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Title: Parade's End

Author: Ford Madox Ford

Narrator: Steven Crossley

Format: Unabridged

Length: 38 hrs and 18 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-07-12

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 186 votes

Genres: Classics, British Literature

Publisher's Summary:

Ford Madox Fords tetralogy, set in England during World War I, is widely considered one of the best novels of the 20th century.

First published as four separate novels (Some Do Not, No More Parades, A Man Could Stand Up, and The Last Post) between 1924 and 1928, Parades End explores the world of the English ruling class as it descends into the chaos of war.

Christopher Tietjens is an officer from a wealthy family who finds himself torn between his unfaithful socialite wife, Sylvia, and his suffragette mistress, Valentine. A profound portrait of one mans internal struggles during a time of brutal world conflict, Parades End bears out Graham Greenes prediction that "there is no novelist of this century more likely to live than Ford Madox Ford."

Members Reviews:

A brilliant, challenging, and valuable work

Would you listen to Parade's End again? Why?

Yes. The prose is dense, moves back and forth in time, and is often written in stream of consciousness. I miss things if my attention drifts for a moment. I plan to listen again because this is such a beautiful book. And so nicely read.

What did you like best about this story?

The insights into history through the minds and hearts of people who lived and loved during those turbulent times is incredibly interesting to me. It's not simply a love story or a war story or the tale of a way of life imploding. It's a deep analization of what makes people tick--what motivates and inspires them. The way Ford captures thought--the way people really think--is amazing. (I'm reminded of Joyce.) I admired the various perspectives which allow me to approve/disapprove, admire/disrespect, curse/bless, and rush/savor all at the same time.

What does Steven Crossley bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book?

I think he allows me to be more patient--to not miss things I would miss if my eyes were rushing to see how a scene unfolded. Listening to his pleasant voice allows me to savor images and moments more fully.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The way during the most trying moments so many things race through the minds of the characters was immensely moving. And Christopher's goodness actually hurt. He tried always to do the right thing and I wanted to scream at him, to shake him. It is his intensity and his honor at home, at work, and in the trenches that made me so sad. Such a brilliant mind....So little joy.

Any additional comments?

This is the type of book that is art. It is perfect, wonderful, and horrible all at the same time. And it's not the gore of war that haunts, it's the mundanity and stupidity--and the waste. Add that to the 'rules of the game' that the British mid- to upper-crust had to play by, and you get an impressive, poignant, and frustrating novel. The characters are so memorable, especially Christopher Teitjens. (I could understand why Sylvia was spoiled for all other men--and why Valentine was spoiled too.). Note: Parade's End is not for those who need traditional structure. No tidy package here; the book reads like war plays out: in bits and pieces, with fragments of memories, dreams,boredom and drama. A bomb blows up every once in a while--and then life (and the word and world) goes on....

A brilliant Ford Madox Ford

Would you listen to Parade's End again? Why?

Definitely.