The History of Sound: Stories

A third-person narrator presents the protagonist Annie’s story. Annie and her husband Henry have lived in Maine since Henry got a teaching job at Bowdoin College. One day, Annie watches television alone, intrigued by Ted Rosen’s conversation with Lionel Worthing about his new book on American folk music. 

Hearing Lionel talk, Annie muses on how boring contemporary life is. She wonders how things would change if she’d lived in the past. She turns off the television and sets to cleaning the house. When they bought the house, Henry insisted they take on the task of cleaning out the former owner’s things themselves. Annie isn’t working and understands that Henry thought the task would give her something to do.

Over dinner, Annie asks Henry if he’s ever thought about living in a different era. When Henry seems confused, Annie suggests they take a trip to Rome. Henry says they don’t have time as they already have holiday obligations, and he’s too busy with work. Instead, he says, Annie should try cooking Italian food. Annoyed, Annie snaps at Henry for biting his spoon.

Annie and Henry met 15 years earlier. Annie was studying communications at Cornell but soon discovered an interest in biology and switched majors.