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Burning Bright

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About this listen

London, 1792: The Kellaways move from familiar rural Dorset to the tumult of a cramped, unforgiving city. Against the backdrop of a city jittery over the increasingly bloody French Revolution, a surprising bond forms between Jem, the youngest Kellaway boy, and streetwise Londoner Maggie Butterfield.

Their friendship takes a dramatic turn when they become entangled in the life of their neighbour, the printer, poet and radical, William Blake. He is a guiding spirit as Jem and Maggie navigate the unpredictable, exhilarating passage from innocence to experience. Their journey influences one of Blake's most entrancing works.

©2007 Tracy Chevalier (P)2014 Audible, Inc. Historical Fiction Fiction
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A long, drawn-out story, but the narrator’s voices were brilliant. It’s a story I didn’t know, and the author added brilliant period atmosphere.

Great narration and interesting subject

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The story of the people who encountered William Blake and who were also an important part of his world. A story of integrity, courage and humility of the everyman. Brought a tear to my eye on several occasions because of the authors ability to endear the reader to the characters who reflect our own humanity.

Tiger Tiger

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Tracy is an excellent writer, and one of the best for historical and literary fiction. Some great characters in this one. The writing style felt reminiscent of Charles Dickens at times, although much more concise. Good narration.

Great story

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I have read several of Tracy Chevalier's books and, while I enjoyed them all, this one would not be my favourite. The story itself was good enough and is about a family who move from the English countryside to London, in part, to leave behind the memories associated with the death of one of the children but mainly to take up a promise made to the father that he would be employed by the owner of a circus - Philip Astley. Their time in London proves both interesting and sometimes hazardous and they eventuially return to the country. I found the voice of the reader grated at times - particularly when he was speaking Philip Astley's words: at one point it sounded like a bad imitation of Winston Churchill. I am sorry to be critical but it was my experience.

Not Her Best Work

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But excruciatingly painful to listen to the reader. It just sounded so wrong when he parroted women’s voices…

Not a bad story

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