Round the Sofa


Read by NoelBadrian

(4.6 stars; 124 reviews)

Round the Sofa (1859), is a book of stories by the lady that Charles Dickens called his “dear Scheherazade” due to her skill as a story teller. That Lady was Mrs. Elizabeth Gaskell (North and South, Wives and Daughters, Cranford etc.). Mrs. Gaskell begins with Round the Sofa, a short story which she uses as a device to stitch together six previously published stories into a single work. It introduces us to a set of characters who take turns to recount stories to one another during their weekly soirée. My Lady Ludlow tells the story of the widowed, aristocratic Lady Ludlow and her fierce resistance to change. It is told through the eyes of one of her young charges. Incidentally, it was one of the books used to create the TV series Cranford. An Accursed Race is actually an essay about a persecuted minority group, the Cagots in Western France. The Doom of the Griffiths. A Gothic short story about a cursed family and set in Wales. Half a Life-Time Ago. A novella set in the Wiltshire Dales. The Poor Clare. A Ghostly short story! The Half Brothers. A sad short story about brotherly love and a sheep-dog dog named Lassie! (Summary by Noel Badrian) (16 hr 15 min)

Chapters

Round the Sofa 17:53 Read by NoelBadrian
My Lady Ludlow Part 1 39:52 Read by NoelBadrian
My Lady Ludlow Part 2 35:25 Read by NoelBadrian
My Lady Ludlow Part 3 30:50 Read by NoelBadrian
My Lady Ludlow Part 4 30:48 Read by NoelBadrian
My Lady Ludlow Part 5 32:35 Read by NoelBadrian
My Lady Ludlow Part 6 34:01 Read by NoelBadrian
My Lady Ludlow Part 7 34:02 Read by NoelBadrian
My Lady Ludlow Part 8 37:39 Read by NoelBadrian
My Lady Ludlow Part 9 34:40 Read by NoelBadrian
My Lady Ludlow Part 10 31:47 Read by NoelBadrian
My Lady Ludlow Part 11 34:50 Read by NoelBadrian
My Lady Ludlow Part 12 44:17 Read by NoelBadrian
My Lady Ludlow Part 13 37:11 Read by NoelBadrian
My Lady Ludlow Part 14 40:41 Read by NoelBadrian
An Accursed Race 49:00 Read by NoelBadrian
The Doom of the Griffiths Part 1 52:54 Read by NoelBadrian
The Doom of the Griffiths Part 2 49:14 Read by NoelBadrian
Half a Life-Time Ago Part 1 39:21 Read by NoelBadrian
Half a Life-Time Ago Part 2 13:09 Read by NoelBadrian
Half a Life-Time Ago Part 3 30:20 Read by NoelBadrian
Half a Life-Time Ago Part 4 14:04 Read by NoelBadrian
Half a Life-Time Ago Part 5 26:24 Read by NoelBadrian
The Poor Clare Part 1 33:37 Read by NoelBadrian
The Poor Clare Part 2 41:36 Read by NoelBadrian
The Poor Clare Part 3 38:53 Read by NoelBadrian
The Poor Clare Part 4 38:31 Read by NoelBadrian
The Half-Brothers 31:42 Read by NoelBadrian

Reviews

Lot of variety in Gaskell's short stories


(4 stars)

Gaskell does an excellent job developing her characters in these short stories. As a listener, I found myself really pulled in. Each story is very different - the premise to put them together is a bit of a stretch, but that's only a couple of paragraphs in between and doesn't detract. Warning - these are not light fare and will evoke tears at times. Noel is a wonderful reader!

Unique fun detailed and deeply educational


(5 stars)

This leisurely tale unfolds the stratified rural life of England in the very early 19th C. Here you’ll come to understand how a very kind admirable and generous countess opposes with every fiber of her being— that a sweet-tempered son of a poacher should be taught to read and write. It has to do with — well I don’t want to ruin it! The reader Noel Badrian is perfect.

it's like a story book , conjoint stories of different people


(4 stars)

loved it, the book was beautiful the reader made it more beautiful, the passage of men's voice to womens' was just awesome


(5 stars)

this was one of my favorites both reader and stories are worth keeping so as to come and listen to again


(5 stars)

I don't know what it is about Sir Noel, but his voice plus Gaskell's work is the most perfect combination

Captivating


(5 stars)

Mrs. Gaskell is one of the best writers of her day and this work is very well read too.

Good stuff!


(3.5 stars)

Although a few of these short stories I didn't find enjoyable, the book was a good one.

Wonderful


(5 stars)

These are just great short stories by the author, expertly read by the LibriVox Volunteer, Noel Badrian.