The Coquette, Or The History of Eliza Wharton


Read by LibriVox Volunteers

(4.5 stars; 5 reviews)

The classic early American epistolary novel about the seduction and ruin of a passionate young woman. Based on the true story of Elizabeth Whitman, whose lonesome death in childbirth in a Connecticut inn sparked widespread discussion and outrage, the novel went through many editions and innumerable printings in the century after its initial publication in 1797. (Summary by Jon Miller) (6 hr 32 min)

Chapters

Introduction 38:07 Read by Michele Eaton
Letters I through VII 26:19 Read by Jon Miller
Letters VIII through XIV 27:13 Read by Jon Miller
Letters XV through XXIII 28:42 Read by Jon Miller
Letters XXIV through XXIX 32:18 Read by Lynne T
Letters XXX through XXXVII 29:45 Read by Jennifer Dallman
Letters XXXVIII through XL 27:42 Read by Kari Lynn Hewett
Letters XLI through XLIII 26:59 Read by Jennifer Dallman
Letters XLIV through L 22:00 Read by Michele Eaton
Letters LI through LVI 27:47 Read by Lynne T
Letters LVII through LXI 26:48 Read by Soumen Barua
Letters LXII through LXVI 28:55 Read by Lynne T
Letters LXVII through LXIX 21:53 Read by Lynne T
Letters LXX through LXXIV 27:37 Read by Lynne T

Reviews


(3.5 stars)

Familiar theme. The rake and the virgin. Not much character development so not much sympathy. Inferior take-off of Richardson's masterpiece Clarissa Marlowe. Readers uniformly good. Always a treat to hear Lynne Thompson. Her style is elegant and hypnotic. I give it ***1/2 stars. I give her ***** stars