THE GOLDEN BOWL

Award-winning actress Juliet Stevenson guides the listener through the complex social world and moral ambiguity of this convoluted story. Maggie Verver's upcoming marriage to Prince Amerigo seems perfect. Just before Maggie and he are to wed, Amerigo's good friend and former lover, Charlotte, comes back into his life for a brief shopping trip for a wedding present. Even though Charlotte and Maggie have been friends since childhood, Maggie, strangely, has no idea of Charlotte's intimate connection to Amerigo and happily sets her up with Mr. Verver, Maggie's father. Stevenson gracefully guides the listener through the various emotional outbursts, possibly infidelity, and subtle miscommunications. Stevenson carefully balances James's comedic and sometimes tragic timing in a performance that feels effortless to the listener. V.B. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2019]