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The Irresistible Inheritance Of Wilberforce

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The Irresistible Inheritance Of Wilberforce

By: Paul Torday
Narrated by: David Rintoul
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About this listen

 Late one summer evening, Wilberforce - rich, young, and work-obsessed - makes a detour on his way home to the vast undercroft of Caerlyon Hall, and the domain of Francis Black, a place where wine, hospitality and affection flow freely.

Through Francis, Wilberforce is initiated into a life rich in the promise of friendship and adventure, where, through his new set of friends, the possibility of finding acceptance, and even falling in love, seems finally to be within his reach.

Wilberforce becomes a willing pupil to Francis, and in the cellars of Caerlyon he nurtures a new-found passion for wine. But even the finest wine can leave a bitter aftertaste, and Wilberforce will learn the undercroft's unpalatable secrets, and that passion comes at a price ...

Read by David Rintoul

(p) 2008 Orion Publishing Group©2008 Paul Torday Friendship Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Literature & Fiction Mental Health Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Relationships

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Critic reviews

Exceptionally accomplished.. second novels are notoriously difficult to pull off but Torday has managed a near masterpiece
The whole book is delightfully written...Paul Torday is a remarkably original novelist
Grows more and more poignant as the novel progresses.. satisfyingly full-bodied and slips down a treat
Remarkably, given the bleakness of both subject and hero, it is an incredibly good read
What makes us want to find out about Wilberforce is Torday's wonderful prose - the same simple, clear writing that made Salmon Fishing so readable
He has a good feeling for character and a sly sense of humour
A well-told tale...Torday wryly observes Wilberforce's descent
Telling the story back-to-front allows Torday to highlight Wilberforce's self-delusion; he's that familiar figure, the alcoholic who pretends that he's merely a connoisseur
Torday's confidence in his story's power to command attention is not misplaced...Wilberforce is well worth sampling
A heart-wrenching tale of alcoholism and a lonely man's search for identity...a mesmerising page-turner
[The plot] provides Torday with copious opportunities for comedy, which he readily exploits. But there is a serious undertone
Slips down a treat
All stars
Most relevant
A challenging read as you're stuck in the mixed-up head of a very unsympathetic protagonist. We actively join Wilberforce as he descends the slippery slope and it's a fascinating glimpse into an addictive mindset.

Nothing quite like it

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Such a good story, I felt I could even taste the wine at times. i definitely would recommend this book

Loved this book.

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