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Alvesdon

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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

The village of Alvesdon has been home to the Castells for generations. But the year is 1939 and the peace and tranquillity there is about to be shattered once more by the stormclouds of war in Europe. As three generations of the family gather, they must all face the prospect of their lives being transformed beyond recognition the moment Britain declares war on Germany.

When the inevitable happens and Britain finds itself at war, the younger members of the family and farm workers are called up to fight and those who remain must battle to keep the home fires burning and the farm afloat. The gentle certainties of rural life are replaced by the urgent clamour of war, in the air, at sea and on land, where events unfold with dizzying rapidity and unexpected consequences.

Stretching from the glorious summer of 1939 to the Battle of Britain the following year, acclaimed historian James Holland paints a compelling and immersive fictional portrait of how the war changed everything. For one family and for a community, their way of life can never really be the same again…

©2024 James Holland (P)2024 Penguin Audio

 20th Century Family Life Genre Fiction Historical Historical Fiction War Village
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Had to return the book about 25 mins in as I couldn’t deal with the narrator. Her voice grates, really annoying. Shame as I love James Holland books. I’ll buy a print version of this instead.

Poor narration

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This is by far the best novel by James Holland I have read. Hopefully, this deeply humane and moving account of a farming family in wartime will be continued to cover the later years of the conflict.

Beautifully read too!

Touching Wartime Saga

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Not up to his usually high standards the story line although interesting is sickly and happy ever after.
We all know it wasn’t like that.

Disappointing

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I was unsure if I would like this book at is not my usual book I would listen to. But I really enjoyed it, gripping story and character. Very well performed, I hope this is a start of a series?.

A interesting take on a war time story

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Loved this. Reminded me of Leslie Thomas’ ‘Dearest & the Best’ and James’ previous ‘The Burning Blue’.

Really felt invested in the family and setting, you can clearly see James’ love and knowledge of where he lives.

His breadth of family strands, from Royal Navy, RAF, Army and the corridors of power are engaging and fascinating in equal measure but the challenges of farming at the outbreak of the war are clearly and starkly set out.

The narrator added a charming authenticity and brought the characters to life beautifully. Can’t wait for the next instalment!

Beautifully written sweeping family epic

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