Great American Women's Fiction

This collection of varied stories demonstrates the power of these authors from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. In all of them the readers are well matched to their material. Chris McGlasson's strong, no-nonsense narrative voice is ideal for the Midwest settings of the Cather stories. Kate Chopin's stories, with their themes of women's strengths, are complemented by the grace and quiet strength of reader Tamara Walters. Jan Ahders ably captures two very different personalities in each of the Gilman stories: that of a woman slowly going mad in "The Yellow Wallpaper" and the fierce resolution of a woman determined to maintain her independence in "Three Thanksgivings." Marni Webb brings to life Wharton's "The Pelican" and "The Fullness of Life." This program brings well-deserved attention to the short stories of these notable authors. M.A.M. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine

"Don't let the fact that the title of this audio collection is Great American Women's Fiction lead you to believe that these are stories only about and for women. Yes, the stories may all be by women writers and all the protagonists are women, but these wonderful stories are gems for anyone who loves good fiction. This audio production gives the listener an opportunity to spend time with the works of four of 'the most influential women authors of the 19th and early 20th century.' These ten unabridged short fiction pieces leave the listener longing for more from each writer, wanting to know more about the characters of each piece. These women are skillfully drawn, fully realized characters who inhabit well-observed worlds...The readers, described in the notes as 'four professional actors from Northern California...selected for their unique abilities to portray the characters, the emotions and the tone of each writer,' are up to the task, marvelously bringing to life the stories they read, their characters and the mood of the period in which they take place. These stories may have their origins at the turn of this century; however, the spirit of each endures and they are as much for today's reader as they were for our ancestors." -- The Boston Book Review, February 1996

"Each of the authors presents a different viewpoint and the texture and tone of their stories varies from the robust western regionalism of Cather to the highbrow/high society stories of Wharton. These stories give a fascinating portrait of the lives and thoughts of women at the end of last century. Each of the authors is capably read by a different actress and this helps to underscore the fact that your are listening to a collection of stories by different women. The stories are well selected, well read, and suitable for all collections." -- Kliatt, July 1996

"Each of these brilliant authors speaks for the woman's experience. We hear of lives defined by relationship to others, lives of frustration and satisfaction, sorrow and joy, oppression and discovery of self. Written at the last turn-of-the-century, these enduring stories are as relevant today as when they were first published. Professional actors narrate these stories in performances which uniquely portray the characters, the emotions, and the "distinctive voice" of each writer. -- Midwest Book Review

"This collection of varied stories demonstrates the power of these authors from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. In all of them the readers are well matched to their material. Chris McGlasson's strong, no-nonsense narrative voice is ideal for the Midwest settings of the Cather stories. Kate Chopin's stories, with their themes of women's strengths, are complemented by the grace and quiet strength of reader Tamara Walters. Jan Ahders ably captures two very different personalities in each of the Gilman stories: that of a woman slowly going mad in "The Yellow Wallpaper" and the fierce resolution of a woman determined to maintain her independence in "Three Thanksgivings." Marni Webb brings to life Wharton's "The Pelican" and "The Fullness of Life." This program brings well-deserved attention to the short stories of these notable authors." -- AudioFile, July 1996

Great American Women's Fiction presents ten unabridged classics by Willa Cather (On the Divide, The Garden Lodge); Kate Chopin (A Point at Issue, Desiree's Baby, A Pair of Silk Stockings, The Story of an Hour); Charlotte Perkins Gilman (Three Thanksgivings, The Yellow Wallpaper); and Edith Wharton (The Pelican, The Fullness of Life). Each of these brilliant authors speaks for the woman's experience. We hear of lives defined by relationship to others, lives of frustration and satisfaction, sorrow and joy, oppression and discovery of self. Written at the last turn-of-the-century, these enduring stories are as relevant today as when they were first published. Professional actors narrate these stories in performances which uniquely portray the characters, the emotions, and the "distinctive voice" of each writer. -- Midwest Book Review