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  • The Children’s Book

  • Written by: A. S. Byatt
  • Narrated by: Juliet Stevenson
  • Length: 32 hrs and 17 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (11 ratings)

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The Children’s Book cover art

The Children’s Book

Written by: A. S. Byatt
Narrated by: Juliet Stevenson
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Publisher's Summary

Famous author Olive Wellwood writes a special private book, bound in different colours, for each of her children. In their rambling house near Romney Marsh they play in a story-book world - but their lives, and those of their rich cousins and their friends, the son and daughter of a curator at the new Victoria and Albert Museum, are already inscribed with mystery. Each family carries its own secrets.

They grow up in the golden summers of Edwardian times, but as the sons rebel against their parents and the girls dream of independent futures, they are unaware that in the darkness ahead they will be betrayed unintentionally by the adults who love them. This is the children's book.

Cover illustration © Aitch
©2009 A. S. Byatt (P)2019 Audible, Ltd
Literary Fiction
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What listeners say about The Children’s Book

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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
Profile Image for Linda

Excellent performance but it's a slog

Juliet Stevenson should be commended for getting through a huge cast of characters with her superb narration. The book itself would have benefited, as many others have said, from some ruthless editing.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Anonymous User

A great story expertly read by Juliette Stevenson

The characters and families history, Fabian’s, arts and crafts movement up to and including ww1

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Stewart Jack

Exquisite writing. A wonderful book that I will listen to again. Loved Juliet Stevenson's narration.

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3 people found this helpful