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A Life of My Own

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A Life of My Own

By: Claire Tomalin
Narrated by: Penelope Wilton
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Summary

Penguin presents A Life of My Own by Claire Tomalin, read by Dame Penelope Wilton.


As one of the best biographers of her generation, Claire Tomalin has written about great novelists and poets to huge success: now, she turns to look at her own life.

This enthralling memoir follows her through triumph and tragedy in about equal measure, from the disastrous marriage of her parents and the often difficult wartime childhood that followed, to her own marriage to the brilliant young journalist Nicholas Tomalin. When he was killed on assignment as a war correspondent she was left to bring up their four children - and at the same time make her own career.

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Critic reviews

Tomalin knows how to tell a cracking story
A book that radiates intelligence, wit and insight
Tomalin is the nimblest of narrators
Claire Tomalin is the finest and most disinterested of biographers, because in her pages she has given Jane Austen her liberty (Hilary Mantel on 'Jane Austen')
Superb (Nick Hornby on 'Charles Dickens')
Tomalin is a most intelligent and sympathetic biographer... She writes well and wittily
All stars
Most relevant
An amazing life story.
A life full of energy and hard work resulting in an incredible achievement.
So admirable except for the unfortunate amount of name dropping and self aggrandising. Although probably well deserved.
Also rather coy about her own life whilst being very outspoken about others.

Anonymous

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A clear, fluent reading of Tomalin’s work, which I found to be moving and instructive.

Excellent

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It was a privilege to listen to this. I was struck by Ms Tomalin’s strength and intellect. A fascinating account of her interesting life. I loved it.

Fascinating

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What a lovely person you are and it was pure pleasure to listen to your story. I am sorry for the awful tragedies that befell you but thank you for your honesty in including them.
As for any name dropping complaints - ridiculous!
I am a little green though, of your intellect and courage. The sixties was a complicated and difficult time to grow up in.

The only pity was the narration. The wonderful Penelope Wilton sounds rushed and anxious. This lessened towards the end of the book, perhaps because I became used her style or perhaps because she realised she had made it within the alloted time.

Well Hello Claire Tomalin!

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What made the experience of listening to A Life of My Own the most enjoyable?

the extraordinary cast of characters makes for a good read. There being so many famous people among the family's friends, it could all seem a bit show-off-y if it were not for Tomalin's straightforward and trustworthy style.

What did you like best about this story?

the author's steadfastness of propose in bring up a 'disabled' child.

How could the performance have been better?

the narrator's voice is frightfully posh. (I took the trouble to listen to the author herself; she isn't nearly so clipped!)

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

the author is remarkably un-self-pitying, indeed rather generous, especially to the dead!

Any additional comments?

I don't know of another excellent biographer who has such an absorbing autobiography to offer us.

a real name-dropper! - in a good way

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