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The Lie

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The Lie

By: Helen Dunmore
Narrated by: Darren Benedict
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Summary

Set during and just after the First World War, The Lie is an enthralling, heart-wrenching novel of love, memory and devastating loss.

Cornwall, 1920: A young man stands on a headland, looking out to sea. He is back from the war, homeless and without family. Behind him lies the terror of the trenches. Behind him is also the most intense relationship of his life. Daniel has survived, but will he ever be able to escape the terrible, unforeseen consequences of a lie?

©2014 Helen Dunmore (P)2014 W F Howes Ltd 20th Century Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Romance War & Military War Tear-jerking Military
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Critic reviews

"Never striking a false note, The Lie is one of those rare and arresting novels that make you think and feel with greater lucidity." ( Daily Telegraph)
"An electrifying and original talent" ( Guardian)
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What a shame this book was ruined by the narrator. Not only did he mispronounce many common words - "barrage" and "hearth" being just two examples of dozens - he also read sentences with completely wrong emphasis, indicating that he had no idea what the sentence was about. I stuck it out only because of the marvellous Dunmore writing.

Great book, terrible reader

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Despite The many aspersions thrown against the narrator I enjoyed
His performance he empathised and was able to bring to the surface the strong currents of emotion that runs through this book not with fireworks and bravado but tacitly and figuratively for the most part he was acting on the line and played the text. Helen Dunmore is first class does not disappoint breathtaking

The Lie

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Would you consider the audio edition of The Lie to be better than the print version?

i can't answer because i haven't read the printed version

What other book might you compare The Lie to, and why?

not sure, the description of the landscape reminded me of some daphne dumauier books

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

the narration was wonderfully paced and he brought real emotion to the charcters

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

very sad but made you smile too

so sad

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A very moving book about a discharged WW1 soldier struggling to cope with postwar life and the psychological impact of the horrors of trench warfare.

Brilliant portrayal of the shell shock and grief wrought by WW1

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Beautiful
Poignant
Captivating
Long lasting
I read this annually now.


My favourite book of all time.

Every time I read this the ending makes me sob.

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