Flowers from the Storm
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Flowers from the Storm
Buy Now for £18.99
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Narrated by:
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Nicholas Boulton
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By:
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Laura Kinsale
About this listen
He's a duke. He's a mathematical genius. He can't talk and he's locked in a lunatic asylum. Only a modest Quaker girl can reach him, but when she helps him to escape, she's swept into his glittering aristocratic world, her life torn apart by his desperate attempt to save himself.
Laura Kinsale personally chose the exceptional talent of Nicholas Boulton to narrate her classic romance Flowers from the Storm - cited by readers of The Washington Post and Glamour magazine as "one of the greatest love stories of all time" - creating a fresh and unique work that brings all the power and intensity of the original to audio.
©1992 Hedgehog Inc (P)2013 Hedgehog IncListeners also enjoyed...
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
Definitely. I bought the audiobook based on Nicholas Boulton's voice which is mellifluous and a joy to listen to. I read the reviews on Amazon & Goodread & decided to take a punt. I didn't think I was going to enjoy the story, but once I got into it, I struggled to stop listening to it for the last 1/3rd of the recording. Nicholas Boulton is so much more than a narrator, he is a fabulous actor. I don't think I would have finished the book if I had read it. The hero had a stroke and in the first part of his journey back to health, understandably can't form his words, and must be quite hard to read. In this regard, listening to N.B reading it as an actor was wonderful. He brought the book alive. I would recommend it to fellow listeners who love Jane Eyre or Wuthering Heights. It is in the style of Georgette Heyer but so much meatier, less fluffy and so well written. I was sad when it ended.What did you like best about this story?
The whole story was good, it continually moved along without getting stuck or a bit 'boggy' as some stories tend to do in the middle. I liked all the characters in the story, both good and bad. I was a little frustrated/annoyed with the heroine, Maddy, for her piety, but as a Quaker, that was the point. She came good in the end so that was a triumph for sense over religion (apologies to those who read this who are of a religious zealous persuasion). It's the second Laura Kinsale book that I've read that has a religious or cult theme - not sure what Fraud would say about her, or maybe she just likes writing about tortured religious souls? In brief, selfish, arrogant Mr Rochester-type-character (Christian, Duke of Jervoux) who lives life on his terms, has a stroke. Put in an asylum. Quaker girl cares for him (she met him pre-stroke through her father as both men genius mathematicians). He ends up relying on her totally while she understands his needs & helps him to manage his condition. She turns his world upside down through her kind deeds & simple life & he upends hers, literally and awakens her sexually. It is a very beautiful slow-burn love story.Which character – as performed by Nicholas Boulton – was your favourite?
The hero, Christian, who was such a well-developed character through the hands of Laura Kinsale. Each time he fights to get his point across and can't, because of his stroke, she makes you feel his pain & frustration. He is a strong character who won't be beaten & I loved him better than I did Maddy, who at times I wanted to be more feisty (as she was at the beginning of the book & became less so as the book progressed)Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
I didn't really laugh (it wasn't like her Lessons in French that is humorous), but Christian's best friends are amusing especially the one who has brawn but no brains. His formidable aunt is also quite amusing. I didn't cry but I had a lump in my throat at the end of the book when Christian gave his speech at the Quakers meeting house & then to Maddy in the graveyard. He was brought to his knees & laid his soul bare. What compassionate woman couldn't be moved by that.Any additional comments?
Buy the audiobook. Nicholas Boulton is a genius ! Great story, you'll love it.A love story as good as Jane Eyre
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Rivetting!
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Would you listen to Flowers from the Storm again? Why?
Fully-realised characters who engage your interest and sympathy whilst still being true to their own time.What other book might you compare Flowers from the Storm to, and why?
Although the events and setting of the story are very different, this book reminded me in some ways of "Jane Eyre" - a charismatic and powerful man, used to arranging the world as he wants, meets an unsophisticated woman who seems timid and easily-influenced but is more than his equal in strength of character. The fluctuations of the balance of power between the two protagonists are sometimes at the forefront and sometimes overtaken by the flow of events as the rakish Duke of Jervaulx suffers a stroke and loses control over his life and property.The writing is polished and unrushed, allowing the listener full insight into the characters' thoughts and feelings.Although this is a "historical romance", I think the only cliché of the genre you will find in this book is the opening scene, which contains an explicit description of the duke and his mistress in bed. Although the level of explicit description is repeated later, the sensuality of the later romantic scenes reflects the slow development of love and trust between Christian and Maddy despite their profound differences.
What does Nicholas Boulton bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?
If I'd read this book I'd have skimmed it to get to the key events, since I find it hard to stick with a lot of narrative and internal dialogue, but Nicholas Boulton's performance kept me interested. His consistent and skilful delivery is never boring and in the emotional scenes reaches a riveting intensity which is exactly right for this dramatic story.The duke and the Quaker nurse - without cliches.
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Engrossing
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Perfection
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