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The King's Concubine

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About this listen

 A Sunday Times Bestseller England’s Forgotten Queens

‘O’Brien cleverly intertwines the personal and political in this enjoyable, gripping tale.’
The Times

Philippa of Hainault selects a young orphan from a convent. Alice Perrers, a girl born with nothing but ambition. The Queen has a role waiting for her at court.

‘I have lifted you from nothing Alice. Now you repay me.’

Led down the corridors of the royal palace, the young virgin is secretly delivered to King Edward III – to perform the wifely duties of which ailing Philippa is no longer capable. Power has a price, and Alice Perrers will pay it.

Mistress to the King. Confidante of the Queen. Whore to the court.

Her fate is double edged; loved by the majesties, ostracised by her peers. Alice must balance her future with care as her star begins to rise – the despised concubine is not untouchable. Politics and pillow talk are dangerous bedfellows.

The fading great King wants her in his bed. Her enemies want her banished. One mistake and Alice will face a threat worse than any malicious whispers of the past.

Praise for Anne O’Brien

‘O’Brien cleverly intertwines the personal and political in this enjoyable, gripping tale.’
- The Times

‘A gem of a subject … O’Brien is a terrific storyteller’
- Daily Telegraph

‘Joanna of Navarre is the feisty heroine in Anne O’Brien’s fast-paced historical novel The Queen’s Choice.’
-Good Housekeeping

‘A gripping story of love, heartache and political intrigue.’
-Woman & Home

‘Packed with drama, danger, romance and history.’
-Pam Norfolk, for the Press Association

‘Better than Philippa Gregory’ – The Bookseller

‘Anne O’Brien has joined the exclusive club of excellent historical novelists.’ – Sunday Express

‘A gripping historical drama.’
-Bella

www.anneobrien.co.uk
@anne_obrien

 Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Historical Fiction Political Romance Royalty Women's Fiction Marriage Middle Ages
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Sophie Aldred gives a magnificent performance, you'd almost think there was a full cast sometimes, her voices are so vivid!

Anne O'brien succeeds in making a rather unsympathetic protagonist still capture the reader's imagination, and by the end you're willing her on, even though her self sabotage.

I'll admit to a few tears here and there too.

Fantastic

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Would you consider the audio edition of The King's Concubine to be better than the print version?

The reader was brilliant...her voice really added to the story and the characters came alive.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The King's Concubine?

I loved the way the reader portrayed Alice’s voice. She made their seem so young and vulnerable, yet at the same time you knew that this girl could take control.

Which character – as performed by Sophie Aldred – was your favourite?

Alice,

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, I read it on a beach in the Maldives while sun bathing over a week.

Fantastic read

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love this book as well as all of Anne O'Brien books the narrator is very clever with her accents for different characters

Anne O'Brien

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Beautiful. audio hopes I enjoyed this I more than enjoyed beautifully read I was there i in the hallss scorning mistress peeres , cursing her enermies willing her and championing for her fourtnues I will be reading her books again and hoping I get this reader

Beautiful 😍 wished I listened with my robes and wine 🍷

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A brilliant story telling a rarely heard take - and well read by the narrator.

Thoroughly enjoyable

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