A Whistling Woman cover art

A Whistling Woman

Frederica Potter, Book 4

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A Whistling Woman

By: A. S. Byatt
Narrated by: Sophie Aldred
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About this listen

It is 1968, and Frederica Potter is surprised to find herself embarking on a new career in television. While she endeavours to navigate this fast-paced and occasionally bewildering industry, her lover John takes up a post working with a pair of unusual scientists. Yet in Frederica’s home county of Yorkshire, tumultuous events are unfolding. Soon her future, and that of the people closest to her, begins to look rather different.

The fourth Frederica Potter novel.

Cover illustration © Aitch

©2019 A. S. Byatt (P)2019 Audible, Ltd City Life Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Urban Women's Fiction
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THIS WAS A NOSTALGIC, AS WELL AS A COMPELLING, READ OF A PERIOD WHEN STUDENT POLITICS AND DISAFFECTION WITH THE GOVERNING CLASS, PARTICULARLY THEIR ALPHA MALES, WAS ALSO PART OF MY OWN AGENDA AT THAT TIME.
IT'S A BRILLIANT PORTRAYAL NOT ONLY OF THE PEOPLE , ESPECIALLY THE THINKERS AND MOVERS AND SHAKERS OF THAT PERIOD, BUT ALSO A COMPREHENSIVE HISTORY OF THE PERIOD'S INTELLECTUAL MOVEMENTS.
I FOUND IT A VERY COMPLEX LISTEN, AND NEEDED TO CONSULT A LIBRARY BOOK VERSIONREQUENTLY AS A WAY OF ABSORBING THE PHILOSOPHICAL AND SCIE NTIFIC THEORIES I WAS REENCOUNTERING. I ENJOYED THE VOICE AND PRESENTATIONAL STYLE OF THE NARRATOR WHO WOVE HER WAY THROUGH A COMPLEX TEXT BEAUTIFULLY.

BACK TO THE FUTURE?

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Frederika Potter's final episode is perhaps the most satisfying yet. Her stellar career is brilliantly lit by an aurora of accompanying characters exploring everything from the reproductive science of snails to sexual liberation. Academia is challenged by student rebellion, spirituality
by schizophrenia, psychedelia and terrifying group dynamics. Byatt balances fast paced plot development with her usual
panoply of intellectual themes, delightfully entwined fantasy story-telling, and the humanity of her leading characters, each of whom is lovingly attributed a fitting conclusion. Sophie Aldred breaths life into every character with mesmerising, pitch perfect acuity.

A Brilliant Conclusion

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Sadly this entire book was rather droll. the very first and only time that I am disappointed with the ordinarily exceptional work of A S Byatt.

a rather poor conclusion

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