The Combined Maze
May Sinclair
Read by Expatriate
Ranny Ransome is an idealistic young man, devoted to exuberant gymnastic exercises and to fighting “flabbiness” in his own life, body and soul. He loves the girlish and athletic Winny Dymond, and particularly loves participating with her in the Combined Maze, a choreographed, intricate, exhilarating group gymnastic ritual in which the young men and women of the Polytechnic Gymnasium demonstrate their skills. Unfortunately, Ranny falls under the spell of the seductive Violet, a sexual free spirit who wants nothing more than to live an untrammeled life on her own terms. When, to her astonishment and horror, Violet becomes pregnant, Ranny dutifully marries her against her will, entangling himself and her in a deadly new Combined Maze of social conventions intended to suppress and subdue the elemental passions that give color to Life. May Sinclair draws her readers in with a quiet, unobtrusive, Victorian prose that seems completely in tune with the conventional proprieties of her society, but goes on in the same seditious, unassuming tone to tell stories of sensuality, adultery, seduction, divorce, and betrayal, quietly protesting the smothering conventions of a society that feared passion in all its forms. Ranny’s mesmerizing struggle to maintain his fundamental decency while remaining true to his real love hangs in the balance to the last page. (summary by Expatriate) (9 hr 56 min)
Chapters
Chapter 01 | 12:46 | Read by Expatriate |
Chapter 02 | 17:58 | Read by Expatriate |
Chapter 03 | 19:49 | Read by Expatriate |
Chapter 04 | 14:13 | Read by Expatriate |
Chapter 05 | 26:20 | Read by Expatriate |
Chapter 06 | 14:59 | Read by Expatriate |
Chapter 07 | 14:35 | Read by Expatriate |
Chapter 08 | 16:20 | Read by Expatriate |
Chapter 09 | 16:41 | Read by Expatriate |
Chapter 10 | 16:42 | Read by Expatriate |
Chapter 11 | 8:07 | Read by Expatriate |
Chapter 12 | 9:42 | Read by Expatriate |
Chapter 13 | 31:54 | Read by Expatriate |
Chapter 14 | 12:49 | Read by Expatriate |
Chapter 15 | 8:52 | Read by Expatriate |
Chapter 16 | 9:04 | Read by Expatriate |
Chapter 17 | 21:44 | Read by Expatriate |
Chapter 18 | 12:00 | Read by Expatriate |
Chapter 19 | 14:38 | Read by Expatriate |
Chapter 20 | 24:48 | Read by Expatriate |
Chapter 21 | 9:06 | Read by Expatriate |
Chapter 22 | 28:46 | Read by Expatriate |
Chapter 23 | 16:14 | Read by Expatriate |
Chapter 24 | 11:57 | Read by Expatriate |
Chapter 25a | 15:30 | Read by Expatriate |
Chapter 25b | 17:43 | Read by Expatriate |
Chapter 26a | 15:46 | Read by Expatriate |
Chapter 26b | 16:04 | Read by Expatriate |
Chapter 27 | 10:46 | Read by Expatriate |
Chapter 28a | 20:00 | Read by Expatriate |
Chapter 28b | 12:31 | Read by Expatriate |
Chapter 29 | 27:09 | Read by Expatriate |
Chapter 30a | 21:16 | Read by Expatriate |
Chapter 30b | 19:46 | Read by Expatriate |
Chapter 31 | 26:01 | Read by Expatriate |
Chapter 32 | 4:02 | Read by Expatriate |
Reviews
A LibriVox Listener
Gives a picture of early twentieth century social life in England.
1st rate Sinclair
Karebil
Typical Sinclair novel. Hits all the right spots. Not quite as emotionally involving as some of her characters, but still a very good read.