McTeague (Dramatized)

By: Frank Norris

Narrated by: Edward Asner, Ed Begley Jr, Hector Elizondo, Helen Hunt, Amy Irving, Stacy Keach, JoBeth Williams

Stacy Keach stars in this shocking tale of a Polk Street dentist and his wife in 1899 San Francisco. Frank Norris’ powerful insights into the depths of the human soul make this a story of compelling narrative force. This seminal novel about murder, obsession and the destructive effects of greed features an all-star cast including Stacy Keach, Edward Asner, Ed Begley Jr., Bud Cort, Hector Elizondo, Teri Garr, Katherine Helmond, Helen Hunt, Amy Irving, Carol Kane, Marsha Mason, Richard Masur, Judge Reinhold, Joe Spano, Jobeth Williams, and many more.

Public Domain (P)1993 L.A. Theatre Works

Magnificent!

This is the best radio show-type adaptation I have ever heard. The L.A. Theatre Works' cast of actors and actresses outdo themselves in this phenomenal and tragic meditation on greed. Trina McTeague surpasses The Lord of the Ring's Gollum "My Precious." To have Trina sleeping naked on her gold coins was over the top. The whole production, including music and sound effects, riveted me. I liked this production better than Erich von Stroheim's classic film "Greed."

I fault this novel for its racist depiction of the Jewish ragpicker Zerkow. I agree with Donald Pizer, who wrote that this book "included the most vicious anti-Semitic portrayals in any major work of American literature." Norris relied upon racist tropes. Given that he depicted other greedy characters--poor Whites and a Mexican--says more about him than them.

His writing reminds me of a cross between Edgar Allan Poe and the films of Alfred Hitchcock. Suspense. Drama. Tragedy. A bonus was that he depicted San Francisco before the 1906 earthquake. I live in the Bay Area. I pine for the places he saw that no longer exist, such as the public baths, and I laugh at things that have changed, such as the "town" of Oakland.

This production is one I will return to year after year.

This was a big surprise.

CLAP...CLAP...CLAP...Well done! Great story and very well performed, I wasn't expecting something so brilliant! I will be listening to this one over and over again!

Terrific Presentation

Thanks for making this novel come to life! I especially enjoyed the choice of narrators for McTeague and Trina - what perfect voices for their parts. Well cast, bravo!

The gold standard

I’ve listened to this unabridged version twice. It’s amazing. This is a very long listen, so I actually appreciated the varied cast members alternating, and the introductions helped break it up (I’ve tried Norris’s “The Octopus” and am finding going back to a single narrator difficult). Stacy Keach and Carol Kane completely embody the two main characters, and there’s not a weak supporting character actor in the bunch. Add one of the best, most satisfying endings in literary history, it all adds up to a winning glimpse of turn-of-the-century Bay Area (and beyond). My favorite audio book of all time.

Old Story Still Spot On!

A spectacular story set down and published in 1899, and yet, it still sparks so spot on and perfectly true to the astonishing twisted ways people come to think and do what they do, adjusting their ethics and true as they scheme their way through life and all kinds of ideas over values! I read a lot of books, and I can say that I did love this one!