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Wideacre

Wideacre, Book 1

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Wideacre

By: Philippa Gregory
Narrated by: Emma Powell
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About this listen

Featuring a foreword recorded exclusively for Audible by Philippa Gregory and an interview with the author.

Philippa Gregory's first story in the best-selling Wideacre trilogy. A compelling tale of passion and intrigue set in the 18th century. From the author of The Other Boleyn Girl and The Virgin's Lover.

Wideacre Hall, set in the heart of the English countryside, is the ancestral home that Beatrice Lacey loves. But as a woman of the 18th century, she has no right of inheritance. Corrupted by a world that mistreats women, she sets out to corrupt others.

Sexual and willful, she believes that the only way to achieve control over Wideacre is through a series of horrible crimes, and no-one escapes the consequences of her need to possess the land.

©2006 Philippa Gregory (P)2017 Audible, Ltd Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Romance Women's Fiction

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Critic reviews

"The 18th-century woman is a neglected creature but, in the figure of her heroine, Philippa Gregory has defined a certain kind of wildness.... This is a novel written from instinct, not out of calculation, and it shows." (Peter Ackroyd, The Times)
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The plot of this book is not for the faint hearted be warned, it has some very uncomfortable themes like incest etc. But some morbid curiosity keeps you going, no matter how much you want to shy away. You’ll end up despising the main character, but you’ll still want to see how her plots unfold.

Uncomfortable but gripping

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Not a book for the faint hearted. The 'heroine' is evil, her brother damaged and her first lover is consciousless and then vengeful. The 'heroine' manipulates, murders and deceives the people who love her because of her obsession for Wideacre. I won't read the rest of the series.

Left me feeling soiled

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Having read many of Philippa Gregory 's historical novels I can't say that her debut novel measures up to the standard I was expecting.
As the story is being narrated first person singular by the main character I found it a bit awkward when she was describing her own hazel eyes gleaming in such and such shades of green or her auburn hair cascading down in such stunning waves. I would have to have another look at her later novels to see how she developed her style I don't remember these unlikely description of the main characters by themselves as if seen by someone else (since she pretty much always writes her books in first person).
The main character is painfully unlikable which makes it a very tense reading / listening experience. I found it very intriguing how "outsourcing" and various what I thought were modern forms of greed in the economy existed so long ago.
The amount and manner of sex is unusual and daring. I don't think I have read anything similar before it's a pity that sexual content such as this seems to be usually restricted to much inferior literary value.
That said it is a very engaging story and I'm looking forward to The Favoured Child which I have also downloaded.

Wideachre

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Phenomenal writing and superb story. I got completely engrossed in the characters and the story. Quite brilliant

Wideacre book 1

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amazing story!
makes you angry, sad, happy, all emotions stir.
so well described so well written.
the narrator was exceptional!

amazing!

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