The New Magdalen


Read by LibriVox Volunteers

(4.5 stars; 60 reviews)

Mercy Merrick is living a difficult life on the streets, but when she meets the young and charismatic clergyman Julian Gray, she desires to leave this life behind and start afresh. She packs her things and volunteers as a nurse in the Franco-Prussian war of 1870. It is, however, very difficult to leave your life behind, and even harder to start a new life in a society so dependent on social connections. So when she sees that Grace Roseberry is killed by a shell, Mercy assumes Grace's identity and social position... - Summary by Carolin (10 hr 56 min)

Chapters

The Two Women 16:18 Read by ToddHW
Magdalen - In modern Times 16:20 Read by Cory Sampson
The German Shell 14:00 Read by Kathleen Moore
The Temptation 14:33 Read by Kathleen Moore
The German Surgeon 20:45 Read by Katy Dix
Lady Janet's Companion 20:31 Read by Katy Dix
The Man is coming 31:35 Read by Warren Kati
The Man appears 17:27 Read by ToddHW
News from Mannheim 20:11 Read by Michelle Tan
A Council of Three 11:11 Read by Layla Montipay
The Dead alive 25:42 Read by Layla Montipay
Exit Julian 23:29 Read by Deon Gines
Enter Julian 18:11 Read by Deon Gines
Coming Events cast their Shadows before 14:36 Read by Deon Gines
A Woman's Remorse 24:25 Read by Deon Gines
They Meet Again 14:31 Read by Deon Gines
The Guardian Angel 19:05 Read by ToddHW
The Search in the Grounds 21:17 Read by ToddHW
The Evil Genius 15:35 Read by ToddHW
The Policeman in Plain Clothes 36:36 Read by Warren Kati
The Footstep in the Corridor 22:20 Read by Karen Mallozzi
The Man in the Dining-Room 24:02 Read by Michelle Tan
Lady Janet at Bay 31:13 Read by Michelle Tan
Lady Janet's Letter 16:43 Read by Skawuczek
The Confession 22:16 Read by acousticwave
Great Heart and Little Heart 18:54 Read by acousticwave
Magdalen's Apprenticeship 36:56 Read by Warren Kati
Sentence is Pronounced on Her 31:20 Read by Warren Kati
The Last Trial 12:41 Read by Peter John Keeble
Epilogue 43:41 Read by Peter John Keeble

Reviews

Wonderful


(5 stars)

This is another pleasurable experience with Librivox. I confess I hadn't heard of Wilkie Collins before I started listening to Librivox but he has quickly become a favorite author. This is another great offering from his pen. The readers were all excellent which made listening so easy. I highly recommend this book.

Julian Gray is a refreshing clergyman in a late Victorian novel


(4 stars)

Gray is a liberation theologist which is interchangeable with christian socialist . Perhaps he was inspired by Vasco de Quiroga and Thomas More's("Utopia") ideas in the early 16th century which promotes people should live a decent temporal life and not have to suffer to go to heaven . And the disparity between the haves and have nots(the poor) is immoral . However I find it bizarre and outrageous More's need for slaves in his idealistic republic in "Utopia". Very un-humanist ..... Most of us think of liberation theology or Christian socialism as starting in Latin America in the early 1960's....hope to continue this after I listen throughout the book . Always grateful for the reader volunteers , Librivox and Internet Archive .


(4 stars)

2018 - surprisingly, the readers red well. the recording on the last was a bit tinny and low. the story has a great plot. the main character jumped at the chance of a different character. of course, there is the typical criticism of all rich, Christian, English socialites. insinuations socialism is the only understanding and forgiving form of belief.

COLLINS AT HIS MOST FORMIDIBLE


(5 stars)

A scathing denunciation of the so-called nobility. Mercy is too good to be true, but what a great example she is of a penetent. Horace and Grace need to wed; they are made for each other. The readers were good, but the last one was a bit soft.


(4 stars)

A great book exposing those things that society upholds that as followers of Christ one has to denounce. Very thought provoking. Could have easily been written today. Great title!

Interesting


(4 stars)

Not the typical Collins novel being more realistic and closer to life, I liked it very much. The readef was excellent as well.


(4 stars)

A bit melodramatic, but good enough to keep listening. Readers are okay. I love the ending.