Name and Fame A Novel

Name and Fame by Adeline Sergeant delivers a sparkling, incisive Victorian novel that probes the fragile line between public reputation and private truth. Set in the fashionable spa town of Aix-les-Bains, Sergeant's fiction paints a vivid tableau of summer society—tourists, local tradespeople, and the restless elite—where every gesture, rumor, and salon whisper can alter a life. Rooted in its 1890 context, the narrative captures the manners and moral tensions of the late 19th century: marriage and ambition, social climbing and scandal, the hunger for recognition and the costs it exacts. Sergeant’s keen observations and elegant prose offer both social satire and intimate character study, following people whose names promise fame but whose choices reveal complex human motives. The novel balances atmosphere—bright villas, promenades, and continental leisure—with psychological depth, making its historical setting feel immediate and consequential. Ideal for listeners who love classic literature, Victorian social novels, and character-driven fiction, Name and Fame is a rewarding audiobook for anyone intrigued by reputation, identity, and the enduring games of society. Perfect for fans of literary realism and period storytelling seeking a richly observed, thoughtful listen.