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The Foundling

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The Foundling

By: Stacey Halls
Narrated by: Hattie Morahan, Laura Aikman
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About this listen


From the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Familiars

Two women, bound by a child, and a secret that will change everything . . .

London, 1754. Six years after leaving her illegitimate daughter Clara at London's Foundling Hospital, Bess Bright returns to reclaim the child she has never known. Dreading the worst, that Clara has died in care, Bess is astonished to be told she has already claimed her. Her life is turned upside down as she tries to find out who has taken her little girl - and why.

Less than a mile from Bess's lodgings in the city, in a quiet, gloomy townhouse on the edge of London, a young widow has not left the house in a decade. When her close friend - an ambitious young doctor at the Foundling Hospital - persuades her to hire a nursemaid for her daughter, she is hesitant to welcome someone new into her home and her life. But her past is threatening to catch up with her and tear her carefully constructed world apart.

From the bestselling author of The Familiars comes this captivating story of mothers and daughters, class and power, and love against the greatest of odds . . .

'The new Hilary Mantel' Cosmopolitan

Another gripping, immersive, intelligent work of historical fiction from the bestselling author of The Familiars' Kiran Millwood Hargrave, author of The Mercies

'A gripping and moving read' Libby Page, bestselling author of The Lido

'Fantastic storytelling that grabbed me from the off' Good Housekeeping



*Sunday Times bestseller February and September 2020*

*Winner of Women's Prize for Fiction x Good Housekeeping Futures award - Good Housekeeping 14 Oct 2022*

©2020 Stacy Halls (P)2020 Bonnier Books UK
Fiction Historical Fiction England Hospital
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What listeners say about The Foundling

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One not to miss.

A truly amazing story. Sad it has ended. Can't wait to read her other story.

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12 people found this helpful

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Great story

Loved it! Really good story which was well read and kept me going on daily Coronavirus exercise walks

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2 people found this helpful

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Loved this book

Beautifully read. A good tempo. Thoroughly enjoyed the story. I could almost imagine I was living in London in 1750

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1 person found this helpful

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A bit slow to start but stick with it

I don't usually listen to historical novels. I found it interesting, if a bit slow to get going. It captivated me, had me wondering where the story would go.

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1 person found this helpful

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First class

Such an unusual storyline but very good listening I would recommend this book as a good first choice for audiobooks

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1 person found this helpful

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Loved it

Loved the story. So sad it’s finished. I was gripped from the beginning and the characters were relatable.

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The foundling

Enjoyed this book. Slightly more unusual than the usual story line. A contrast between the harsh conditions for some, and a kinder, gentle portrayal of others.

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Destined to become a classic

A wonderful story, and one of the very best I have listened to. Excellent narration of a heartbreaking and heartwarming tale, which gripped me right from beginning to the end. Deserves to be listed alongside the works of Charles Dickens and the Brontes, and destined to be a classic.

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Very enjoyable read

This book captivated my interest all the way through .
The parallel lives of 2 women from different backgrounds . One who had everything and the other very little so much so she had to give up her child .
The end was a little twee but I recommend the read .

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Splendid

Enjoyed the long parts and the 2 readers. A wonderful story with great twists and turns.

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