The Sword of Damocles
Anna Katharine Green
Read by Mary Bard
Anna Katharine Green is best known as one of the first women detective writers, and The Sword of Damocles, first published in 1881, does indeed include several mysteries. There is a very brief appearance by her famous detective, Mr Gryce, but at the heart of the book, which is subtitled A Story of New York Life, are a number of very different love stories. (Summary by Mary Bard)
(16 hr 39 min)
Chapters
A Wanderer | 4:27 | Read by Mary Bard |
A Discussion | 13:13 | Read by Mary Bard |
A Mysterious Summons | 22:44 | Read by Mary Bard |
Searchings | 24:22 | Read by Mary Bard |
The Rubicon | 27:10 | Read by Mary Bard |
A Hand Clasp | 4:38 | Read by Mary Bard |
Mrs. Sylvester | 16:42 | Read by Mary Bard |
Shadows of the Past | 16:46 | Read by Mary Bard |
Paula | 29:26 | Read by Mary Bard |
The Barred Door | 16:30 | Read by Mary Bard |
Miss Stuyvesant | 23:20 | Read by Mary Bard |
Miss Belinda Makes Conditions | 24:21 | Read by Mary Bard |
The End of My Lady's Picture | 28:35 | Read by Mary Bard |
Miss Belinda has a Question to Decide | 34:46 | Read by Mary Bard |
An Adventure - or Something More | 19:46 | Read by Mary Bard |
The Sword of Damocles | 28:52 | Read by Mary Bard |
Grave and Gay | 26:41 | Read by Mary Bard |
In the Night Watches | 8:00 | Read by Mary Bard |
A Day at the Bank | 15:00 | Read by Mary Bard |
The Dregs in the Cup | 20:13 | Read by Mary Bard |
Departure | 21:23 | Read by Mary Bard |
Hopgood | 23:54 | Read by Mary Bard |
The Poem | 23:18 | Read by Mary Bard |
The Japha Mansion | 24:29 | Read by Mary Bard |
Jacqueline | 25:53 | Read by Mary Bard |
A Man's Justice and a Woman's Mercy | 31:31 | Read by Mary Bard |
The Lone Watcher | 14:18 | Read by Mary Bard |
Sunshine on the Hills | 28:52 | Read by Mary Bard |
Mist in the Valley | 4:39 | Read by Mary Bard |
Miss Belinda Presents Mr. Sylvester with a Christmas Gift | 19:45 | Read by Mary Bard |
A Question | 12:58 | Read by Mary Bard |
Full Tide | 31:03 | Read by Mary Bard |
Two Letters | 23:55 | Read by Mary Bard |
Paula Makes her Choice | 24:23 | Read by Mary Bard |
The Falling of the Sword | 35:54 | Read by Mary Bard |
Morning | 11:39 | Read by Mary Bard |
The Opinion of a Certain Noted Detective | 41:05 | Read by Mary Bard |
Bluebeard's Chamber | 9:55 | Read by Mary Bard |
From A. to Z | 1:03:48 | Read by Mary Bard |
Half-past Seven | 3:56 | Read by Mary Bard |
The Work of an Hour | 38:01 | Read by Mary Bard |
Paula Relates a Story She has Heard | 13:14 | Read by Mary Bard |
Determination | 7:39 | Read by Mary Bard |
In Mr. Stuyvesant's Parlors | 21:44 | Read by Mary Bard |
"The Hour of Six is Sacred!" | 17:51 | Read by Mary Bard |
The Man Cummins | 19:00 | Read by Mary Bard |
Reviews
More like a drama
Lori K
AKG's true mystery books are excellent. However, this is the 2nd book that's been more like a drama to me. Yes, I wondered things like how the various story lines would come together & who were the people around the woods. The only real mysterious part to me was towards the end. The only real twists were also towards the end. So, my mystery pretty much only involved the bonds. There was just a little more suspense than mystery involving the people around the woods, the older woman, the fire, & the bonds. I truly wasn't super interested in much more. Maybe I'd feel differently if I hadn't already heard so many great stories by AKG already. This is the 1st of her books that dragged in parts for me as well. Lastly, Paula loving the person she did was creepy to me. You'll understand after listening to this. I don't want to write more as I don't want to spoil anything. The reader was excellent.
great reading, enjoyable story
Mac
I really like this authors mysteries, even so this big story was a nice change. Full of interesting characters and romance with a few little mysteries thrown in. Very well read!
wonderful
dsuden
Mary reads this amazing story in such a satisfying way. I feel I owe her a big debt of gratitude for her generosity in bringing it to us.
Awesome! Loved it!
Judy
Great story and beautiful writing. A time of long ago...do not miss this one!
Quite enjoyable
JC
It takes a while to get going, but is an excellent story by the end.
Wonderful!
TwinkieToes
This is my first Anna Katherine Green story. It is mostly a story of Mr. Sylvester, although it's told not from his point of view, but from the characters around him. Trapped in a loveless marriage, with a mystery of the past hanging over his head, wealthy Mr. Sylvester invites his wife's young, country cousin to visit them in the big city. He remembers when she was a 10-year-old girl, and her freshness and innocence almost drew him to better things... I disagree with the previous reviewer, that the women were treated as property - aside from the avaricious father-in-law, who wouldn't approve of a marriage of his daughter with a man who didn't have wealth, or at least the prospect of wealth. But even then, the daughter was as avaricious as himself. Very well read - I'll look for more recordings by this narrator.
Too dull
Songbird7
I enjoy this author, and the reader is superb, but twice now I've tried to listen and couldn't get through the first full chapter. There's so much repetition, stilted language, and forced drama over things that simply don't excite (a young man is in love and wants to trade stocks to make quick cash so he can marry his sweetheart, while his advisor admonishes him against it). Clearly a foreshadowing of risky money deals ahead with a happy marriage at the end of it -- with long conversations, exaggerated emotions, stereotyped characters, and lots of trivial details to wade through to get to the happy ending. Meh.
WOW GRIPPING TO THE END.
tripet
HOW I LOVE ANNA KATHARINE GREEN'S WRITING AND MARY BARD'S READINGS. THE CHARACTERS ARE SO REAL, OH WHAT I WOULD GIVE TO HAVE A MAN TALK TO ME LIKE HER MEN DO TO THEIR WOMEN, I WOULD FLOAT ON A CLOUD FOREVER. I HAVE SO MANY SLEEPLESS NIGHTS BECAUSE I CANNOT TURN THESE BOOKS OFF EVEN THOUGH I CAN COME BACK TO THEM IN THE MORNINGS. THANK YOU ANNA FOR GIVING ME ADVENTURES INTO OTHER WORLDS. BLESSINGS.TRIXIE.