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Tidelands

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Tidelands

By: Philippa Gregory
Narrated by: Louise Brealey
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About this listen

 ORDER DAWNLANDS, THE STUNNING NEW NOVEL IN THE BELOVED FAIRMILE SERIES BY INTERNATIONALLY BESTSELLING AUTHOR PHILIPPA GREGORY, OUT NOW.

'Gregory is an experienced storyteller and doesn’t let you down. Tidelands is a gripping and intelligent portrait of a woman fighting to survive in a hostile world' The Times

England 1648. A dangerous time for a woman to be different . . .

Midsummer’s Eve, 1648, and England is in the grip of civil war between renegade King and rebellious Parliament. The struggle reaches every corner of the kingdom, even to the remote Tidelands – the marshy landscape of the south coast.

Alinor, a descendant of wise women, crushed by poverty and superstition, waits in the graveyard under the full moon for a ghost who will declare her free from her abusive husband. Instead she meets James, a young man on the run, and shows him the secret ways across the treacherous marsh, not knowing that she is leading disaster into the heart of her life.

Suspected of possessing dark secrets in superstitious times, Alinor’s ambition and determination mark her out from her neighbours. This is the time of witch-mania, and Alinor, a woman without a husband, skilled with herbs, suddenly enriched, arouses envy in her rivals and fear among the villagers, who are ready to take lethal action into their own hands.
‘The first in a planned series . . . The author crafts her material with effortless ease. Her grasp of social mores is brilliant, the love story rings true and the research is, as ever, of the highest calibre' Elizabeth Buchan, Daily Mail
‘Vivid and beguiling – Philippa Gregory at her best’ Woman & Home

'A compelling novel that shines a light on the struggles of 17th century women' Daily Mirror

'The novel's power lies in Gregory's evocative portrayal of the tidelands and the everyday lives of those who are bound to them' Sunday Express

'Philippa Gregory returns with an English Civil War novel that excels in everything she does best. Historical events are written with breathless immediacy, keeping the reader enthralled even if they know the outcome. She pays close attention to the plight of women in the past, so often unchanged despite men's wars, and gives them a voice . . . Fans will not be disappointed' Alys Key, The i

'Shines a light on the struggles of 17th century women . . . If this novel is the first sign of what's to come then readers are in for a treat' Emma Lee-Potter, Daily Express

'Tidelands evokes a world of suspense and superstition. Its fascinating fictional heroine, Alinor, is caught in a net of in-between spaces . . . I was completely swept up in this wonderful, immersive story set in the English Civil War when women who lived unconventional lives risked being accused of witchcraft' Tina Jackson, Writing Magazine©2019 Philippa Gregory (P)2019 Simon & Schuster UK Fiction Historical Fiction Royalty Marriage Magic Users

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A gripping story, thoroughly researched as usual by Philippa Gregory, full of tension, suspense and historic human detail, sadly let down by the narration.

I read previous Audible reviews and should have paid more attention to the one listener who gave up early because of Louise Brealey’s narration. Certainly, I wish I’d read the book, rather than heard it. It is so important to get the right reader - someone who can switch their voices and accents at will, and most importantly, someone who is following the story! At times, the narration stopped me in my tracks for its flatness, or when the narrator didn’t seem to realise that the speaker had changed, as she continued with the same voice and tone.

My first Audible book was read beautifully by the wonderful Juliet Stevenson. Ms Gregory should have insisted her publishers paid the extra to engage her narration services instead. The story is enjoyable but I’m afraid listening to it pretty much spoilt it for me.

Engaging story, sadly let down by narration

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King Charles is imprisoned. Cromwell's army seems to be winning. The setting is well described - you only need the book title. Our heroine is an impoverished midwife with 2 children, Aleanor, who has been abandoned by her hubby. A romantic stranger lands in the village and needs her help. Guess what. They get together despite the obstacles. Because she deals with illness, childbirth, herbs and things, the word witch keeps getting mentioned, as does her fear of water. There is a horrible inevitability about what you know is going to happen to her. A brief interlude has Aleanor and Our Hero locked in an attic for 2 nights while she nurses him- unbelieveable!!! and that is what I thought about most of the book. The story is contrived to pull together history, a bit of feminism, something about the land and sea, etc, and the characters lie flat on the page because it just doesn't spring to life. The Hero is stooopid. The heroine a blinking saint. Her children paragons of virtue. Her hubby a Bad Man like in a panto. The sea goes in and out - now that I believe. I'm sure a lot of these things happened in those times. It is like all the right words but not quite in the right order to be real enough, despite pleasant narration. Disappointing.

I can't believe a word of it

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The narrators voice was just right for this fascinating tale of life for a woman in 1648, listening to this book whilst gardening during lockdown, I felt relaxed, I was immersed in the story and also gripped to the end, I thoroughly recommend.

REALLY ENJOYED

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My wife and both enjoyed this story very much. The detail of everyday life for ordinary people is beautifully brought to life by Louise Brealey's excellent narration.

I will be looking out for more from both author and narrator!

Wonderful story, beautifully narrated

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Beautiful book, captivating story, engaging narration. The only downside was that it grabbed hold of me so steadfastly, I had to put my life on hold to finish it.

Story and narration are excellent

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