Discover Most Popular Audiobooks in Fiction, Historical Top Rated

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Title: The Minister's Daughter

Author: Julie Hearn

Narrator: Heather O'Neill

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 4 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-01-05

Publisher: Listening Library

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 106 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Grace is everything Nell is not. She is the Puritan minister's daughter: beautiful and refined, innocent and sweet-natured...to those who think they know her. But she is hiding a secret, a secret that will bring everlasting shame to her family should it ever come to light.

A merrybegot and a minister's daughter, two girls who could not have less in common. Yet their fates collide when Grace and her younger sister, Patience, are suddenly spitting pins, struck with fits, and speaking in fevered tongues. The minister is convinced his daughters are the victims of witchcraft. And all signs point to Nell as the source of the trouble.

Set during the tumultuous era of the English Civil War, The Minister's Daughter is a spellbinding page-turner; stunning historical fiction that captures the superstition, passion, madness, and magic of a vanished age.

Critic Reviews:

"Engaging characters and a palpable sense of place combine with an accessible, clear style to make this a satisfying read." (School Library Journal)

Members Reviews:

Good historical fiction

I got this due to my wife's recommendation for a "different" book. The author did a fair job working the story, I was a little lost at first, but caught on quickly (still new to audio books).

the story line keeps well with the 1600's view on witches and witchcraft. intersting facts, and different points of view help keep the book interesting and moving. I also approve of the narrator, whose voice was easy to follow.

overall a 4 star, not my prefered type of book, but good.

Enjoyed this book

This book takes you to 1640s England during a time of witch hunts. It is historical fiction with a twist of magic (fairies and peskies). The themes are very mature and dark (maybe not appropriate for some young adults) such as women getting dunked or hung for practicing witchcraft. What I really liked about the book was it showed two perspectives one of the so called witch and one of the accuser. You can see how this tangle unfolded and see how the accuser needed a scape goat for her own sins. It was a trying time to live in sin-free puritan England. I would recommend this book but I should say that I started out not liking it for about the first hour. The minister was the clear villain and such a vile man. I did not like that the minister was painted as such an evil man and thought the book would paint Christianity just as black. In the end it showed more of how the minister might have become the way he was and gave more insight into his life. What a tragic time to live in when the fear of sinning or being different was so overwhelming. I love the narrator, though it took some time to get used to her many thick accents. Very well done and the ending has a delicious surprising twist!

Very Enjoyable

This was a sweet story. The life and times of a merry begot and a cunning woman's daughter. There are extremely fascinating details about fairies and pixies. Lots of descriptions of the way a herb gatherer, midwife, and healer was treated in the 1600's.

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Title: Retreat, Hell!

Author: W. E. B. Griffin

Narrator: James Naughton

Format: Abridged

Length: 5 hrs and 48 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-04-05

Publisher: Penguin Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 96 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

It is the fall of 1950. The Marines have made a pivotal breakthrough at Inchon, but a roller coaster awaits them. The bit in his teeth, Douglas MacArthur surges across the 38th parallel toward the Yalu River, only to encounter the Chinese in full force, who drive him back in turn. Back and forth, the bloody tides of war shift, and swept along with them are Captain Ken McCoy and Master Gunner Ernie Zimmerman, caught in the fight of their lives; Brigadier General Fleming Pickering, working desperately to mediate the escalating battle between MacArthur and Truman; and Pickering's daredevil pilot son, Malcolm, lost somewhere behind enemy lines, and maybe lost forever.

©2004 W.E.B. Griffin; (P)2004 Putnam Berkley Audio

Critic Reviews:

"The author has a knack for smoothly combining fact with fiction, giving his work a realistic veneer." (Booklist)

"Veterans of the series will enjoy finding old comrades caught up in fresh adventures, while new-guy readers can easily enter here and pick up the ongoing story." (Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

Retreat Hell

I have been a fan of Griffin for many years and maintain a vigil to watch for more editions. The characters have become family members for my son and I over the years. My only comment is that the book seemed to be a little shorter than previous editions with these characters. Griffin's style is create alot of detail during the first 70% of the book and rush towards conclusion. This is also true in this novel. Wonder how many he will turn out in his lifetime?

Griffin is Gritty

The grit and gristle of combat comes home cleanly in Retreat Hell. Although Griffin has given up his American residence for the land of Argentina, he seems to remain committed to the ideals of the Marine Corps that gave him his start. This book includes a warm personal anecdote regarding one of the generals involved, and the characters we met in Griffin's earlier WWII sagas are back in fine form. The book is enjoyable and well-narrated.

