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Burning Bright

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Burning Bright

By: Tracy Chevalier
Narrated by: Cornelius Garrett
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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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All stars
Most relevant
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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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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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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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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Terrible accents made this an excrutiating listen. I am not sure why I persevered...hope it would improve maybe.
My first exposure to Tracy Chevalier - I felt this was directed at school age children who needed to be inspired to learn some history. Cumbersome and laboured.

Painful

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