The Two Destinies


Read by LibriVox Volunteers

(4.1 stars; 77 reviews)

Mary Dermody is destined to be together with George Germaine one day, or so at least her grandmother prophesies. Destiny at first doesn't seem to adhere to this plan, and the pair is separated and lose sight of each other. But when George saves a young woman from drowning, a strong connection seems to develop between them, which seems to be almost supernatural.. - Summary by Carolin (10 hr 9 min)

Chapters

The Prelude - The Guest Writes and Tells the Story of the Dinner Party 20:08 Read by acousticwave
Chapter I - Greenwater Broad 9:56 Read by acousticwave
Chapter II - Two Young Hearts 24:09 Read by acousticwave
Chapter III - Swedenborg and the Sibyl 19:06 Read by Lynne T
Chapter IV - The Curtain Falls 5:14 Read by southernemma
Chapter V - My Story 16:22 Read by Peter John Keeble
Chapter VI - Her Story 14:24 Read by Peter John Keeble
Chapter VII - The Woman on the Bridge 14:54 Read by Peter John Keeble
Chapter VIII - The Kindred Spirits 20:22 Read by Peter John Keeble
Chapter IX - Natural and Supernatural 18:34 Read by Peter John Keeble
Chapter X - Saint Anthony's Well 16:25 Read by E Ogston
Chapter XI - The Letter of Introduction 11:10 Read by E Ogston
Chapter XII - The Disasters of Mrs. Van Brandt 17:54 Read by Lynne T
Chapter XIII - Not Cured Yet 17:17 Read by E Ogston
Chapter XIV - Mrs. Van Brandt at Home 16:13 Read by E Ogston
Chapter XV - The Obstacle Beats Me 11:01 Read by Reeses118
Chapter XVI - My Mother's Diary 7:41 Read by Reeses118
Chapter XVII - Shetland Hospitality 17:58 Read by bala
Chapter XVIII - The Darkened Room 15:32 Read by sorbet87
Chapter XIX - The Cats 15:44 Read by Julia Niedermaier
Chapter XX - The Green Flag 13:23 Read by Lynne T
Chapter XXI - She Comes Between Us 12:25 Read by Marsha Payne
Chapter XXII - She Claims Me Again 17:09 Read by Marsha Payne
Chapter XXIII - The Kiss 23:30 Read by Julia Niedermaier
Chapter XXIV - In the Shadow of St. Paul's 10:41 Read by Julia Niedermaier
Chapter XXV - I Keep my Appointment 11:06 Read by Julia Niedermaier
Chapter XXVI - Conversation with my Mother 4:59 Read by Julia Niedermaier
Chapter XXVII - Conversation with Mrs. Van Brandt 11:30 Read by Miyune
Chapter XXVIII - Love and Money 8:56 Read by emmablob
Chapter XXIX - Our Destinies Part Us 9:21 Read by sorbet87
Chapter XXX - The Prospect Darkens 31:23 Read by beyondutopia
Chapter XXXI - The Physician's Opinion 21:15 Read by beyondutopia
Chapter XXXII - A Last Look at Greenwater Broad 11:01 Read by Reeses118
Chapter XXXIII - A Vision of the Night 7:26 Read by Reeses118
Chapter XXXIV - By Land and Sea 22:30 Read by beyondutopia
Chapter XXXV - Under the Window 9:27 Read by beyondutopia
Chapter XXXVI - Love and Pride 26:19 Read by beyondutopia
Chapter XXXVII - The Two Destinies 35:53 Read by beyondutopia
The Wife Writes, and Closes the Story 11:18 Read by beyondutopia

Reviews


(1 stars)

'The Moonstone' and 'The Woman in White' long ago put Wilkie Collins in the top league of authors for me. Sadly, only this recollection persuaded me to persevere with this particular book, and I did so out of a sense of loyalty towards WC, heaving a big sigh of relief when it was over. I have some sympathy with what others have said about some unfortunate parts of the narration, but I don't think the most stylistically perfect rendition would have redeemed this particular work of fiction for me. Even so, the Librivox volunteers do a great job in general and I'm grateful to them all for giving their time and energies so unstintingly for our pleasure.

Enjoyed the reading and the story very much


(5 stars)

There are elements in this novel that one finds in much of Wilkie Collins: is fate absolutely inescapable? how do parallels echo -- in fate, identity, beliefs -- and then present their opposites? Some of the extremes come across as high camp (the scene in which the protagonist wrestles with himself and his intention to drown the woman who spurned him...) -- Excellent readings by very entertaining readers. I especially liked beyondutopia (Susan Smith Nash), who was not afraid to go for the camp, the melodrama, the (at times) grotesque... loved it!

Feast for the ears


(5 stars)

I agree 100% with veinticuatro - there are books which need to be performed, not merely recited in a carefully modulated, conventional, restrained voiceover. Kudos to those LibriVox readers who go for the guts of a text. Expression, that's what I look for in a reader-aloud. Well done, Susan Smith Nash, you are a real storyteller.


(0.5 stars)

Even amongst Victorian “love stories” this one is exceptionally violent and vile. The “hero” is so upset at being sexually rejected that he spends several chapters plotting the murder of the woman who dared to say no. That the narrator of those chapters chose to do character voices instead of acknowledging punctuation makes it painful on every imaginable level.


(3 stars)

I love the story, but some of the readers couldn't hold my attention and made me start to drift off to sleep. I felt that Susan Smith Nash did an awful job with the last few chapters of this book. I think she tried too hard and it wasn't natural. I do however love all of Wilkie Collins work.


(3 stars)

I like most of Collins books but this one was a little odd. Closer to the end he did go off on a little crazy part that I was not that fond of. The whole thing was a little strange but it also held my attention. Not the best of his books but a good one.

great story -- interesting ending


(5 stars)

The story reminds me a great deal of German Romanticism, in particular with elements of doppelgangers as in E.T.A. Hoffmann and of course, Goethe. Collins explores destiny, fate, and also the action of delusional thinking / madness. It is quite a journey, with a happy (or at least weirdly happy) ending.

LOVE THIS BOOK!!!


(5 stars)

The reader in the last few chapters didbt do a good job. the sentences were broken up. She was saying one word at a time with long pauses in between the words. It was really hard to follow and make meaning of the sentences of the whole. overall great book!