Precious Bane cover art

Precious Bane

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Precious Bane

By: Mary Webb
Narrated by: Maureen O'Sullivan, Dan O'Herlihy
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About this listen

Set in rural Shropshire shortly after the Napoleonic Wars, Precious Bane is narrated by the central character, Prue Sarn, whose life is blighted by having a harelip. Only the weaver, Kester Woodseaves, perceives the beauty of her character, but Prue cannot believe herself worthy of him. Her brother, Gideon, is overridingly ambitious to attain wealth and power, regardless of who suffers while he does so.

Gideon is set to wed his sweetheart, Jancis, but he incurs the wrath of her father, the cruel and scheming self-proclaimed wizard Beguildy. An act of vengeance by Beguildy makes Gideon reject Jancis and tragedy overwhelms them both. Prue is wrongly accused of murder and set upon by a mob, but Kester defies them and carries Prue away to the happiness she believed she could never possess because of her harelip.

Public Domain (P)2010 Saland Publishing Classics

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All stars
Most relevant
I thought I was going to hear a reading of the book - not a dramatised version. A wonderful classic spoiled by a poor very much reduced version. waste of money.

Disappointing

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1940s soundtrack music, cheesy songs and a cast of characters who have never been anywhere near Shropshire.

All rather odd.

What on earth have I just listened to?

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Very disappointed with this title. Really disliked the dramatic performances. I was expecting a narration. I would have given zero stars for the above 3 categories but was unable to do so.

Book? Sounded more like an audio track of a film

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Loved it, slightly difficult to read in places but enjoyed the story & the dialogue.

loved it , slightly difficult to read in places.

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