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The Bottle Factory Outing

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The Bottle Factory Outing

By: Beryl Bainbridge
Narrated by: Imogen Church
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The Bottle Factory Outing follows Freda and Brenda, who work together in an Italian-run wine-bottling factory. A work outing becomes a pivotal moment that promises different experiences for each woman: excitement for Freda and apprehension for Brenda. The intense emotions of that chilly day of freedom fundamentally alter their lives, ensuring nothing will return to its previous state.

Inspired by author Beryl Bainbridge's personal experiences working at a London wine-factory in the 1970s, the novel deeply explores themes of friendship and consent, rendering the narrative remarkably timely and relevant.

©1974 The Estate of Beryl Bainbridge (P)2025 Soundings Crime Fiction Friendship Genre Fiction
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This is a kitchen sink drama that suddenly turns into a murder mystery. The prose is masterful but I felt the plot was too weak to be believable. Maybe it wasn’t even supposed to be a plot. Not a classic for me despite the accolades. But the narrator is marvellous, probably the best part of the whole thing.

Excellent narration, weak story

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