A Fool There Was

Porter Emerson Browne's A Fool There Was pulls listeners into a haunting dramatic classic about desire, duty, and the ruinous power of temptation. Set against the turn-of-the-century world that produced it (first published in 1909), Browne's novel follows John Schuyler and the tangled lives around him as pride, passion, and societal expectation collide. This psychological drama and classic fiction explores themes of seduction, moral conflict, and the consequences of choices without ever resorting to sensationalism. Browne sketches vivid characters—a clear-eyed everyman, a mysterious woman who refuses to be tamed, and the community that judges them—while moving through scenes of yearning, warning, and quiet catastrophe. The prose balances lyricism and moral inquiry, reflecting early 20th-century attitudes toward love, honor, and social reputation. Listeners who appreciate literary drama, period pieces, and character-driven storytelling will find A Fool There Was compelling. Ideal for fans of psychological classics and those curious about pre-WWI American fiction, this audiobook offers an evocative glimpse into a bygone era and a timeless study of human weakness and resilience.