Retreat Hell

I did not know that the book was abridged. WEB Griffin books need the extra verbage as he has many threads going in the background, which makes his stories ones that "you can't put down". Abridging his works ruins the story.

Great powerful characters.

This is a great book and I love the characters WEB delivers. This is a must read for any young man or woman coming of age so they can believe in our country and the people behind the reasons we make war.

The story made me wish I had considered government service.

great

great factional fiction. a must read for every American. Take the time to read it.

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Title: Tournament

Author: Shelby Foote

Narrator: Tom Parker

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 12 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-06-05

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 38 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

In Tournament, many of the remarkable characters from Jordon County, Foote's fictional Mississippi Delta country, come upon the literary scene for the first time. Louis Rubin, in his introductory essay on Tournament, finds major Proustian resonances and predicts lines along which Foote's future novels will develop.

Highly praised both here and abroad, Foote's novels have been on the best seller lists in France and Italy. Whether writing historical narrative or novels, he clearly belongs to the first rank of American writers of our era.

Critic Reviews:

"Tom Parker's pleasant voice creates believable characters who metamorphose from words to reality with regional accents, interesting intonations, and antique expressions." (AudioFile)

Members Reviews:

Scenes from a life long gone

I knew nothing of Shelby Foote 12 months ago and then I took an interest in the American Civil War and Shelby kept cropping up in my research - he appears in Ken Burn's TV doco and he has written a huge book, Civil War, A Narrative, in three volumes. I'm currently dipping in and out of that book and its a wonderful listen but too much to listen to except in short occasional bursts.

With this info on Shelby it was great to find out that he was also an author of note so I tried out Tournament. Its a lovely life story of a southern lad who makes good and becomes a planter. It gave me insight to a life I thought had gone after the surrender at Appomattox but apparently went on into the twentieth century.

Shelby has a very humorous way of writing and can paint a scene in only a few words. He even managed to describe very accurately smells which clearly shows his writing talent but the book failed to go anywhere. It was a collection of stories with Bart, the hero, as the only linking character. With a name like Tournament I expected there to be a climatic challenge but the challenge turned out to be life itself. A bit disappointing but it was nevertheless an enjoyable listen with excellent narration by Tom Parker.

I selected Tournament from a $5 gift list by Audible and as such it was a lovely listen - if I'd had to pay full price for it I think I might have been a bit more disappointed.

I do love Shelby Foote

The audiobook, narrated by Tom Parker (not, sadly, the author though Mr. Parker does do a wonderful job, I just missed Shelby Foote), begins with a lengthy 1986 preface by the author in which he discusses the genesis of this, his first book, and its impact on all of his other writing. Like many, I know Mr. Foote from Ken Burns's The Civil War, and one of the reasons (one of the many reasons) I bless the day I first saw that documentary is that it introduced me to the almost-shy, sly, witty man from Mississippi with the dashing grey hair and the twinkling eyes (actually twinkling!) and the brilliant way with a story. It was love at first sight. That man Audible has been a wonder for me, allowing me to get hold of the volumes of The Civil War: A Narrative which I've never been able to justify the expense of before, as well as the novels I've never tracked down before. I embarked on this audio of Tournament unsure of what to expect, a little hesitant about whether I would love his narrative voice as much as his screen presence, and most of all wishing deeply that he had read his own work. (I might have mentioned that.)

My goodness, though.

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Title: I Am Madame X

Author: Gioia Diliberto

Narrator: Lorna Raver

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 35 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-16-04

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 40 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Even before John Singer Sargent painted her portrait, Virginie Gautreau's reputation for promiscuity and showy self-display made her the subject of vicious Paris gossip. In this remarkable novel, the author tells Virginie's story, drawing on the sketchy facts of the notorious beauty's life to recreate her tempestuous personality, the captivating milieu of Belle Epoch Paris, and the struggle between artist and model to control the painting that would change their lives and affect the course of art history.

©2003 Gioia Diliberto; (P)2003 Blackstone Audiobooks

Critic Reviews:

"Lively and provocative." (Booklist)

"This fast scroll through history against a backdrop of parties, salons, operas, artists' studios, and sexual escapades is inviting for its wealth of well-researched period details." (Publishers Weekly)

"A compelling novel....Diliberto's writing brings Virginie to life in a way that Sargent's portrait does not." (Library Journal)

Members Reviews:

Great fun!

