Intricately woven story, superbly read

A great pleasure to delve into this story. Depth and twists and turns. I get a sense of the 19th century events and feel the grumpiness of the 80’s again.
Samuel West delivers the story perfectly.
I would give more stars if available. Enjoy.

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5 people found this helpful

Great to revisit this fascinating book

Really enjoyed Sam West’s sensitive and expressive reading of Possession. I liked this complex novel when I first read it almost 30 years ago. Then I found the poetry quite difficult though and it sometimes slowed the story too much - but this time listening to the poetry made it so much more alive. SW’s voicing of the dialogue is also pretty much spot on and nicely revealed the subtleties that Byatt writes into all the characters. There is a central mystery gradually revealed which keeps you wanting to know more. Really loved the way the Victorian and 20th century lives are compared through the interweaving of the plot too.

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3 people found this helpful

I was enveloped by this novel !

This is an intricate and expertly constructed novel with writing that is rich and substantial. There is a love story, (actually more than one), suspense and mystery with beautiful poetry, woven into the prose and I felt myself enveloped by events, as she reconstructs a Victorian age, flashing between the current and the past. The writing both challenges and respects the reader; a hard copy would be easier, and initially I had to put together a list of characters so that I could follow the structure better. The narration is excellent.

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3 people found this helpful

Magic

A superb novel magically read. The most satisfying book I have listened to. Thank you.

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1 person found this helpful

Brilliant and touching

It captures so much....Victorian gentility, the absurdities of academics, the pathos of unhelpful fate. A very satisfactory end.

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A wonderful story

A vast novel, but worth listening to every minute. Brilliantly narrated.
A wonderful, partially feminist storyline, with lots of surprises

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Genius writing complimented by marvellous narration

Don’t be put off by the few negative reviews - why do we always give them more weight than multiples of great ones?
I wasn’t sure if this audiobook was going to be for me, based on some of the reviews. I’m not particularly literary and worried “all the poetry” would be beyond me but I needn’t have worried. Samuel West’s narration is exceptional, carrying me away to mythical lands and back to tide pools in Yorkshire.
I’ve a hole in me now that the book has ended.

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6 people found this helpful

great

Having read this book 3 or 4 times already, wanted to try listening. Not disappointed at all, Samuel West narrates beautifully.

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1 person found this helpful

Love story , detective story, magical, mythical,

Brilliant storytelling, intriguing , essentially a love story / detective story. Academics Roland and Maude untangle clues, letters,legends to discover a love affair between two Victorian poets, Christabel la Motte and Randolph Henry Ash. Their detective journey takes them to wild and beautiful yorkshire, to the bleak and beautiful coast of Brittany. Pursued by an unscrupulous, wealthy collector who is prepared to trick , deceive and grave rob to get his hands on the letters.

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1 person found this helpful

Brilliantly read, moving and moreish!

I didn't think I was going to enjoy this book, I got it on a 2 for 1 and was going to exchange it but gave it a go and got really immersed in it. Admittedly I fell in and out a bit, as there is some poetic writing and a lot of letters (which I enjoyed but couldn't follow sometimes), but by the end I was hooked emotionally and was sad for it to end. Well worth persevering with a beautiful and satisfying end. Brilliantly read, moving and moreish!

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1 person found this helpful