Wifedom
Mrs Orwell's Invisible Life
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Wifedom
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Narrated by:
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Arianwen Parkes-Lockwood
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Jane Slavin
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By:
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Anna Funder
About this listen
Looking for wonder and some reprieve from the everyday, Anna Funder slips into the pages of her hero George Orwell. As she watches him create his writing self, she tries to remember her own…
And when she uncovers his forgotten wife, it’s a revelation. Eileen O’Shaughnessy’s literary brilliance shaped Orwell’s work and her practical nous saved his life. But why – and how – was she written out of the story? Using newly discovered letters from Eileen to her best friend, Funder recreates the Orwells’ marriage, through the Spanish Civil War and WWII in London. As she rolls up the screen concealing Orwell’s private life she is led to question what it takes to be a writer – and what it is to be a wife.
Compelling and utterly original, Wifedom speaks to the unsung work of women everywhere today, while offering a breathtakingly intimate view of one of the most important literary marriages of the 20th century. It is a book that speaks to our present moment as much as it illuminates the past.
2024 Indie Book Awards Non Fiction Short-listed
2024 Gordon Burn Prize Short-listed
2024 Women's Prize for Non Fiction Long-listed
2024, Australian Book Industry Award Audiobook of the Year, Short-listed
2024, Australian Book Industry Award Biography Book of the Year, Winner
2024, Australian Book Industry Award Social Impact Book of the Year, Short-listed
2024, BookPeople Awards Adult Non-Fiction Book of the Year, Winner
2024, Nib Literary Award, Short-listed
2024, Prix du Meilleur Livre Étranger, Winner
©2023 Anna Funder. All rights reserved. (P)2023 Penguin AudioCritic Reviews
'A sharp, captivating look at a complicated relationship and a resurrection of a vital figure in Orwell’s life.’ (Kirkus Reviews)
‘A virtuoso performance on the theme, adding personal memoir, some fictional reconstructions and a glittering sense of purpose.’ (The New York Times)
What listeners say about Wifedom
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Sean
- 11-01-2024
Deeply interesting. A shame inducing look in a patriarchal mirror. Totally brilliant.
I'm no good at reviews. I'll just say I found the book really interesting, and easy to listen to, even if the story was often sad. I wasn't heaps interested in Orwell specifically, and you don't have to be to enjoy the book. In fact, you might enjoy it more if you if you don't have any particular fondness for him at all. The main character of the book is completely fascinating, the story so exciting, and also very sad.
It took me a little bit to get used to female narrators occasionally putting on male voices. It just seemed weird. After a while, I grew to enjoy it, first as a fun part of what is overall a high quality performance, and then somehow as part of the meta-commentary, on how men speak for women all of the time, without even trying to hide it.
I am so grateful to hear this story about the life of a brilliant woman. I was often horrified, equally at the story itself, but also in the likely potential that I shared all of Eileen's husband's more shameful traits, not to mention possessing none of his genius. Luckily for me, I still benefit from a system that means I can get away with it if I have to, and it seems one can borrow the genius of others and still get all the credit if you just call it something like "domestic influence".
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 17-08-2023
Exquisite
Funder as her wonderful self. Magical to get an insight into Anna’s world as well as Irene’s.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Myriam Wylie
- 21-08-2023
My first audible book: pure joy
Anna Funder does not disappoint: a wonderful story / history / analysis that kept me riveted. The narrators’ voices very cleverly done.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mike C
- 23-08-2023
A correction of history and a tough listen
Like Funder and I am sure many readers and potential readers of this book, George Orwell has been a literary and political idol since my youth. Funder takes Eileen out of the shadows and brings her to life with marvellous writing craft. As Eileen shines, a shadow Orwell emerges and it's a tough listen. Still processing what this means for my view of Orwell's work.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 31-08-2023
Brilliant book, irritating narration
This book is brilliant, I would give it 5 out of 5 stars if the Aussie narrator wasn't so irritating... she read it like she was doing a tv commercial. Took me three quarters of the book to get used to it. But if it is ever made with another narrator I would buy it again and listen to it again.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ajb Aust
- 07-04-2024
Engrossing
Incredible book from wonderful write. Read to give the story even more gravity and enjoyment. Thankyou
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 30-09-2023
Extraordinary
I found this book brillant and challenging - I wept for Eileen and for the women in my family who were also invisible. I think Anna Funder is an incredible researcher and writer, to have found Eileen and unveiled the life that she and Eric shared, in such an extraordinary way. I too, will be rereading George Orwell’s collected works, I am particularly looking forward to Animal Farm!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 20-01-2024
A very astute look at women in history
I really enjoyed this book because of Anna's sharp observations about how women have been dealt with and written about (or rather left out of) 'famous' men's biographies. I am sure there are many more female lives like these to add in the future.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Rebekah Saunders
- 25-01-2024
Powerful
A lot has been said of the invisible load shouldered by women, but this is the most intricate telling of it positioned in a literary classic that I’ll never look upon the same way again. This book will stay with me.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Hoppy
- 05-02-2024
Wifedom
I liked the reading style, it brought the story to life. I particularly liked the natural use of different accents where appropriate.
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