I really enjoyed this book. It moved along well and kept my interest better than most. The narrorator's voice is a little fussy at times but it doesn't interfere too much. It really made me see John Singer Sargent's portraits in a more intimate way. As an Art Historian, I always cringe just a little at fictional interpretations of artists and their subjects since people often just accept it as truth. Thankfully there is a short but straightforward bio of Madame X at the end to clear up any misconceptions though after such a convincing story it is hard to forget the imagined details.

Falls Short of Earring's Passion

I was delightfully surprised with this book. Very entertaining and engaging. It's wants to be like Girl with a Pearl Earring...it falls short of it's passion and release. The Epilogue is the most interesting part of the book. The reader does a very good job and has many voices she has to perform. A quick easy read.

JUST OK

Would you try another book from Gioia Diliberto and/or Lorna Raver?

I've listened to a kazillion books read by the outstanding Lorna Raver so nothing will stop me from being one of her big fans. As for the author, she did the best she could with the subject matter at hand.. Nothing in this book, which was just OK, has turned me off from Diliberto.

What was most disappointing about Gioia Dilibertos story?

I don't understand why it was written. This is a bit of fluff that taught me nothing.

Have you listened to any of Lorna Ravers other performances before? How does this one compare?

As I've said many, many times in my reviews, Ms Raver is one of the best. She has made really bad books so much better by her amazing performances.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

No reaction. It is neither so good for me to want more nor so bad for me to trash it outright.

Great

I wish there was more about the artist and the painting of the painting but over all it was interesting listen to hear about that one in history

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Title: Stonehenge

Subtitle: A Novel of 2000 BC

Author: Bernard Cornwell

Narrator: Geoffrey Howard

Format: Unabridged

Length: 15 hrs and 20 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-29-04

Publisher: Books on Tape

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 92 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Three brothers, rivals, are uneasily united in their quest to create a temple to their gods. Cornwell's re-creation of civilization as it might have been in 2000 B.C. amplifies the mystery of his subject and makes the world of Stonehenge come alive as never before.

Critic Reviews:

"An epic story told with a master's skill, presenting powerful personalities, high dramas, and terrific climaxes with color and pace." (Times Literary Supplement)

"A sweeping, dramatic epic....A story of human greed and passion backlit by the construction of [Stonehenge]." (Bookpage)

"[Cornwell] imaginatively unlocks the mystery of Stonehenge's creation....This wild tale, rich with sorcery, pagan ritual, greed, and intrigue, is Cornwell's most ambitious fiction yet....Cornwell's portrayal of life and death in ancient Britain is graphic, gritty, and riveting. However, his detailed descriptions of how Stonehenge was constructed utilizing primitive engineering are the real strength of this book." (Publishers Weekly)

Members Reviews:

Stonehenge Possibilities

I enjoyed this story. It gives very plausible reasons for the phenomenal work and dedication that must have been required for the building of Stonehenge and similar, if smaller, structures. It is scary to see, even in this fictional form, religiously motivated fervor in action; but it is also inspiring to see the creativity and commitment and pure sweat people are capable of expending to achieve their goals. A good story - good characters, good plot, great details.

A good story lost in the telling of it.

The story does an excellent job estabilshing a time and place in history. Unfortunately the narrator's affectatious style, croaking and stilted voice characterizations proved to be too much of an obstacle to my enjoyment of it.

Moving rocks

Getting through this one is almost as difficult and moving the stones for the ancient temple. I'm not sure whether it's the terribly repetitive and transparent plot or the narrator's voice which lilts along as if reading a bedtime story to a child then ends each sentence as if it were a question. Don't waste your time on this one.

Writing as rigid as Stone(henge)

I'm very sorry I wasted money on this. The author portrays these Bronze Age people as dimwitted buffoons. Characterization is wooden. Writing is poor. I couldn't finish it.

Stonehenge

I love Bernard Cornwell's work. His stories are steeped in an air of reality, and while I read or listen, I forget they are fiction.

This book felt so real to me that I kept stopping and walking away while listening. I was worried about the main character, afraid for him, and, finally, accepting of his fate.

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Title: Street Boys

Author: Lorenzo Carcaterra

Narrator: Jonathan Marosz

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 37 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-05-04

Publisher: Books on Tape

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 29 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Here are children, some as young as 10-years-old, who take on the German Army, armed with just a handful of guns, unexploded bombs, and their own ingenuity. Children who are determined to defeat their advancing enemy and save their city, or die trying. In its awesome scope and pure listening excitement, Street Boys stands as a stirring tribute to the underdog in us all and a singular addition to the novels of World War II.

