The Bookshop, the Draper, the Candlestick Maker cover art

The Bookshop, the Draper, the Candlestick Maker

A History of the High Street

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The Bookshop, the Draper, the Candlestick Maker

By: Annie Gray
Narrated by: Annie Gray
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About this listen

Bustling with rich detail, historical vignettes and surprising wares, this is the story of Britain's best-loved but ever-changing public spaces.

What makes a high street?

It's certainly not just about the shopping; these thoroughfares are often the beating heart of our towns and cities and, by extension, of the people who use them. As spaces where local life and culture unfolds, our high streets can be playgrounds of personal indulgence and community spirit, or sites of contentious debate and politicking.

Historian Annie Gray takes us down the street and through the ages, from medieval marketplaces to the purpose-built concrete precincts of the 20th century. Peeping through the windows of tailors, tearooms and grocers, we explore everything from the toyshops of yesteryear - where curiosities were sold for adults, not children - to the birth of brands we shop at today.

©2024 Annie Gray (P)2025 Soundings Architecture

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All stars
Most relevant
I was lucky enough to meet Dr Annie Gray at Ipswich Book Festival and she was as charming and interesting and she sounds in this book. Highly recommended

Fabulous book and great reading

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An interesting journey down the High Street throughout history bringing back memories of long forgotten shops ( weren’t Home and Colonial's cold meats the best?)
This book is a very easy listen, excellently narrated by the author, Dr. Annie Gray in her own enthusiastic way.

A walk down memory lane.

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Some interesting info and detail, but the screeching delivery and sudden volume changes - not to mention the author's painful attempts to 'do voices' - made it a hard listen
She should have engaged a professional reader.

OK but spoilt by reader

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Fascinating book spoiled by painful overacting and increasingly ridiculous voices put on by narrator. The ‘performance’ becomes progressively more overblown and ludicrous as the story progresses. Nearly gave up several times as hard to decipher/untangle the actual narrative from the screeching and gurning of the reader…. Exhausting to listen to.

Excellent book ruined by cringeworthy narration

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A history of the High Street drawing on fascinating sources, but spoiled by over-egged, melodramatic narration. I gave up at chapter two.

Great subject, terrible narration

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