In 2004, Caedmon released a recorded compilation of selected stories from The Stories of John Cheever, each read either by Cheever, George Plimpton, or a professional actor.[2] Benjamin Cheever reads the introduction written by his father, and the full track list of stories is as follows:
- "The Enormous Radio" read by Meryl Streep
- "The Five-Forty-Eight" read by Edward Herrmann
- "O City of Broken Dreams" read by Blythe Danner
- "Christmas is a Sad Season for the Poor" read by George Plimpton
- "The Season of Divorce" read by Edward Herrmann
- "The Brigadier and the Golf Widow" read by Peter Gallagher
- "The Sorrows of Gin" read by Meryl Streep
- "O Youth and Beauty!" read by Peter Gallagher
- "The Chaste Clarissa" read by Blythe Danner
- "The Jewels of the Cabots" read by George Plimpton
- "The Death of Justina" read by John Cheever
- "The Swimmer" read by John Cheever
Reception to the collection was positive. Publishers Weekly called the readers a "first-class lineup of narrators" and stated that "Cheever's archived readings that steal the show. His performance of "The Swimmer," in particular, boldly displays his contempt for the country-club set, while still evoking readers' sympathy for the hapless main character. The inclusion of [his] readings makes for a deeply personal, resonant finale to a truly superb production."[3]
