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Pig Iron
- Narrated by: Ralph Ineson
- Length: 7 hrs and 16 mins
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Pig Iron
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Summary
Bloomsbury presents Pig Iron by Benjamin Myers, read by Ralph Ineson.
Winner of The Gordon Burn Prize
An unflinching portrait of contemporary Traveller culture by the award-winning author of The Gallows Pole.
John-John wants to escape his past. But the legacy of brutality left by his boxer father, King of the Gypsies, Mac Wisdom, overshadows his life. His new job as an ice cream man should offer freedom but instead pulls him into the dark recesses of a northern town where his family name is mud. When he attempts to trade prejudice and parole officers for the solace of the rural landscape, Mac’s bloody downfall threatens John-John’s very survival.
Critic reviews
"Pig Iron is an important book because it tells a story that has shaped all contemporary Western humans, but is routinely, inexplicably overlooked - the great move from agricultural life to industrial life. The respect in which that shapes human culture and individual humans." (Judge Deborah Orr)
"His poetic vernacular brims with that quality most sadly lost - humanity." (Guardian)
"One of my best reads this year... A deeply rural story, a book full of passion for the English countryside and centred on the conflict between the travelling and the settled community. A very fine read indeed, it expresses a life view almost never examined in our narrow literary culture." (Melvin Burgess)
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What listeners say about Pig Iron
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Andrea M.
- 12-08-23
The depth of the subtle understanding of parental abuse is outstanding
Such a well written,thoughtful book that looks at abuse as it really is. The gentle erosion of the soul. It has no poor me moments that rarely truly exist in the abused. I found myself nodding in places, rooting for the main character, reliving the sadness of what a hard man of misplaced pride and no family value can do behind closed doors. A father the community sees a hero but the real hero’s are the family. Raw and real
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Tiggerlootoo
- 13-03-23
Outstanding
I loved this book. Couldn’t stop listening to it. Excellent narration. I didn’t want it to end. Tragic at times, cough drop :(
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 13-04-22
Be prepared
This is a gusty rollercoaster of a book. Beautiful and tragic at the same time. I could not put it down. I found the writing compelling and the narration alive, if not a little confusing between characters. Be prepared, this is not for the faint hearted and I had to skip the animal cruelty bits. Don’t let that put you off, it’s fantastic!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Kate Shepherd
- 23-09-20
Loved it!
Loved every moment. I could see everything, even the grim bits. The writer is a genius
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Sheila Shields
- 11-06-20
A massive struggle at times.
Not for the sensitive or faint hearted.
It is extremely upsetting and hard going in parts.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jo Baty
- 08-10-23
Utterly superb
An astonishing book
Ralph Ineson always superb and no exception here
Ripped your heart out
And gave you a glimmer of hope
Must read
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- "the_gentleman_of_the_bush"
- 09-09-20
Dark, Gritty and very Original
I came at this because I wanted to hear Ralph Iverson's narration, which is great, but a little confusing at first. The story flits between two voices and I didn't find the transitions / different voices were clear. However, if you go in knowing that you will more easily be able to appreciate a highly original story. A word of warning to any sensitive types; this is a tough listen, full of dark characters that don't pull any punches- literally!!!
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Janine
- 16-09-23
loved it
perfect narrator, beautiful book, so sad and gritty but has you rooting for Jon jon
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