The Unbecoming of Margaret Wolf
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The Unbecoming of Margaret Wolf
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Narrated by:
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Saskia Maarleveld
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Isa Arsén
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Written by:
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Isa Arsén
About this listen
Two Shakespearean actors in an unconventional marriage get caught up in a renowned director’s scheme that will bring them closer than ever or rip them apart for good.
Up-and-coming stage actress Margaret Shoard has just taken a bow as Lady Macbeth, the role she has always believed was destined for her. At home, she plays wife to her best friend Wesley, even if she doesn’t hold his sole attention romantically. After a public breakdown threatens all she holds dear, Margaret’s doctor prescribes her uppers—just a little help to get through the days.
When Wesley is invited by eccentric director Vaughn Kline to join the cast for an inaugural Shakespeare performance in the New Mexico desert, Margaret decides to accompany him in hopes the time away will set her back to rights . . . but the world she finds in Vaughn’s company is filled with duplicity and betrayal. Margaret and Wesley, embroiled in an affair with a man who may not be all he seems, must find a way forward together before their story becomes the real tragedy.
©2025 Isa Arsén (P)2025 Penguin AudioWhat the critics say
One of Brit & Co’s Most Anticipated Books for 2025
"In this engaging historical novel, Arsén brings to life a captivating protagonist, Margaret Wolf, a passionate Shakespearean stage actress wrestling with inner demons . . . As in her debut, Shoot the Moon, Arsén injects light magical Realism . . . When Margaret and Wesley—richly dimensional, sympathetic, and invariably thirsty players with plenty to lose—are thrust into dangerous territory, they are forced to perform the best dramatic performance of their lives." —Booklist (starred review)
"With sensitivity to a range of queer relationships as well as to Margaret’s unraveling psyche, Arsén paints a vivid portrait of 1950s backstage culture. The demands and compulsions of theater life create a satisfying backdrop for historical fiction that works as a page-turner. The play’s not the only thing here; Arsén’s players intrigue as well." —Kirkus Reviews
"This historical novel may be of interest to readers who enjoy fiction about theater and the United States at midcentury . . . A good pick for fans of Patti Callahan Henry and Marie Benedict." —Orange County Register