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  • The Scandalous Duchess

  • By: Anne O'Brien
  • Narrated by: Lucy Paterson
  • Length: 17 hrs and 21 mins
  • 4.1 out of 5 stars (71 ratings)
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The Scandalous Duchess

By: Anne O'Brien
Narrated by: Lucy Paterson
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Summary

If you will be a great man's mistress, you must pay the price....

The Savoy, 1372. Widow Lady Katherine Swynford presents herself for a role in the household of merciless royal prince John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, hoping to end her destitution. But the Duke's scandalous proposition leaves her life of pious integrity reeling....

Seduced by the glare of royal adoration, Katherine becomes John's mistress. She will leave behind everything she has stood for to play second fiddle to his young wife and ruthless ambition. She will live in the shadows of the most powerful man in England in the hope of a love greater than propriety. But soon the court whispers - whore, harlot, vile temptress - reach the ears of not just John's bride but his most dangerous political enemies.

As the Plantagenet prince is accused of bringing England to its knees, who better to blame than shameless she-devil Katherine Swynford? Dragged from the shadows, Katherine must answer for her sins.

©2014 Anne O’Brien (P)2016 HarperCollins Publishers

What listeners say about The Scandalous Duchess

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

The Scandalous Duchess

Whilst I have enjoyed other books by Anne O’Brien is this series, the performance of the narrator, Lucy Patterson, irritated me beyond belief. She mispronounced so many words that it spoiled my enjoyment of the story. For example: “vicitudes” instead vicissitudes, “teremity” twice instead of temerity, “preemptory” instead of peremptory, “milestrom” instead of maelstrom. Also her emphasis of certain syllables in words such as decorous, vituperative and vestige was wrong. I shall not be buying a book which she has narrated again.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Powerful Love

Katherine Swineford holds a special place for me, I read about this amazing love story when I was young and it still moves me to tears. The fact that John of Gaunt never became a king but his Lancastrian son did and their blood through the Beauforts gave rise to the Tudors often makes he think about destiny. This story, so well told and well narrated is a case of heaping pleasure on pleasure. Enter that world of chivalry, and beauty as well as deceit and malice. Experience a glimpse into a by gone age, the beautiful clothes, the hunting as well as a dripping dilapidated manor all brought alive by a great story teller and adept narrator.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Disappointing

Oh dear. First of all it is Anne, not Anna O’Brien. If this story is in any way true, then they deserved each other. I had little sympathy for them. The reading was okay but the words made it seem whiney. I have read many of this author’s books but I was very disappointed and, actually, could not wait for the end.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

I would wait for the movie

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Its such a fascinating period in history and this is such a strong female character that it seemed sucha shame she was left to utter deep sighs and a bit of bodice ripping.

Would you be willing to try another book from Anne O'Brien? Why or why not?

No I was not overly impressed with the writing style sorry!

Would you be willing to try another one of Lucy Paterson’s performances?

No.

Was The Scandalous Duchess worth the listening time?

a reasonable tube ride book.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars

Mills and Boon territory

First up, I can honestly say this author has written some of my favourite books. But this.... this is just mills and boon. Its terrible. I gave it a good chance, but several hours in, no difference. This is only the second ever book I've given up on. A real shame.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Longwinded

Wordy and rather whiny…she does go on and on…nowhere near as taut and well written/read as ‘Katherine’ by Anya Seton who I read many years ago and listened to recently on audible.
Also very little historical essence and background of the tumultuous times…

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Not my favourite by this author

I’m not sure if it was the narrator but I got a bit fed up with the apparent incessant moaning of Katherine Swynford. She’s portrayed very differently than the same author portrayed Alice Perrers who was concubine to the king. I usually love Anne O’Brien’s books so I’m going to assume it was the way this one was read.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Absolutely Fabulous

One of the best books I have read in a while. Excellent reader in Lucy Paterson and the wonderful story well told on audio. Brilliant sorry it has ended.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The scandalous duchess.

Lady Catherine Swynford,becoming the mistress to a great Duke,John of gaunt, being a history buff, I try to read between the lines,love the story.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Scandalous Duchess

Took time to get used to use of first person and all seen through Katherine’s eyes without knowing thoughts of others. But nevertheless beautiful story and close to tears more than once. Shall listen again I’m sure in a while

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