Village School cover art

Village School

Fairacre Series, Book 1

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Village School

By: Miss Miss Read
Narrated by: Carole Boyd
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About this listen

 Fairacre is a village of cottages, a church and the school, and at the heart of the school, its head mistress, Miss Read. Through her discerning eye, we meet the villagers of Fairacre and see their trials and tribulations, from the irascible school cleaner Mrs. Pringle, to the young school children, with their scraped knees, hopeful faces, and inevitable mischief. Miss Read takes us through the school year, beginning with the Christmas term, when the bitterly cold weather challenges the school's ancient heating system, right through to the hot summer day when school is over for another year.©1955 Miss Read (P)2006 Orion Publishing Group Ltd Contemporary Fiction Fiction Genre Fiction Village Christmas

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Critic reviews

"Read by Carole Boyd, this is the very first of the Miss Read novels, and takes the listener back to a two-class school in the 1950s where she is head. The minutiae of everyday village life is beautifully observed and related to the listener with wit, gentle understanding, and a nip of irony. Very quickly, Mrs. Pringle, Miss Clare, and all the rest become our neighbours, too." ( Daily Express)
All stars
Most relevant
A classic....Carole reads it so well a perfect match for a story that could be in Ambridge....
It harks back to a gentle way of life..just before technology ruined it.. the last days of village life and village school education.

Excellent

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Would you listen to Village School again? Why?

Absolutely, it takes me back to that glorious village.

What did you like best about this story?

The gentle pace and story lines. The characterisations.

Which character – as performed by Carole Boyd – was your favourite?

Mrs Pringle

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

A 'must see'

Excellent

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What is there not to love about Miss Reads books they take us all back in time to a world so different from today.. Loved it all so cozy to shut off from the world today and indulge in happy sweet stories of the wonderful past, Highly recommend

Great read

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Miss Read books were my mother's favourites, I came to then only recently after a lifetime of murder mysteries and far too horrifically accurate historical reading. I wanted something gentler and found it perfectly here in Miss Read I went to a small school in the late 50's so instantly felt comfortable. Beautifully written, it flows along with nothing to scare me, life yes, but without over dramatising. And the performance was perfect too, she reminded me instantly of my teachers back then. All together a delightful read.

happy reminder of my childhood

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Miss Read is my favourite author of all time. For me her books are like a step out of the frenzy of life in to the calm of Thrush Green.
Beautiful simple stories of country folk living a quiet life as the seasons come and go.
Carole Boyd narrates perfectly and has a lovely voice to listen to.

Wonderful escapism

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