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Apprentice - Scarlet City - Part I cover art

Apprentice - Scarlet City - Part I

By: Rebecca Gablé
Narrated by: Douglas Booth, Miriam Margolyes, Alison Steadman, Finty Williams, Tracy-Ann Oberman, Raymond Coulthard
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Summary

Please note: This title contains explicit language and scenes of a graphic sexual nature.

This Original multicast drama blends history with fiction to tell the story of Jonah, a young apprentice from London who raises himself from poverty by wit and luck to become one of the most powerful merchants of the age. 

A rags-to-riches tale, Jonah's journey spans the breadth of human experience, from the intricacies of Edward III's political intrigues to the cutthroat world of international trade, from the triumphs of war to the agonies of personal loss - love, friendship, joy, heartbreak and glory. Set largely in London, the Scarlet City, the centre of medieval England, the Scarlet City trilogy is a thrilling portrait of the age and the people who made it so rich, colourful and extraordinary. 

London, 1330. Jonah Durham grows up in the household of his tyrannical cousin Rupert, and only his grandmother, the calculating Cecilia Hillock, recognizes his talent and intelligence. After her death he inherits a handsome fortune, bestowing him with both wealth and independence but also the wrath of his increasingly dangerous cousin. However, a fateful encounter with the young King Edward III is set to radically change Jonah's life and the future of English cloth production. 

Told in three parts, hear Medieval London come to life in this historical epic, Audible Original's most ambitious production to date. Narrated by Miriam Margolyes, OBE (Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Romeo + Juliet, Mulan) and starring Douglas Booth (Riot Club, Loving Vincent, Shelley) as Jonah, and Alison Steadman, OBE (Gavin and Stacey, Orphan Black, Shirley Valentine) as Cecilia Hillock. 

Also featuring: Daniel Anthony, Josephine Arden, John Banks, Timothy Bentinck, Clare Buckfield, Beth Chalmers, Elliot Chapman, Trevor Cooper, Oliver Coopersmith, Raymond Coulthard, Gareth David-Lloyd, Richard Earl, Andrew French, Helen Goldwyn, James Joyce, Olly McCauley, Tony Millan, Tracy-Ann Oberman, Katarina Olsson, Steven Pacey, Nicholas Pegg, Nigel Planer, Siobhán Redmond, Christopher Ryan, David Schofield, Dan Starkey, Sarah Sutton, Alexander Vlahos, Niky Wardley, Finty Williams, Claire Wyatt. 

©2002 Rebecca Gablé (P)2017 Audible, Ltd

What listeners say about Apprentice - Scarlet City - Part I

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  • 14-02-18

Absolutely fantastic....!

Having read the various reviews on this, I decided to give it a try... Wow, I'm glad I did. A super story, along with some first class performances, a great accompanying soundtrack and great direction given by the narrator.
I really like what Audible have created here, and even ordered part 2 when I was half way through part 1!
Great effort all round, and well worth anyone's time spent listening to the first part of this masterpiece in the making...

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17 people found this helpful

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An incredible journey into the past.

What a sensational production. Sensational is the word, because once I had pressed play and closed my eyes I was transported back to England during the early 1300's under the reign of King Edward III.
Had this been a production for tv, it would not have matched the realism that I experienced from this superb production, by closing my eyes and listening letting the story wash over me like warm waters on a tropical beach with a fast incoming tide.
Miriam Margolyes' narration was totally engaging, and the performance from prestigious cast was out of this world.
This was a zero to hero tale of a young lad Jonah Durham, apprenticed to his unscrupulous cousin, Rupert a wool merchant. His life changes when his grandmother dies having bequeathed him her fortune.
This is a tale of mixed fortunes whilst Jonah learns some pretty hard lessons in life along the way.
I enjoyed every second of this and was sad when it came to an end. The good news is this was the first book of a trilogy, so lots more changes of fortune and skullduggery to come.

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2 people found this helpful

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Exciting drama with historical backdrops

Listing to this adaptation will put you right into the scenery back to medieval ages in London. It’s easy to digest and a pleasure to listen to but will make you yearn for the next book. That’s a good thing though! Recommended!

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Magical

This was a fantastic experience.The quality of the narrative was outstanding. It has spoilt me for future Audible books I am afraid.
I am eagerly awaiting books 11 and 111.

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Great Result

S!ibht


Slightly "clichéfied" but exceptionally well acted and presented. It was hard to stop listening and I loved the dramatic format. Frustrating to have to wait until Feb 5th for next offering. Go on, invest, I would be very surprised if you can resist Parts 2 and 3. High!y professional production, I soul have expected nothing less fro Miriam Margolis!

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surely a modern Classic?

An excellent delivery of a fantastic story. Highly recommended, especially if you enjoy historic fiction.

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Excellent

A fantastic listen! Part narrated and part performed this combination worked very well. I eagerly await part 2

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Outstanding production

Really enjoyed this drama. Well acted, and produced. Looking forward to the next part. Would like to listen to more Audible original drama productions.

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Excellent start to the series

Easy to listen to, good mix of fact and fiction - simply elegant. Can't wait for the rest of the series - hope they are as good as this.

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Facinating insight into the medieval world

What made the experience of listening to Apprentice - Scarlet City - Part I the most enjoyable?

I enjoyed listening to great narrators bring the characters to life. Sometimes, the use of only one narrator can blur the characters. Whilst the story has depth, it is not so convoluted that you have to keep going back to remember what is going on.

What other book might you compare Apprentice - Scarlet City - Part I to, and why?

Karen Maitland, Company of Liars. The vivid recreation of the period added to the story line.

What does the narrators bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

Different portayals of the characters which my imagination may not have provided. Plus the background sounds of life in the city.
However, my main enjoyment of audible books is that I can do something else (like cleaning!) when listening. I am almost sorry when my house is sparkling.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, because of it's length. I could turn it off after an hour or so and look forward to picking up where I left off when convenient.

Any additional comments?

I have already pre-ordered the next book..........I want to know what happens to the characters.

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