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Once Upon a River

The spellbinding Sunday Times bestseller

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Once Upon a River

By: Diane Setterfield
Narrated by: Juliet Stevenson
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Random House presents the audiobook edition of Once Upon a River, written by Diane Setterfield and read by Juliet Stevenson.

THE LONG-AWAITED, SPELLBINDING NEW NOVEL FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE BESTSELLING THE THIRTEENTH TALE, A 'MISTRESS OF THE CRAFT OF STORYTELLING' (Guardian).

A dark midwinter’s night in an ancient inn on the Thames. The regulars are entertaining themselves by telling stories when the door bursts open on an injured stranger. In his arms is the drowned corpse of a little child.

Hours later the dead girl stirs, takes a breath and returns to life.

Is it a miracle?

Is it magic?

Or can it be explained by science?

An exquisitely crafted multi-layered mystery brimming with folklore, suspense and romance, as well as with the urgent scientific curiosity of the Darwinian age, Once Upon a River is as richly atmospheric as Setterfield’s bestseller The Thirteenth Tale.

(c) 2019, Diane Setterfield (P) 2019 Penguin Audio

 Fantasy Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Literary Fiction Magic Mystery Exciting Heartfelt Suspense
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Critic reviews

A story, no matter how cleverly it is structured, lives or dies on the vividness of its characters. Setterfield, a true storyteller, makes us care about all her players in this beguiling novel.
Exploring themes of storytelling, parenthood, science and society on the cusp of change, this is a richly evocative novel.
Diane Setterfield's debut novel, The Thirteenth Tale, came out in 2006 to wide acclaim. She made her mark by delivering her own take on the classic romantic mystery novel, infused with the spirit of Jane Eyre, Rebecca and The Woman in White. Once Upon a River continues to demonstrate her mastery of the Gothic genre in a way that will appeal to modern readers...Setterfield knows how to make the words sing. It is worth taking a journey down the Thames with her.
Once Upon a River is magical, in every which way...it's the power of her storytelling that allows readers to suspend disbelief, and draws them through each tangled, dazzling chapter...This riverine novel has the mood and feel of a ghost story told late into the night, and will win over readers who enjoy a touch of age-old enchantment.
I was completely spellbound by this book. Numerous strands of the same story are skilfully woven into a magical web from which I, as a reader, had no desire to escape. Setterfield’s prose is beautiful, dark and eerily atmospheric, and her rich cast of characters convincingly illustrate the best and worst of humanity. Utterly brilliant! (Ruth Hogan,bestselling author of The Keeper of Lost Things)
Once Upon a River is one of the most pleasurable and satisfying new books I've read in a long time. Setterfield is a master storyteller, her language flowing with a dark magic very like the river at the heart of her tale: swift and entrancing, profound and beautiful. Give yourself a treat and read it! (Madeline Miller,Orange Prize-winning author of The Song of Achilles and Circe)
I so didn't want to leave the world of Once Upon a River but now I have and I'm bereft of the company of country folk and river spirits. This charming story about stories and the mystery of life & death captured my heart. A truly extraordinary book. (Dinah Jefferies)
Her characters are so vivid, one feels as though one has met them, spent an evening in their company, telling stories around the hearth...Setterfield is a master storyteller herself, giving us all the depth and plot and richness of the great narrative novelists. This is dazzling, alive, all-consumer writing: one reads each page greedily, the beautiful sentences shining like jewels under the pulling current of the tale itself.
A satisfying, thickly characterised tale that plunges you into an evocatively realised historical setting. You care for its characters.
A finely drawn cast and bravura storytellling.
All stars
Most relevant
I stumbled onto this book by accident. I was getting tired of books being recommended for me based on my listening history, so I went rouge, searching through books I never usually seek out and saw this. The great reviews convinced me to try it and....
What a delight! The story was so well crafted, so unusual and magical that the book i had hoped would keep me occupied for a week or so, was devoured in two days between work and real life!

Juliet Stevenson was superb. The perfect storyteller.

My only sadness is that the Thirteenth tale by the same author, is not available for purchase as an audible book in my country and already I am feeling bereft of a good audio book!

Would totally recommend.

Delightful!

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Have your parents ever read you a bed time story? Not a quick one, but a book that they read at their leisure, over many evenings, while you were either tucked in your bed or snuggling up with them by a fireplace. Remember the feeling of comfort and closeness? This is such a story, it comforts you and takes you away and when it's over you are left with a warm and cosy feeling. Lovely story brilliantly narrated, just at the right pace, it was perfect

who doesn't like a good story?

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The first few chapters lay the groundwork and the real story starts when they start to interweave. A brilliant story based around storytelling and read by the greatest narrator that I have ever come across - and I've listened to hundreds of audiobooks.

Outstanding interweaving of stories

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An excellently thought out mystery and very well narrated. The tale was gripping and I got involved with all of the characters and would recommend it to all who eenjoy mystery stories.

enjoyable story

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A complete delight from start to finish. Diane Setterfield is a master story-teller, weaver of words, creator of time and place and conjurer of atmosphere. The tale and its sublime narration by Juliet Stevenson usher you so completely into the world of the river that it's almost a shock to realise you don't actually inhabit it yourself. Had the ending not been so carefully and sensitively crafted (don't miss the author's note at the end!) I'd be feeling completely bereft and forlorn now that I've finished the book, but the author wrapped everything up so beautifully and beguilingly, that I can carry the whole thing with me, back into the harsh realities of the here and now and still bask in its wisdom, kindness and beauty. I shall often go and search out the banks of a river and dip back into the experience of reading this gem. A six star audiobook if ever there was one.

Completely captivating

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