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The Colour

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About this listen

 Shortlisted for the Orange prize for Fiction, 2004.

Joseph and Harriet Blackstone emigrate from Norfolk to New Zealand in search of new beginnings and prosperity. But the harsh land near Christchurch where they settle threatens to destroy them almost before they begin. When Joseph finds gold in the creek he is seized by a rapturous obsession with the voluptuous riches awaiting him deep in the earth. Abandoning his farm and family, he sets off alone for the new gold-fields over the Southern Alps, a moral wilderness where many others, under the seductive dreams of "the colour", are violently rushing to their destinies. By turns both moving and terrifying, it is a story of the quest for the impossible, an attempt to mine the complexities of love and in the process discover the sacrifices to be made in the pursuit of happiness.

©2003 Rose Tremain (P)2014 Audible, Inc. Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Heartfelt

Critic reviews

"The sense of period is forcefully conveyed....Her new level of ambition makes it perhaps the author's most important book yet." (Amazon.co.uk)
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A wonderful novel - full of historical detail, interesting characters, sensual and beautifully written. I didn’t want it to end! Eleanor Bron performs it perfectly; her voice is a pleasure to listen to. My only criticism is the suddenness of some of the ‘cutting’ of the chapter headings (no space between the chapters at times) and the speed of Audible’s interruption at the end of the book which doesn’t do justice to Miss Bron’s elegant reading but I highly recommend this production.

A Beautiful Story

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A wonderful book, beautifully written and read. I have read all of Rose Tremaine's books this one is my favourite. Parts of the South Island are still remote and wild she described the places extremely well.

First class narration

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I wanted to read this as soon as I read the blurb - New Zealand, where I have spent many years, and Norfolk, where I am from... unfortunately it didn't quite hit the mark for me. It wasn't bad at all, and shows how hard life was, and how the 'gold fever' could take hold like an obsession. But it isn't a satisfying story. Joseph is awful, and Harriet despite being a strong woman and knowing how awful he is, keeps giving him everything. I was gutted he ended where he does.
Also, like everyone else says, the editing it shocking and ruined the ending for me (even more so).

Good story but very melancholy

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Would you listen to The Colour again? Why?

Yes. A fascinating story with so many twists and turns. It really painted pictures. I couldn't stop listening to it. I am sure I will read it again one day.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Colour?

So many. When the house was destroyed, the donkey died, she found the gold, met the chinaman and gave birth to her son.

What does Eleanor Bron bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

She read it beautifully and brought it to life.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I didn't make me laugh or cry but I found it quite emotional many times.

Any additional comments?

A must read. I have been telling everyone how fantastic it is.

Best book I have read in a long time

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It was dull apart from the relationship between the young boy and his indigenous friend. The rest of it was plodding and I didn't care about any of the characters much.

Dull and frankly preposterous

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