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The Hand That First Held Mine

The Award-Winning Sunday Times Bestseller from the Author of Hamnet

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The Hand That First Held Mine

By: Maggie O'Farrell
Narrated by: Samantha Bond
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Summary

 Winner of the 2010 Costa Novel Award, THE HAND THAT FIRST HELD MINE is a gorgeously written story of love and motherhood, a tour de force from one of our best loved novelists.

When the bohemian, sophisticated Innes Kent turns up by chance on her doorstep, Lexie Sinclair realises she cannot wait any longer for her life to begin, and leaves for London. There, at the heart of the 1950s Soho art scene, she carves out a new life for herself, with Innes at her side. In the present day, Elina and Ted are reeling from the difficult birth of their first child. Elina, a painter, struggles to reconcile the demands of motherhood with sense of herself as an artist, and Ted is disturbed by memories of his own childhood, memories that don't tally with his parents' version of events. As Ted begins to search for answers, so an extraordinary portrait of two women is revealed, separated by fifty years, but connected in ways that neither could ever have expected.

(P)2010 Headline Digital©2010 Maggie O'Farrell Family Life Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Women's Fiction Emotions
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Critic reviews

O'Farrell has a remarkable ability to convey the texture of human emotion with precision... she also demonstrates a masterful gift for storytelling
Like Daphne du Maurier before her, Maggie O'Farrell writes books designed to stir up the female subconscious and bring our most primal fears to the surface...this book will leave your stomach in knots
This story is elegant, poetic and tenderly written. The characters are so well-written you feel as if they are sat next to you, telling you their stories... a beautiful read
O'Farrell is a skilful, impassioned writer...engaging and fluent
Genuinely unputdownable...evidence of her place as one of Britain's most engaging contemporary novelists
'O'Farrell has a remarkable ability to convey the texture of human emotion with precision'
'Like Daphne du Maurier...O'Farrell writes books designed to...bring our most primal fears to the surface'
'O'Farrell is a skilful, impassioned writer...engaging and fluent'
'Genuinely unputdownable...evidence of her place as one of Britain's most engaging contemporary novelists'
All stars
Most relevant
A totally absorbing tale of motherhood. I cried and smiled. The juxtaposition between the two families was fascinating and I did work out the relationship. Beautifully written and narrated.

A wonderful listen

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I know you are a professional and by now quite used to gushing reviews from your readers/listeners, but.....
You are so bloody good ! That ending was sublime. The story quite complicated until you worked your magic.
Samantha Bond, quite amazing.
Thank you both.

Dear Maggie

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Excellent narration.
Very different genre to The Marriage Portrait!
Good story.
Right, what’s next then?!

Enjoyable hadn’t realised this was abridged

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This book was so beautifully read by Samantha Bond that I felt part of it. As a mother myself & having worked as a midwife & health visitor, Maggie O’Farrell’s descriptions of the responsibilities of having a new baby to care for, particularly after a difficult birth experience are crafted to perfection. How she weaves the lives of the main characters together is addictive as you gradually realise how the relationships have evolved. I loved this book & became totally immersed in the narrative.

Brought to life by Samantha Bond’s narration

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Samantha Bond is a brilliant narrator, as you would expect from such an actor. I recognised one line in the story lifted from "The L-shaped Room", the midwife's comment at the birth.

Consummate narration

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