Audiobook Lives of the Wives: Five Literary Marriages by Carmela Ciuraru in the ListenBook app
Want to listen to the audiobook Lives of the Wives: Five Literary Marriages written by Carmela Ciuraru
ListenBook is here to help!
In ListenBook you can listen Lives of the Wives: Five Literary Marriages and any other audiobooks you download from the internet.
ListenBook is the easiest and most convenient app for listening to audiobooks
in MP3, MP4, OPUS, OGG, FLAC, AWB, M4B, M4A, WMA, AAC formats
on your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad!
Book description
"The five marriages that Carmela Ciuraru explores in Lives of the Wives provide such delightfully gossipy pleasure that we have to remind ourselves that these were real people whose often stormy relationships must surely have been less fun to experience than they are for us to read about."--Francine Prose, author of The VixenA witty, provocative look inside the tumultuous marriages of five writers, illuminating the creative process as well as the role of money, power, and fame in these complex and fascinating relationships."With an ego the size of a small nation, the literary lion is powerful on the page, but a helpless kitten in daily life--dependent on his wife to fold an umbrella, answer the phone, or lick a stamp."The history of wives is largely one of silence, resilience, and forbearance. Toss in celebrity, male privilege, ruthless ambition, narcissism, misogyny, infidelity, alcoholism, and a mood disorder or two, and it's easy to understand why the marriages of so many famous writers have been stormy, short-lived, and mutually destructive. "It's been my experience," as the critic and novelist Elizabeth Hardwick once wrote, "that nobody holds a man's brutality to his wife against him." Literary wives are a unique breed, requiring a particular kind of fortitude.Author Carmela Ciuraru shares the stories of five literary marriages, exposing the misery behind closed doors. The legendary British theatre critic Kenneth Tynan encouraged his American wife, Elaine Dundy, to write, then watched in a jealous rage as she became a bestselling author and critical success. In the early years of their marriage, Roald Dahl enjoyed basking in the glow of his glamorous movie star wife, Patricia Neal, until he detested her for being the breadwinner, and being more famous than he was. Elizabeth Jane Howard had to divorce Kingsley Amis to escape his suffocating needs and devote herself to her own writing. ("I really couldn't write very much when I was married to him," she once recalled, "because I had a very large household to keep up and Kingsley wasn't one to boil an egg, if you know what I mean.") Surprisingly, the most traditional partnership in Lives of the Wives is a lesbian couple, Una Troubridge and Radclyffe Hall, both of whom were socially and politically conservative and unapologetic snobs.As this erudite and entertaining work shows, each marriage is a unique story, filled with struggles and triumphs and the negotiation of power. The Italian novelists Elsa Morante and Alberto Moravia were never sexually compatible, and it was Morante who often behaved abusively toward her cool, detached husband, even as he unwaveringly admired his wife's talents and championed her work. Theirs was an unhappy union, yet it fueled them creatively and enabled both to become two of Italy's most important postwar writers.These are stories of vulnerability, loneliness, infidelity, envy, sorrow, abandonment, heartbreak, and forgiveness. Above all, Lives of the Wives honors the women who have played the role of muses, agents, editors, proofreaders, housekeepers, gatekeepers, amaneunses, confidantes, and cheerleaders to literary trailblazers throughout history. In revisiting the lives of famous writers, it is time in our #MeToo era to highlight the achievements of their wives--and the price these women paid for recognition and freedom. Lives of the Wives is an insightful, humorous, and poignant exploration of the intersection of life and art and creativity and love.
Audiobooks have become my constant companions during my daily activities. This app's playback controls and features make it a breeze to customize my listening experience. The library organization feature is a blessing. My audiobooks are finally organized and easy to find. Navigating through chapters is effortless with ListenBook. It's a user-friendly and intuitive experience. A functional audiobook production that met basic requirements. The narrator's voice was pleasant enough to listen to for extended periods, though their performance didn't add much interpretation to the text. The audio engineering was competent without being remarkable.
Being able to customize the listening duration is perfect for quick breaks. Effortlessly immersing in stories – this app's ease of use is a game-changer. The app's compatibility with CarPlay enhances my driving experience. Audiobooks on the road have never been better. The app is so user-friendly. Even my grandma can use it!
I can't imagine my life without this app – it's my daily dose of literary magic. This app's customizable features, like playback speed and bookmarks, have transformed my experience. This app's convenience has transformed my screen time into meaningful reading sessions. 💃 Dancing to the rhythm of stories while I dance through house chores – pure joy! 💃📖 The ability to play various audio formats without conversion is very convenient. ListenBook is a great app.
This app has brought back the joy of reading, even when I'm on the move. 💡 Seamlessly weaving audiobooks into my daily routine – this app's functionality has redefined how I enjoy books. 📱📖
Thanks to ListenBook's automatic extraction of artwork and metadata, my library looks organized and appealing. Audiobook enthusiasts, rejoice! This app's design focuses on seamless interaction. Looping playback is a brilliant study tool. Thanks to ListenBook, my learning has improved! CUE playlist support is a fantastic organizational feature. It keeps my audiobooks neatly arranged. ListenBook is the ultimate audiobook player. The app supports all formats, and the import process is seamless. I love the playback history feature—it’s so easy to revisit my favorite parts. Highly recommend this app!
ListenBook's user-friendly audio filters and controls have made my audiobook sessions more interactive and engaging. This app's library is a treasure trove – I'm always discovering new favorites. ListenBook's dedication to delivering an exceptional experience is evident in every detail.
