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  • A Handful of Dust

  • By: Evelyn Waugh
  • Narrated by: Andrew Sachs
  • Length: 6 hrs and 41 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (159 ratings)

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A Handful of Dust

By: Evelyn Waugh
Narrated by: Andrew Sachs
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Summary

After seven years of marriage, the beautiful Lady Brenda Last has grown bored with life at Hetton Abbey, the Gothic mansion that is the pride and joy of her husband, Tony. She drifts into an affair with the shallow socialite John Beaver and forsakes Tony for the Belgravia set.

In a novel that combines tragedy, comedy, and savage irony, Evelyn Waugh indelibly captures the irresponsible mood of the "crazy and sterile generation" between the wars.

©1934 Evelyn Waugh (P)2015 Hachette Audio
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What listeners say about A Handful of Dust

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

A good listen

My first experience of the author and a pleasant surprise. Despite being filled with despicable characters or another time and social class there was enough to make it a page turner, if only in the hope that they would reap their deserts. Certainly well construct and written to make the story and characters believable. I found the first half of the book much better than the second and until halfway considered this a very rare 5 star listen. I felt that the second half lost its way and really didn't flow from the first part, with a very dissatisfying conclusion.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Superb

Waugh's lacerating tragi-comedy of 30's society and a genteel marriage falling apart is brilliantly read by Andrew Sachs.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

A disturbing tead about unlikeable people

Rather disturbing and tragic .almost gave up half way before pace quickened after first tragedy.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

A Great Narration

A typical witty and well crafted Waugh yarn. Some language of its time
Narrator makes the characters come alive

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

wonderfully cruel

This is a wonderfully cruel satire excellently read. Comic and tragic. probably Waugh's best book

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A brilliant narration of a gripping book.

Andrew Sachs did a great job reading this English classic. Beautifully written sparse prose that said so much.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

first class

brilliant narration of a great tale. I absolutely loved it. one of Evelyn Waugh's best.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic narrator

This isn’t a book I would normally read but I did enjoy it. The narrator does an amazing job of telling the story and realising the characters, each with their own accent, speech pattern, and tone of voice. Really enjoyed it!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A Handful of Dust

Brilliantly read by Andrew Sachs, he reads so clearly and with feeling. Interesting story with a twist at the end

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent Story By the hand of a Master

Superbly told a joyful encounter !
Each character came to alive and will stay with me !
A Great Pleasure !

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