A Single Man

By: Christopher Isherwood

Narrated by: Simon Prebble

When A Single Man was originally published, it shocked many with its frank, sympathetic, and moving portrayal of a gay man in midlife. George, the protagonist, is adjusting to life on his own after the sudden death of his partner, and determines to persist in the routines of his daily life. The course of A Single Man spans 24 hours in an ordinary day.

An Englishman and a professor living in suburban Southern California, he is an outsider in every way, and his internal reflections and interactions with others reveal a man who loves being alive despite everyday injustices and loneliness.

Wry, suddenly manic, constantly funny, surprisingly sad, this novel catches the texture of life itself.

©1992 Don Bachardy (P)2009 HighBridge Company

Critic reviews

"A testimony to Isherwood's undiminished brilliance as a novelist." (Anthony Burgess)

The whole book is like a strain of thought

I didn’t particularly liked the storyline as it maid me feel sad and depressed for most of the book the only part that I enjoyed was much closer towards the end. Honestly, I liked the ending and there are a lot of very interesting thoughts in here, all I’m saying is that this is not a lighthearted read.

So beautifully written, not for everyone

This is such a hard book to describe. it is essentially a day in the life of the main character that also examines his past, his identity, his pain. Nothing much happens plot wise and yet you really get to know George by the end. The writing is beautiful. It is definitely NOT the kind of book where plot drives the story. It is heavy on introspection and character development- almost
voyeuristic - you drop into the mind of the character in a stream of thought style. There are some dated parts and definitely some cringey bits but I do find them quite interesting actually- since I did not live at the time it shows me the social discourse at the time the book was written and it adds to my personal understanding of social issues.

Great Read

This is interesting to the point it is almost morbid. It’s a very depressing look at how life was or could be. It is filled with promise and a need for understanding or at least a reckoning of what a future can bring.

Absolutely splendid!!

This is a truly great book with an absolutely splendid narration. Isherwood is a remarkable author and it’s a pity that there are so few of his titles available on audio. Simon Prepple’s narration is flawless. A truly great listening experience!

Well-done

Unusual for it's time and still today--this pathetic yet often humorous description of a bereft, aging, highly self-aware homosexual.

absolutely amazing

Would you listen to A Single Man again? Why?

when the story was over i immediately started the story over!

Who was your favorite character and why?

george is the main character and is the meat of the story. i am straight and in my thirties, but i can still relate to his life.

What does Simon Prebble bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

his narration was beyond fantastic. his accent and tone made george so much realer. i usually don't like voices like this, but i feel the simon really captured georges character

Who was the most memorable character of A Single Man and why?

George most definitely.

Any additional comments?

i watched the trailer for the movie and was extremely disappointed. the main plot for the movie was merely a paragraph in the book. isn't that how it always goes though?

Great story, too short

The story was enthralling, performance was great, but it left charlies tale with loose ends & was way too short for the price of the book.

George's Day

This book was very interesting and much more than I expected. The book details a 24 hour period in George's life; while the description made me think it would focus on his experience as a gay man, that was not the sole focus. Yes, the issue is prevalent, but it was presented in the way of this is who he is. George's sexual orientation was part of many of his interactions, but the listener learns of many aspects of his life.

This was written in 1964, and I found it interesting that the attitudes described about George due to his sexual orientation have not changed much today. It was also perceptive of the author when he observed that colleges campuses would soon be overtaken by the parking lots; I recall many a day circling my college campus looking for a place to park in the 90s and 2000s!

The writing was excellent and I enjoyed the narrator. This is one of the books that I think I would have enjoyed equally in print and audio format. I was not prepared for the ending, but I like how it tied in with the opening scene of the story.

Beautifully written.

I gobbled this recording right up. Isherwood remains us of the art of language and storytelling.

Truly Magnificent

The funny thing is, even though it is supposed to be a story about a gay man, I can highly relate to him. I can relate to the professor most of all, to the single adult man living alone, to the lonely, sullen introvert as well. It is so beautifully written.