The Custom of the Country Audiobook by Edith Wharton

Summary

Prepare to embark on an extraordinary journey through the pages of this captivating audiobook. Whether you’re an avid reader or a newcomer to the world of audiobooks, this unique listening experience is sure to leave a lasting impression. With a perfect blend of engaging storytelling and skilled narration, this audiobook transports you into a realm where the boundaries between reality and fantasy seamlessly blur.

Audiobook Info

Author: Edith Wharton
Narrator: Xe Sands
Duration: 16 hours and 33 minutes
Publisher: Audible Studios
Release Date: January 1, 2018

Review

It’s rare for an audiobook narrator to so seamlessly embody both the spirit and subtlety of a literary classic, but in Edith Wharton’s “The Custom of the Country,” Xe Sands delivers a performance that elevates every nuance of Undine Spragg’s ambitious journey. Before even delving into Wharton’s intricate tale, listeners are greeted by Sands’ rich tone – her voice imbued with an emotional intelligence that brings early twentieth-century Manhattan society vividly to life.

Sands doesn’t merely read; she interprets. Each shift in Undine’s fortunes – whether climbing social heights or navigating personal betrayals – is underscored by Sands’ ability to convey pride, calculation, vulnerability, and longing with understated mastery. The result is a fully immersive auditory experience that transforms Wharton’s sharp social commentary into something intimate and immediate. Award-winning for good reason, Sands’ narration ensures that Undine is not just observed from afar but felt up close: her aspirations and flaws pulse through every chapter.

As for the story itself, Wharton crafts one of her most provocative heroines in Undine Spragg – a young woman from small-town Apex whose hunger for status propels her through New York’s elite circles. The plot unfurls like a complex game of chess: marriages brokered for gain, friendships built on shifting allegiances, and the persistent question of what must be sacrificed in pursuit of power. The author’s wit is razor-sharp; dialogue sparkles with irony as Wharton unpacks the rules (“customs”) that govern – and sometimes distort – the lives within Gilded Age society.

Beyond its critique of class mobility and gender constraints, “The Custom of the Country” stands out as an emotionally resonant cautionary tale. Undine’s relentless climb comes at considerable cost – to herself and those who cross her path – and yet Wharton resists easy moralizing. Instead, we’re left pondering whether fulfillment can truly be found amid wealth and status when identity itself feels malleable.

For newcomers to audiobooks or classic literature fans alike, this production offers multiple layers to appreciate: historical insight, psychological depth, witty prose, and above all an unforgettable central performance. While some listeners may find Wharton’s pacing leisurely at times or struggle with the sprawling cast (as noted by reviewers), these minor hurdles pale beside the richness on offer here.

In sum: Xe Sands gives voice not only to Undine Spragg but also to Edith Wharton herself – reminding us why great fiction endures long after its era has faded.

Download & Listen

Experience “The Custom of the Country” as it was meant to be heard – alive with emotion and sparkling with insight – by downloading it today from KTAudiobooks.com. Let Xe Sands guide you through Undine Spragg’s dazzling ascent (and descent) among New York’s high society; discover for yourself why Edith Wharton remains one of America’s greatest literary voices. This is more than just a story – it’s an invitation into ambition, consequence, and timeless social intrigue. Don’t miss your chance to immerse yourself in this masterful audiobook!

Status: Completed Version: Unabridged Genre: Classics, Literature & Fiction Author: Edith Wharton Narrator: Barbara Caruso Updated: 27/11/2025 Listening Time: 15 hrs and 6 mins