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The Heart of the Dales
- Narrated by: Gevase Phinn
- Length: 13 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Education & Learning, Education
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I loved this book
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Help with the ironing.
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Newly qualified teacher Tom Dwyer has been given his first post in Risingdale, a sleepy little village at the very top of the Yorkshire Dales. Unsure if he'll ever fit into this close-knit community, Tom joins a motley staff at the village school. With pupils who know more about sheep than they do arithmetic, Tom has his work cut out for him. Add to that an altercation with the beautiful but stand-offish Miss Janette Fairborn and an argument with the local squire's son, and Tom's first term proves a baptism of fire.
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Summer has arrived in Barton-in-the-Dale and as a new term begins at the little primary school, it's not just the warm weather that's getting people hot under the collar. Meetings with the teachers from Urebank School to discuss the merger are producing more than a few fireworks, a disruptive new pupil arrives, set to cause trouble, and a surprising staff love affair is exposed.
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Summary
Gervase Phinn’s colourful characters have now become firm favourites – the mostly mad staff at County Hall and the children themselves, who find ways of embarrassing the school inspectors with innocent ease. We reconvene with Christine Bentley, head teacher of Winnery Nook School and now Gervase’s wife and mother of their son; the well-named Mrs Savage and not forgetting the Queen of the Clean – Connie. Phinn’s latest instalment to the Dale Series is heartwarming, wry and delightful.
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What listeners say about The Heart of the Dales
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall
- Ann Watson
- 13-04-13
Nostalgia!
As a teacher in Doncaster in the 70s and 80s, I fought against buying this book for a long time (as I didn't have a lot of time for school inspectors), but I am so glad I succumbed. I related to so many of the school stories and his narration and his Yorkshire accent make Gervase's books a delight for me, a proud Yorkshire lass, and bring back memories of the happy years I spent in teaching. There are many laugh out loud moments and memorable characters, especially Mrs B and Mrs Savage, the fellow inspectors and, of course, the forthright and direct children from whom nothing can be hid.
6 people found this helpful
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- Mervyn Neal
- 26-04-19
A Great listen
This is a very humorous and heartwarming listen. I can't wait to listen to more from Gervais .
1 person found this helpful
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- C J I
- 23-12-21
dales story, brilliant
lived it, listen on way and back from work, and is an easy listen that makes you smile and sometimes laugh out loud.
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- Amazon Customer
- 24-11-21
A wonderful story.
I loved this audiobook. so evocative and atmospheric of a bygone age and of God's own country. The author is a wonderful narrator. Not my first and won't be my last audiobook by this author.
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- Carole
- 12-07-21
Life at its best
Fantastic book the younger generation are amazing and so is the writing of Gervasa Phinn
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- Sheila C
- 01-03-20
Enjoyed every minute!
Superb narration .... As a retired teacher , I found it so easy to identify with the characters.... and so many memories came tumbling back.
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- Customer
- 29-02-20
loved it
Very enjoyable and well read by the author. Captures Yorkshire with light humour and astute observation. Highly recommend
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- Allotmenteer
- 17-05-19
humourous tales of life in the Dales
A great narration of life in the Yorkshire Dales, Gervaise is a natural performer. very easy listening.
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- Ms. E. J. Baker
- 24-02-19
Just Wonderful in every respect
I have past family roots in Yorkshire and I love it; the plain speaking no nonsense attitudes are Yorkshire and is the language of of the locality. I read the earlier Gervaise books before he was married, loved them and knew this book would not disappoint. I was not as a child really wanted and blessed with love, and I find him incredibly sensitive to those situations and those sad children who are latchkey and pretty much uncared about. As a teacher and a father I can imagine he was truly marvellous with children whatever their age or their background, and it is a gift that very few people are blessed with but can nevertheless be spotted straight away when it is there. The book is extremely funny, yet the humour is clever and gentle and the characters are truly marvellous. His words are pictures, his writing is like a canvas, I can visualise so clearly what these people were like, the scenes, schools, buildings, countryside everywhere and his intelligence although sparkling and clearly evident at all times, is never ever patronising or condescending. He provides the material, your mind then creates the illustration. His narration of all of these elements of story is just perfect. I know this will be one of my most listened to books. Totally recommended.
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- J. Baldwin
- 08-08-18
Excellent
As always a great read, read by the author. Laugh out loud moments. Love these books.