brilliant alternative to the usual narrative

although I admire Phillipa's enthusiasm for her book, the narration was very sticato and didn't flow. it was interesting content but I took regular breaks to get my head around the information. not enough enthusiasm translated into her voice - monotone and difficult to process in large chunks.

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Odd Narration

I was drawn to this after watching the Channel 4 documentary and the fact that I really enjoyed The Lost King, which showed the authors outstanding knowledge and passion on the subject. Unfortunately, as many have mentioned the narration is odd to say the least. I have stuck with it and interestingly, if you set the speed to 1.2, it is vastly improved, almost as if it the original is at the wrong speed. If you can stick with it and you are interested in this period, it is well worth listening.

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Mistake having the author as narrator

I'm sure the content in this book is well researched and fascinating but I just can't listen as the author's diction is unbearable.

She often sounds like she's forgotten where she is on the page, and thinks the middle of the sentence is the end.

Maybe I'll pick up a copy from the library to read as I watched the documentary on C4 and listened to the Gone Medieval podcast about the Princes, but unless this is rerecorded with a more experienced narrator, I cannot listen again.

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2 people found this helpful

How to make exciting historical research boring.

Agree with others. The speed re-setting to 1.2 helps but oh dear Philippa, your voice is just so monotone. Clear and a nice tone but it doesn't colour the story at all and it's so so hard to get your head around what you are saying - particularly as there are lots of Richards, Edwards, Elizabeths etc ... Horses for Courses - you are an enthusiastic and energetic researcher ... but not an actor.

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awful narration

I'm sure the story would be interesting if it was narrated by someone else. Totally ruined by the dull drab voice. Can't listen to it

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Ruined by terrible narration.

Oh dear! I really wanted to enjoy this book but the terrible narration by the author ruined the experience. At times Ms Langley seemed to be reading from a police notebook, sometimes confused and by ch26 almost bored. I persevered as I wanted to see where the solving of this 'cold case' went but it's time I'll never get back. I hope the book is a better read.

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Why would you do that?

This could have been really interesting. However, the narration kills it stone dead. It’s so stilted. Every sentence broken up in strange ways. There are actors. They train. They know how to emphasise and colour words, spend the money on those actors to read the book. This was unlistenable. A waste of a credit.

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Outstanding

Attention to detail, informative, well paced delivery, breadth of reporting, well structured, honesty. A damn good read.

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Immensely frustrating

It is understandable when authors narrate, and it can work. Expense may prohibit employing a professional (and doesn’t always work). Or the author may feel that their closeness to the text will result in a richer narration.

All credit to the author for writing what I’m sure is a valuable work of historical detection and a valuable addition to the historical record.

But British history is insanely complicated in this period. The subject is fascinating but dense, plus everyone seems to have the same name and the cast of characters expands exponentially. There is much to unpack. The listener needs help to understand who is doing what, when, where and why.

Sadly, slow delivery doesn’t equal clarity. The sincere monotone makes it impossible to distinguish individual facts and selecting 1.2 doesn’t solve this. Despite genuine enthusiasm and pushing past the warnings, defeated at chapter three.

One to read rather than listen to.

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3 people found this helpful

Inspiring

This book is packed with facts, all clearly explained, and sets out clearly a situation from the past which has long been simply confusing.
What actually hap[pened to the two young 'princes' in the Tower in the 1460s is finally - at least partially - explained.
Even for those who are convinced the boys were murdered by Richard III, this book goes a long way towards explaining matters depending on genuine documentation.
Where no proof or documentation exists, both sides are set forwards ( as far as can be ) and then logic is added as a tool, such as used in law courts.
The writing is brilliant as is the narration (both Philippa Langley's excellence) and anyone interested in this subject, even mildly so, will find enormous clarity and help here. The book is frankly fascinating.
Solid proof is not, perhaps, yet at 100%, but this book certainly brings the probability of the boys' survival to a fair 85%, and perhaps more.
The assumption of their murder is herewith banished, since that proof, even the supposition, shrinks to Zero.
I recommend this book, totally authentic in all it documented and serious research, as the most valuable and informative work so far presented on the subject.
,

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1 person found this helpful