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The Vet's Daughter

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About this listen

Growing up in Edwardian south London, Alice Rowlands longs for romance and excitement, for a release from a life that is dreary and lonely. Her father, a vet, is harsh and oppressive; his new girlfriend, brash and lascivious.

Alice seeks refuge in fantasy, in her rapturous longing for Nicholas, a handsome young sailor, and in the blossoming of what she perceives as her occult powers.

Harrowing and haunting, a Gothic tale that is a strange cross between Daphne Du Maurier and Stephen King, but will also intrigue readers of Silvia Moreno-Garcia and Diane Setterfield.

Born and raised in England, Barbara Comyns (1909-1992) was a writer and artist who juggled various creative and entrepreneurial endeavors throughout her colorful life, leaving behind a rich literary legacy.

©2023 SAGA Egmont (P)2023 SAGA Egmont Classics Fiction Historical Fiction Women's Fiction England Scary

Critic reviews

A small Gothic masterpiece... I have read it many times, and with every re-read I marvel again at its many qualities - its darkness, its strangeness, its humour, its sadness, its startling images and twists of phrase.
-- Sarah Waters.
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It's not often I come to new author and I am so startled by the distinctive style and tone. A real pleasure to discover Barbara Comyns, I will listen to more. Katherine Press brings the voice of narrator and heroine Alice Rowlands vividly to life. A great performance, thank you.

Fantastic reading by Katherine Press

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While I love the story and the brilliant “modern gothic”‘writing, I’m struggling with this, as I’m finding the narration a little monotonous. The narrator has the right pitch and tone for the protagonist but this deserves a more accomplished voice actor for the various somewhat grotesque characters and the black comedy. Unfortunately the sample of this book was only the introduction- had I heard a sample of the narration I wouldnt have bought the audiobook- and I can’t return it.

Brilliant gothic tale, shame about the narration.

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