Critic Reviews:

"While this is a story about children, it is most definitely not a story for children. Although not without moments of humor and romance, Street Boys is exciting, graphic, brutal, grim, and tense." (Library Journal)

Members Reviews:

Great book!

Where does Street Boys rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far?

Up at the top. I'd love to see this made into a movie.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Loved all the characters.

What does Jonathan Marosz bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book?

His voice and accents made it into a movie in my mind.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, but simply didn't have the time. I have a job.

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Title: The Ionian Mission

Subtitle: Aubrey/Maturin Series, Book 8

Author: Patrick O'Brian

Narrator: Tim Pigott-Smith

Format: Abridged

Length: 5 hrs and 14 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-01-00

Publisher: Random House AudioBooks

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 27 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin, veterans now of many battles, return in this novel to the seas where they first sailed as shipmates. But Jack is now a senior captain commanding a line-of-battle ship in the Royal Navy's blockade of Toulon, and this is a longer, harder, colder war than the dashing frigate actions of his early days. A sudden turn of events takes him and Stephen off on a hazardous mission to the Greek Islands, where all his old skills of seamanship and his proverbial luck when fighting against odds come triumphantly into their own. This is the eighth in O'Brian's 20-volume Aubrey/Maturin series.

Don't miss the rest of the

series.

©1981 by William Collins Sons, Ltd.; (P)2000 Random House, Inc. Random House AudioBooks, A Division of Random House, Inc.

Members Reviews:

Another great Aubrey-Maturin story

Patrick O'Brian created a phenomenon with his 20 novels of the the English navy in the times of the Napoleonic Wars. His historic accuracy has never been matched, and his principal characters in all these books, Capt. Jack Aubrey and ships surgeon Stephen Maturin, bring the era to life. Each book is a story unto itself, but your appreciation is enhanced if you read/listen to each in order written. The character's lives, adventures and misadventures, changing fortunes, evolve subtly throughout the books, as people do when living through events. Some characters are ongoing, others meet their individual fates. The ongoing friendship of Jack and Stepen ties everything together.

The naval battle scenes are exciting, matter of fact and never over done. You smell the smoke, feel the heat of the guns, duck the falling rigging, it's all so vividly described by O'Brian. Not to worry, however, there is room for some romance and wonderful wry humor.

Through this whole series, you'll realistically learn more than you ever thought possible about the lives of sailors of the era between 1805 and 1820 or so, they way they spoke, their history, humor and inevitable problems and occasional triumphs. Each book leaves you a bit in the air at the conclusion, just whetting your appetite for the next.

A combination of elements of several of the books from this series has been made into a movie directed by Peter Weir, starring Russell Crowe as Aubrey, to be released in Nov. 03. Give a listen to the books first, enter their world.

Be careful

This is abridged. Why anyone would want to listen to O'Brian abridged is beyond me. The joy is the wonderful attention to historical detail and believable dialogue. Search on this title to get the unabridged version. It is read by Patrick Tull; you'll feel like you are there.

ABRIDGED?!?!

there was no indication that this book was abridged! do your self a favor and get the unabridged version read by Patrick Tull

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Title: We Could Do Worse

Subtitle: A Millennial Collection of Alternate Histories

Author: Larry Niven, Howard Waldrop, Harry Turtledove, Gregory Benford, Mike Resnick, Kristine Kathryn Rusch, Allen Steele, Edited by Martin Greenberg

Narrator: Richard Gilliland, Yancy Butler

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs

Language: English

Release date: 12-16-99

Publisher: Phoenix Books

Ratings: 3 of 5 out of 125 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

What would the world be like if the space race started during World War II? If Teddy Roosevelt had fought in World War I? If Joseph McCarthy had been elected President? Those and other questions are answered in these nine stories of alternate histories, when the world as we know it might have turned out different than it is today, if only one minor (or major) change had occurred in history. Included in this collection are: "A Massachusetts Yankee in King Arthur's Court" by Harry Turtledove; "Ike at the Mike" by Howard Waldrop; "Looking for the Fountain" by Robert Silverberg; "The Return of William Proxmire" by Larry Niven; "The Arrival of Truth" by Kristine Kathryn Rusch; "Goddard's People" by Allen Steele; "Over There" by Mike Resnick; "Bloodstained Ground" by Brian Thomsen; and "We Could Do Worse" by Gregory Benford.

