The listener

The consistently good narration

Reviewed: 07-09-24

Christopher Timothy is always good to listen to, and his Yorkshire accent is pretty authentic. I am puzzled as to why he didn’t adopt a Glaswegian accent In the original production. Regarding the story, I found it quite repetitive and dated in attitude, both in regards to class and gender. This is not surprising, representing as it does the time and place, nevertheless uncomfortable at times.

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Absorbing

Reviewed: 30-03-24

It was a thoroughly interesting story, well narrated , and well balanced between the private and political life.

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Entrancing, involving and engrossing story.

Reviewed: 08-12-23

A thoroughly enjoyable revisiting of a book 1st, read a decade ago, enhanced by the absolutely first class rating of John Telfer – wonderful characterisation. Congratulations to the author Mr AN Wilson. The best historical novel around.

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Just awful

Reviewed: 28-02-23

Somehow, I managed to get through this, but now at the end, I have absolutely no idea what has happened. The story has been dragged down the street, knocked over, put back on its feet, turned round, and driven to the end.. I know I neither know nor do I care who did what. Complete waste of time.

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narration unendurable

Reviewed: 29-01-23

Good premise, but the narrator extremely dull, slow and over careful. Who knows if I will stand it?

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1 person found this helpful

Outstanding

Reviewed: 10-04-22

At last, a thoroughly engrossing historical novel. My only gripe is the American pronunciation (in Audiobooks) of ‘Booth’ with a soft ‘th’…..
really irritating. But accurate in terms of American speech, I suppose.

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A journey back to a more predictable time

Reviewed: 13-03-22

Rural setting for an Agatha Christie type tale, when class distinction was very much more marked than today. Nothing too challenging, but nevertheless engaging, and worth a read. Good characterisation and likeable people in the main.

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Thoroughly entertaining book

Reviewed: 18-02-22

I’m ashamed to say I don’t recall reading any of HG Wells books , other than ‘Ann Veronica’ which I read age 15, and loved.
This book has stimulated my interest to explore his work further. I just hope I am not disappointed by the lack of books available, which is often the case in audiobooks.
As to this particular biography, the author gives a rounded and detailed portrait of HG, the reader is excellent, and the whole a very satisfying listen.

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Uplifting

Reviewed: 30-03-21

I read this book when I was very young. It enchanted me then, and decades later, I find it enchants me still. Reading as an adult or should I say, listening, is very different than reading as a child. I have never forgotten certain aspects of the book, in particular, I always retained the memory of the amethyst brooch, and I’ve always had an amethyst brooch of my own.

The character of Anne Shirley is endearing, charming, with a dash of pathos. One really feels for a lonely unwanted, and exploited child, shipped off to an unknown destination, only to find herself to be in the wrong yet again purely by accident of birth, the wrong gender. Very interesting read in the light of social history, the prevailing mores of that particular time in the not too distant past, and how they still resonate today in expectations of girls and women in society.

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Outstanding

Reviewed: 30-12-20

Brilliant writing, haunting and captivating story, excellent narration. I absolutely could not put it down.

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