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Common People

The History of an English Family

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Common People

By: Alison Light
Narrated by: Caroline Laskowska
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About this listen

Penguin presents the unabridged, downloadable, audiobook edition of Common People: The History of An English Family by Alison Light, read by Caroline Laskowska.

Family history is a massive phenomenon of our times but what are we after when we go in search of our ancestors? Beginning with her grandparents, Alison Light moves between the present and the past, in an extraordinary series of journeys over two centuries, across Britain and beyond.

Epic in scope and deep in feeling, Common People is a family history but also a new kind of public history, following the lives of the migrants who travelled the country looking for work. Original and eloquent, it is a timely rethinking of who the English were - but ultimately it reflects on history itself, and on our constant need to know who went before us and what we owe them.

©2015 Alison Light (P)2015 Penguin Audio Aging Parents Europe Great Britain Parenting & Families Relationships
All stars
Most relevant
Great read for anyone into family history or genealogy.
This shows the ups and downs of an ordinary working class family ; some who do a little better, others who are in and out of the workhouse due to lack of work , illness & death of the wage earner. Sensitively read & full of interesting facts about sailors, artisan trades & church attendance through the centuries in Portsmouth area UK
Highly recommend for anyone interested in history & especially family history.

Family history through the ages

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Some parts I loved other parts failed to hold my attention. I ended up not understanding the tenuous link between the family tree and the vast deviation in material.

mixed feelings about this book

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A really interesting listen but quite hard to follow without a visual family tree to refer back to!

Interesting

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lighting up English social history through Alison Light's generations of family. irresistibly interesting. Great listen!

fabulous family history

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