 22 31:07 Read by Edmund Bloxam
Section 23 24:38 Read by Edmund Bloxam
Section 24 26:04 Read by Edmund Bloxam
Section 25 23:30 Read by Edmund Bloxam
Section 26 28:29 Read by Edmund Bloxam
Section 27 27:02 Read by Edmund Bloxam
Section 28 36:21 Read by Edmund Bloxam
Section 29 36:31 Read by Edmund Bloxam
Section 30 36:16 Read by Edmund Bloxam
Section 31 24:50 Read by Edmund Bloxam
Section 32 28:45 Read by Edmund Bloxam
Section 33 34:59 Read by Edmund Bloxam
Section 34 26:21 Read by Edmund Bloxam
Section 35 42:30 Read by Edmund Bloxam
Section 36 44:26 Read by Edmund Bloxam

Reviews

Way better than most


(5 stars)

I've read a couple 18th century novels, but this one by far is my favorite. The pacing is well done, even without chapters, and the characters are interesting and have strong personalities. I have never been so enthralled by a book as to tear up, but this book got me invested. Worth a read (or listen), even if the plot is a bit typical and predictable in some instances. Other than a few points however, it felt real and made me upset when I had to put it down for a bit.

Thoroughly Worthwhile


(5 stars)

Quite a difference from his Plague Year! Reader and read = excellent.

FINALLY OVER


(1 stars)

This is the fourth Defoe book I have read, and I have come to an inescapable conclusion: Defoe produced some of the most unique plots (especially for his time period), but he is an unbelievably BORING writer. Thanks to the narrator for his fine efforts, but boring is boring.


(5 stars)

Thank you for all the time and effort you freely gave. Not only did you contribute to my small individual life but you did an excellent job conveying the story. I thank you from the bottom of my heart!


(5 stars)

one of the best books I've listened to in a very long time. very moving, reader was absolutely wonderful. wow

Disgusting


(0.5 stars)

The main character is basicly raping her teenage maid by stripping her forcefully and throwing her in bed with the man she herself sleeps with.At first I was sorry for this young gentlewoman. How she is reduced to nothing. But then after the incident which left this poor young maid-and she even continued to work for her when Roxana couldn't pay her wages-- emotionally scared forever I can now feel nothing but anger towards the main character. There is just no way to justify taking someone's clothes off against their will much less rape or assisted rape. The maid continued to work for Roxana instead of running as fast as possible. Nothing good will come out of a person who afterwards justifies doing all of this in their head which we can clearly see from her actions after she had done something so terrible. Overall hate the plot, the main character and the way this isue is presented.