hilarious Welsh "accent"

As with almost all of the recent Jilly Cooper releases, the narration leaves a lot to be desired. I read this book when I was a teenager, and it's still fun. The Welsh accent was at first annoying, and then amusing :D

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1 person found this helpful

Always love Jilly

It’s not easy to get it right reading a Jilly Cooper book so I tried to be fair while listening. However, once the breathy Gussy and welsh Gareth interpretation was read I nearly sent the book back. All Jillys stories are so close to my heart so I persevered and once I managed to train my brain to ignore the way it was read I was able to finish the story. The book itself is beautifully satisfying for any Jilly fan and was a welcome familiar treat in the gloom of this pandemic and the winter!
Thank you Jilly for all your stories that give humour and romance escape. I no longer have the time to read them for myself so an audiobook is the next best thing!

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a good story ruined by the narration

I first read this years ago and loved it. although it now feels dated it's still entertaining. the downside is the narration which features the worst Welsh accent in the history of audio

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Terrible narration

I loved this book as a young woman and enjoyed it again, although some parts jar somewhat given the change in attitudes. However the narration was simple awful. The mangled high pitched Welsh accent was painful to listen to and I almost gave up.

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Great story; poor narration

I’ve read this story oodles of times over the past 30 years and although it is now quite dated, I still love it. The narration is, however, really poor. Incorrect pronunciation, some words changed (I know this story word for word in many places), but the most heinous of all is the appalling “Welsh” accent; as a Welsh person myself, I was cringing through most of it which is a real shame as it spoilt it for me. Still a great story though. :)

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Welsh listeners beware

I read this book as a teenager in the 1980s and thought I’d take a stroll down memory lane as I’d loved all of the books in this series.
It’s still a great romp of a story - definitely of its time (circa 1976) however the accents portrayed by the reader, especially the Welsh male accent - is indescribably awful. To the point where I’d have stopped listening had I not loved the story itself.
Instead of sounding like a gruff 40 something male, the voice sounds like Ruth Maddox in Hi-Di-Hi - at once hilarious and off-putting.
Please re-record this audiobook as it really does detract from its quality.

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absolutely exceptional

The narrator has chosen an incredible choice of vocabulary and the storyline is not only gripping and fiery but also shows morals. must listen listen!

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Shame about the narration

Love this story and have read it many times over the years. Just had to purchase it . Unfortunately the narration was awful so will probably re-read rather than re-listen.

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Teenage history

Loved this took me back to being 15 when myself and my friends read all these Jilly cooper books especially Octavia - only criticism I had with the reading was that Gareth didn’t sound like the butch welsh man he was portrayed to be sounded a bit too camp 💜

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Spoiled by Awful Narrator

Love this book and as sight now not good, i thought I'd treat myself to having it read for me.
So spoilt by the terrible narrator not suitable at all and her accents and trying to talk like a man were appalling
Get a new narrator fast!

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