The Outcasts of Time cover art

The Outcasts of Time

Preview

Try for £0.00
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

The Outcasts of Time

By: Ian Mortimer
Narrated by: Barnaby Edwards
Try for £0.00

£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £12.99

Buy Now for £12.99

Confirm Purchase
Pay using card ending in
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.
Cancel

About this listen

‘Beautifully written and superbly executed’ Times
'A joyous romp around England’s dark past' Suzie Feay,
Guardian

From the author of the bestselling The Time Traveller's Guide to Restoration Britain, this is a stunningly high-concept historical novel that is both as daring as it is gripping, and perfect for fans of Conn Iggulden, SJ Parris and Kate Mosse.

December 1348: With the country in the grip of the Black Death, brothers John and William fear that they will shortly die and go to Hell. But as the end draws near, they are given an unexpected choice: either to go home and spend their last six days in their familiar world, or to search for salvation across the forthcoming centuries – living each one of their remaining days ninety-nine years after the last.

John and William choose the future and find themselves in 1447, ignorant of almost everything going on around them. The year 1546 brings no more comfort, and 1645 challenges them still further. It is not just that technology is changing: things they have taken for granted all their lives prove to be short-lived.

As they find themselves in stranger and stranger times, the reader travels with them, seeing the world through their eyes as it shifts through disease, progress, enlightenment and war. But their time is running out – can they do something to redeem themselves before the six days are up?

What people are saying about The Outcasts of Time:
‘Wow, what a book! I absolutely adored this. This was ambitious but done to perfection’ Sara Marsden
The Outcasts of Time is a tour de force, rich in spellbinding detail. Haunting and atmospheric, there is warmth and humour alongside fear and torment; all human life is here. As perfect a novel as any I've ever read’ Ophelia’s Reads

©2017 Ian Mortimer (P)2017 Simon & Schuster UK
Historical Fiction Fiction Thought-Provoking Stranger Scary

Listeners also enjoyed...

The Time Traveller's Guide to Medieval England cover art

What listeners say about The Outcasts of Time

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    698
  • 4 Stars
    418
  • 3 Stars
    237
  • 2 Stars
    71
  • 1 Stars
    36
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    847
  • 4 Stars
    323
  • 3 Stars
    123
  • 2 Stars
    27
  • 1 Stars
    23
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    618
  • 4 Stars
    364
  • 3 Stars
    227
  • 2 Stars
    89
  • 1 Stars
    41

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Immersive, emotional and very thought provoking

The history book that has everything especially teaching you truths about mankind. Great twist too

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Clever inspiring ending

This could have been an academic walk through time viewing the development of England over 500 years. But the story, the observations of the protagonist and the ending made for a better than expected read. Much enjoyed.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

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

An Interesting Idea,but....

Having recently listened to Centuries of Change by Ian Mortimer, I decided to give this fiction book by the same author a whirl. It's an easy enjoyable listen but the fictional story just wasn't very exciting, moving or dramatic. It's a great way of seeing how Britain changed over the centuries through the eyes of a man, who chooses to live on the same day but 99 years apart. Its filled with lots of good descriptions of the changing towns, conditions etc. But whilst I would recommend Centuries of Change unreservedly as one of the best histories that I've listened too, I can't say the same for this book. Good narration though..

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

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

Loved this book!

This book was such a surprise. I wasn’t sure if I was going to like it but took a risk. However I loved it! It is original, interesting, thought provoking and a great story with believable, likeable characters.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

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

Excellent Book

A great story I just couldn't stop listening. The narrator was exceptional. Would recommend to all

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

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

Brilliant

'You must see what you mean to others to know your true worth'.
I had to force myself to keep listening through the first few chapters as it is a very deep and sometimes dark listen in the beginning. However, the story becomes easier to follow and full of meaningful messages as it gets though the end, when it explodes in a majestic finale. Highly recommended.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

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

Thought provoking

I was compelled to leave a review as the combination of historical fantasy written by a brilliant historian along with one of my favourite narrators left me wanting more, fantastic!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

A bit hard going

This was a great idea, but I found it hard going, and the first part was very slow and very depressing - I nearly didn't bother. It was very interesting as a concept, but I couldn't find it exciting or engaging as a book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

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

Loved it!

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, having only read non-fiction from Ian Mortimer before. I was hooked from the beginning and I enjoyed every moment. Top notch narration from Barnaby Edwards too.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Strong on historical detail, weaker on narrative

I didn't think that this worked particularly well as a novel although the author pulled things together well in the last couple of chapters.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!