This app has turned my gym sessions into immersive storytelling experiences – time flies by! 💼 Juggling tasks while exploring narratives – this app is my multitasking hero! 💻📖 Savoring audiobooks without complications – this app's design is commendable. Automated artwork and metadata retrieval make my audiobook library look organized and polished.
Kudos to ListenBook for optimizing the app for iOS 16 – it shows their dedication to excellence. Effortless and enriching – that's how I'd describe my experience with this app. Its functionality, from seamless downloads to binaural audio processing, has truly raised the bar. 📱📖 The app's compatibility with CarPlay has made my road trips so much more enjoyable. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature has transformed the audio quality. It's crystal clear now. The audio filters make a noticeable difference. ListenBook provides an excellent listening experience.
I've found hidden gems in genres I never thought I'd be interested in. ListenBook's comprehensive support for a wide range of audio formats sets it apart from other audiobook apps. This app has made audiobook listening an integral part of my daily routine – it's a habit I cherish. The app is perfect for people who love to listen to books while exercising.
I used to struggle to find time for books – now, I listen while doing chores! ListenBook's library organization and book groups help me keep my content neatly sorted. I can't get enough of this app's intuitive controls – it's the perfect way to indulge in audiobooks.
ListenBook Pro offers amazing value with unlimited audiobook length and noise reduction features. ListenBook's multiple ways to download audio, including from the internet, are a game-changer. This app is a game-changer for audiobook lovers! The interface is clean and easy to use. I love the ability to change the background color. It’s a nice touch.
The vast selection of titles on this app is a book lover's dream come true. This app's ease of use has made reading more accessible and enjoyable than ever before. ListenBook has redefined my workout routine. The controls are so user-friendly. Love how I can adjust playback speed and audio volume. ListenBook caters to all my needs. ListenBook’s support for Apple Watch is a great touch. I can control my audiobooks on the go.
This app's features, from bookmarking to customizable playback speed, are fantastic. With this app, audiobook listening has become an integral part of my daily routines – it's pure bliss. This app is perfect for audiobook lovers. The interface is beautiful and easy to navigate. ListenBook makes organizing my audiobooks simple. The app is very user-friendly.
This app's library is a treasure trove – I'm always discovering new favorites. Finally, an app that lets me enjoy audiobooks without worrying about file formats!
ListenBook's features are a bookworm's dream come true – from chapters to bookmarks, it's got everything. User-centric audiobook joy – this app's ease of use is impressive.
This app's convenience has turned my daily chores into moments of intellectual discovery – a win-win! Gone are the days of struggling with formats. Thanks to this app, my audiobook journey is a breeze, and every tale is a tap away. Highly recommended! 📚🎧
ListenBook's support for various download methods means I can acquire new content in a way that suits me best. Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is a creative way to share the love of literature.
Thanks to ListenBook's extensive statistics, I can track my audiobook consumption and celebrate my progress. ListenBook's compatibility with CarPlay and Apple Watch makes it a versatile companion for my daily activities. This app has rekindled my passion for storytelling in the most convenient way. ListenBook has turned my ordinary moments into extraordinary adventures through stories. Fairly enjoyable, but forgettable. I didn’t have any major complaints, but I also don’t see myself revisiting this one. It was a decent way to spend a few hours, though.
I'm hooked on this app – it's like Netflix for book lovers! The range of supported formats is astounding. No more compatibility issues!
The convenience of having an entire library at my fingertips is a dream come true. ListenBook's loop and shuffle playback options have made audiobook revisiting and studying a breeze. A perfectly acceptable audiobook that fulfilled its purpose. The narration was competent if not particularly memorable, and the production quality was standard for the genre. It served as decent background entertainment during mundane tasks.
Trusted by over 100,000 users across the globe
What is ListenBook?
Why ListenBook?
How does it work?
1
Download audiobooks from any site in any of the supported formats.
2
Add audiobooks to the app using any of the many download methods available.
3
Listen to audiobooks by controlling playback from your phone, headphones, Apple Watch or CarPlay.
Playing a wide variety of audio formats
Works on all devices with iOS 13 and newer
Huge amount of features for a small price
Frequent updates to add new features and improve existing ones
Advanced playback controls
Live sound processing
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice and noise reduction
Translated into more than 20 languages
App for those who love audiobooks
ListenBook has the features you need no matter what you are listening to
Listening to fiction
If you love listening to fiction audiobooks, ListenBook has features to make the process easier.
Edit book data: title, author, cover
Use equalizer to make the sound comfortable for you
Adjust the playback speed
Enjoy dark and light app themes
Supported formats: MP3, M4B, AWB, FLAC, OGG audio files and many more (must be DRM free)
Auto-Bookmarks make it easy to find your place
AirPlay support allows redirection of audio output.
VoiceOver support
Dark mode for night owls
Listening to audio lectures
Convenient bookmarking system helps you mark the most important places.
Unlimited bookmarks for each audiobook
Put your own cover on the wager
Share your audiobook with friends
Lock-screen control
Customise app with extensive options
Sleep timer with shake to reset, set custom notification sounds, and a few unique options
Auto rewind depending on paused time, customize rewind times to your liking
Removing background noise from recordings made in classrooms and meetings
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice for a better listening experience
Every day, thousands of people download ListenBook to listen to audiobooks.
Now it's your turn to listen to audiobooks without distraction!
