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Love All

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About this listen

From the bestselling author of the Cazalet Chronicles, Elizabeth Jane Howard, Love All is a heartfelt story of love and adulthood in the 1960s.

'Graceful, moving' – Daily Express


The late 1960s. For Persephone Plover, the daughter of distant and neglectful parents, the innocent, isolated days of childhood are long past. Now she must deal with the emotions of an adult world.

Meanwhile in Melton, in the West Country, Jack Curtis – a self-made millionaire – has employed Persephone's aunt. A garden designer in her sixties, she is to deal with the terraces and glasshouses of the once beautiful local manor house – one that he has acquired at vast expense. He also has plans to start an arts festival, as a means to avoid the loneliness of divorce.

Also in Melton are the Musgrove siblings, Thomas and Mary, whose parents originally owned and lived in Melton House. They are still trying to cope with emotional consequences of the tragic death of Thomas's wife, Celia. As is Francis, Celia's brother, who has come to live with them and thereby, perhaps, to find his way through life.

As Jack's festival comes together, so shall these disparate souls – their relationships intertwining, and their loves transformed.

'Her talent seemed so effervescent, so unstoppable, that there was no predicting where it might take her' – Hilary Mantel, author of Wolf Hall

©2008 Elizabeth Jane Howard; (P)2008 Macmillan Digital Audio
20th Century Classics Contemporary Family Life Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Romance Emotions

Critic reviews

Graceful, moving. . . Howard's elegant prose, keen eye for detail and ability to make the reader care about her characters are second to none.
Her talent seemed so effervescent, so unstoppable, that there was no predicting where it might take her (Hilary Mantel, author of Wolf Hall)
All stars
Most relevant
This takes place in the late 1960s. “Percy” Plover, the daughter of distant parents grows up and has to cope with an adult world. She finds a job with her aunt Florence (who basically raised her and was a surrogate parent) working for Jack Curtis - a self-made millionaire - who wants a garden designer to deal with the terraces and glasshouses of the once beautiful local manor house, which he has acquired and renovated. Recently divorced and desperate to remarry, he also wants to start an arts festival. Then there are the Musgrove siblings, Thomas and Mary - whose parents originally owned and lived in Melton House - they are trying to cope with the car crash death of Thomas's wife, Celia...as is Francis, Celia's brother and a child. Basically this was ok but with a totally dissatisfying ending where Mary could have found happiness with Jack Curtis, but gives it all up for her depressing undeserving brother. Though beautifully read by Joanna Lumley (which is actually why I bought the book), it is a confusing waste of time. I had trouble figuring out all the personalities and as I said, it didn’t end well—I couldn’t believe it was finished to be honest.

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Delightful and intriguing story of love, loss and possibilities.
The characters are unravelled one by one, each with their own personal traits, which may or may not change the future path of their lives.
The ending left me with a great feeling of sadness.

Compelling

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I love EJH normally. This story had poor character development and a a rather boring and depressing plot!

Not as good as her others....

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Not nearly as good as the Cazalet Chronicles - surprisingly full of cliches. An unsatisfying narrative.

Hmmn

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If you’ve listened to books by Elizabeth Jane Howard before, how does this one compare?

I am very fond of Elizabeth Jane Howard's books and have listened to the others. This is well worth listening to when you have heard the others and want one more, but not the best to try first. The title sums up the ending which is perhaps why I found it less satisfying and and a bit of a downer.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Joanna Lumley?

I adore Joanna Lumley but found the other narrators better for EJH's style.

not a very good writer's best

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