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The Brandons

A Virago Modern Classic

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About this listen

Lavinia Brandon is quite the loveliest widow in Barsetshire, blessed with beauty and grace as well as two handsome grown-up children, Delia and Francis. So thinks their cousin, Hilary Grant, when he comes to stay and - like many before him - promptly falls for his fragrant hostess.

Meanwhile the Brandons' ill-tempered dowager aunt is stirring up controversy over her legacy, and Lavinia's attention is further occupied by the challenges of making a match between the vicar and gifted village helpmeet Miss Morris and elegantly deterring her lovestruck suitors.

Angela Thirkell's 1930s comedy is bright, witty and winning.

©2016 Angela Thirkell (P)2016 Hachette Audio UK Classics Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Witty
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If you fancy a dose of completely un-taxing, stress-free fiction, try this. It all seems like light and frothy nonsense - and yet it does also shine a gentle light on some aspects of English Upper Middle Class life in this era (1930s) versus their servants/the Lower Classes. It is gentle satire, really. Lots of lovely domestic details too which I like; you feel as if you are at the tea parties, picnics and outings.

It is mildly funny, except the fun-fare scene at the church fete which is - I hope deliberately -hysterical. It might just be my mind...

Well read - the narrator hams it up when needed, is good at mens' voices and has a great range of characters.

Very enjoyable antidote to 2017.

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Once it got going I found it quite enjoyable.
Would I read another of this author's books not sure.

Took while to get going.

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The plot is slight and the characters more predictable than usual. There is casual racism and snobbery but I suspect these were part of middlclass English thoughts and behavior throughout the early decades of the 20 Centry. Useful for historians.

An interesting period piecebut not my favourite

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This was proof that a great narrator takes a good novel to a whole other level!

Great narrator, lovely comforting story

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This book is a lovely place to be. I would like to stay there forever. The only sad part is when you have to close the book and return to the modern world. Jilly Bond is a fantastic narrator; she brings all the characters to life and brilliantly performs all the voices – both male and female. The sound quality is also excellent, clear and loud throughout.

Perfect

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