To The West by George Manville Fenn AUDIOBOOK

In the evocatively titled "To The West," George Manville Fenn draws upon his keen observational powers to portray the struggles and aspirations of young men on the margins of Victorian society. The narrative centers on Mayne Gordon, a youth suddenly orphaned and thrust from the comforts of rural childhood into the unforgiving world of London’s business district. Through delicately rendered recollections of sunlit gardens and vanished family life, Fenn contrasts the warmth of memory with the cold realities of urban economic hardship.

The early chapters introduce listeners to a grim office drama as the stern Mr. Isaac Dempster, an auctioneer, cloaks his own survivalism in stinging opinions about self-reliance, leaving little room for charity. The young narrator finds himself caught between this hard-nosed atmosphere and the poignant vulnerability of those who, out of necessity, must appeal for help—such as the embattled John Dempster, whose dignity is tested by poverty and illness at home.

Fenn’s prose, both compassionate and unsparing, guides listeners through moments of humiliation and small triumphs. Themes of resilience, social duty, and the search for hope amid adversity inform the emotional landscape of the novel, as Mayne Gordon seeks not only a livelihood but also a renewed faith in humanity. Throughout, the author explores questions of character and the quiet heroism required to endure, to give, or to simply carry on.

Atmospheric and quietly stirring, "To The West" is notable for its realism and psychological subtlety, balancing the routines of office life with vivid glimpses of the bustling city and half-remembered pastoral bliss. It offers a compelling portrait of Victorian England’s working world and the persistent idealism of youth.

Audiobook time & format : 13h56m58s, OPUS, 650 Mo
Audiobook free extract time & format : 5m (see below to listen), WAV
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