Wieland

Brown’s seminal work, written in 1798 and considered the first American gothic novel, is now available in audio, elegantly narrated by Laurel Lefkow. Set in 1760s Pennsylvania, it is based on a real case of a New York farmer who killed his wife and four children in 1781. The story follows Clara Wieland and her brother Theodore Wieland, both of whom were traumatized when their father, who had created his own evangelical religion, spontaneously combusted. In adulthood, they live on adjoining properties, enjoying the benefits of a peaceful and leisurely existence. When Carwin, a mysterious stranger, enters their lives, however, their fragile peace is destroyed, and soon the most horrific crimes are visited upon them. Lefkow’s narration, which follows Clara’s point of view, is perfectly modulated, with a grace and sensitivity fitting Clara’s position. Her rendition of the book’s supernatural elements, including chilling voices, is entirely believable, and her depiction of Clara as she begins to lose her grip on reality is precise.