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. While at a research station in California one summer, Annie met Henry. They dated through the summer but parted ways to return to school. Three years later, Annie bumped into Henry at a liquor store in New York. He was attending graduate school at NYU, and she was in her senior year at Cornell. They spent the night together, reigniting their relationship. Annie never returned to Cornell, dropped out, moved in with Henry, and got married.

Now, Annie heads up to the attic to do more cleaning, and she discovers a collection of phonograph cylinders. Worried that the former owner might have left valuable things behind, she contacts her realtor Liz, who agrees to get in touch with the former owner.

That night, Henry surprises Annie with a basket of pasta ingredients and an Italian cookbook. Despairing, Annie bursts into tears. After Henry retreats to his office, Annie sits at the table until dark. Then Liz calls with the former owner Belle’s phone number. Annie calls Belle, and she says Annie can bring her some of her old things.

In the morning, Annie travels to the Isle au Haut to see Belle. She gives Belle some old photos and tells her about the cylinders she found. Belle reveals that they belonged to her first husband David, who made them with Lionel Worthing years ago. David died a year into their marriage. When Annie tells Belle about Henry, Belle reminds her that first love isn’t meant to last. She adored David but losing him made her stronger. Before they part, Belle suggests that Annie send the cylinders to Lionel.

On the way home, Annie meditates on her and Henry’s relationship. She realizes that running into him years prior marked the end of her life. She imagines all the things she could have done if they’d never seen each other again. Back at home, she discovers some musical notes David drew on the bathroom wallpaper in pencil.