MARTIN EDEN

When you blend a master of lyrical language with an outstanding narrator, the result is an unforgettable listening experience. First published in 1909, the semiautobiographical story offers a psychological study of Martin, a working-class sailor whose intense love for a member of the upper-class, Ruth, spurs him to educate himself so that he might be worthy of her. However, when he does become a famous writer and noted scholar, he can no longer connect with his working-class roots, and he doesn't really belong to the society he longed to join. Ruth abandons him, and he falls into despair. Edoardo Ballerini's tenor is just right for Martin's sensitive, poetic observations and artful descriptions. He ensures that London's reality is our reality, making this classic a choice listening experience. S.J.H. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine [Published: JANUARY 2021]