Alex Jennings' Audiobook Performance Captures Isherwood's Landmark Novel of Grief
A new audiobook recording of Christopher Isherwood's landmark novel A Single Man features actor Alex Jennings delivering a performance that hums with melancholy and buried rage. The novel, first published in 1964, remains a powerful exploration of grief, isolation, and the masks people wear to navigate daily life.
A Day in the Life of George Falconer
Set in 1962, the story follows a single day in the life of George Falconer, a 58-year-old British expatriate and college professor living in California. George is silently grappling with the recent death of his partner, Jim, following a tragic car accident. The narrative accompanies him from his morning ablutions through his daily routine, including his drive to work, a teaching session, a gym workout, and an evening drink with his friend Charley.
Throughout the day, readers are privy to George's internal monologue, which reveals a man prone to existential dread. Isolated in a world that views him with suspicion due to his sexuality, George's reflections expose the profound dissociative properties of grief. The novel's opening scene, where George stares at his own reflection in the bathroom mirror, sets the tone for this intimate psychological portrait.
Jennings' Compelling Narration
In this new recording from Naxos Audiobooks, Alex Jennings – known for roles in The Crown and A Very English Scandal – brings George Falconer to life with his clipped RP tones. His performance captures not just the text but the emotional subtext, conveying both the surface calm and the turbulent emotions beneath. Jennings' narration allows listeners to bear witness to George's every waking thought, action, and memory, creating an immersive experience that highlights the novel's enduring relevance.
The audiobook runs for 4 hours and 38 minutes, providing a concise yet complete experience of Isherwood's masterful prose. Jennings' interpretation emphasizes how George's grief manifests in his interactions with others, including his homophobic neighbour Mrs Strunk, and in his solitary moments of reflection.
Further Audiobook Recommendations
For those interested in exploring more literary audiobooks, several other notable recordings are currently available:
- Winter by Ali Smith, read by Adjoa Andoh (7 hours 16 minutes) – The second in Smith's seasonal quartet, partially inspired by Dickens, tells of Sophia Cleves, a modern-day Scrooge living in Cornwall.
- Flesh by David Szalay, read by Daniel Weyman (9 hours 25 minutes) – This Booker prize-winning novel traces the life of a working-class Hungarian man from his teens to middle age as he moves from military service to working for London's super-rich.
Isherwood's A Single Man remains a landmark work in LGBTQ+ literature and a profound study of human emotion. This new audiobook recording makes this classic novel accessible to a new generation of listeners, with Jennings' performance adding fresh depth to Isherwood's exploration of how people cope with loss and maintain their dignity in the face of societal prejudice.