Members Reviews:

Mediocre

Alternate History can be the matrix for some excellent speculation and a better understanding of what we are in this reality. This collection almost totally fails to live up to its potential. The Manhattan Project is shunted aside in favor of a rocket program that shoots down an incoming missile? Teddy Roosevelt recreates the Rough Riders to fight in WWI? These could be interesting, but are barely developedand history doesnt change much. Other premises are just silly: JFK goes back in time to see the real Camelot; Eisenhower rejects military training and becomes a jazz clarinetist. The only story with any texture is Ruschs The Arrival of Truth, in which Sojourner Truths teaching leads to slave revolts.

Take The Good with the Bad

There are some really nice stories in this anthology, with the highlight being "The Return of William Proxmire" by Larry Niven. "Looking for the Fountain" by Robert Silverberg is also one that stood out for me.

However, I found a several of these stories rather pedestrian and flat. Perhaps it was the production--to me it always seemed like the narration was very flat and almost toneless. It sure seems like a good re-engineering would make it easier to listen to this set.

So you take the good with the bad and come out even? At least I did.

We Could Do Worse (Alt Hist Stories)

We Could Do Worse is an excellent collection of Alternative History short stories, one of my favourite genres.

The readings are excellent, and the different voices match very well the different subject matter and tone of each story.

The weakest story is possibly "A Massachusetts Yankee in King Arthur's Court" by Harry Turtledove, about JFK, the real Camelot and a queen with strong appetites; I'm not a fan of Harry Turtledove, I find his writing a bit turgid, but the story is still a lot of fun, and the narrator gives us a bit of 'Boston Bray' to keep it light and on track.

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Title: We Shall Not Sleep

Subtitle: A World War One Novel #5

Author: Anne Perry

Narrator: Michael Page

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 50 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-11-08

Publisher: Brilliance Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 61 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Matthew, the third Reavley sibling and an intelligence expert, suddenly arrives at the front with startling news: The Peacemaker's German counterpart has offered to go to England and expose his co-conspirator as a traitor. But with war still raging and prejudices inflamed, such a journey would be fraught with hazards, especially since the Peacemaker has secret informers everywhere, even on the battlefield.

For richness of plot, character, and feeling, We Shall Not Sleep is unmatched. Anne Perry's brilliantly orchestrated finale is a heartstopping tour de force, mesmerizing and totally satisfying.

Members Reviews:

Fantastic! Loved the entire series!!

I never liked History in school. Just boring facts to me. However, I am so glad I came upon this series by A.P. Now that I am an adult I can see the subject in a new light and this author has helped me to not only learn about this time in history, but enjoy it! Perhaps she will see fit to write a series about WW 2, with the same characters?? That would be great! You can read the synopsis to discover what the book and the series are about. I just wanted to say here that, for me, it is one of those series that you look back upon with fondness and there was a bit of sadness when it ended. For those who are interested, there are no "F-bombs", and no sexual situations.

The capstone to a great series...

I have truly loved all five "listens" of this very intruiging series! Very worth while!

The Best

Where does We Shall Not Sleep rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far?

I have listened to each book in this 5 book series by Anne Perry at least 3 times. The series is so richly written that each time I listen I pick up on new details that add to the story. I know I will wait about a year and listen to all 5 books again. Do start with book #1 and read each book in order.

Who was your favorite character and why?

My favorite character is the priest. He is everything an Anglican clergyman should be...not lofty and above it all, but struggling to make his faith relevant in a world gone mad with war. Yet this is not a religious book, but a book of real people meeting real life disaster and in the end good triumphs over evil.

What about Michael Pages performance did you like?

I love the tenor and cadence of his voice. It is perfectly suited to this series.

Who was the most memorable character of We Shall Not Sleep and why?

The youngest sister because she manages to move from the world as it was before WWI into the new world and new opportunities that come to women because of the war. She exhibits courage, ingenuity, and steadfastness in the face of danger and deception.

Any additional comments?

This is the only book series I have listened to over and over again. I keep hoping Ms Perry will write a sequel that deals with WWII. She knows her subject well and so writes expertly and engagingly.

A bit long

Felt this book kind of dragged on, repeating some of the same introspective scenes and dialogs from elsewhere in the series. Overall I think it was a good series, but could have been cut down to 4 books after removing redundancies and scenes that don't drive the book forward.

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Title: Park Lane

Author: Frances Osborne

Narrator: Susan Duerden

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 43 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-15-12

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Ratings: 2 of 5 out of 5 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

When 18-year-old Grace Campbell arrives in London, in 1914, she's unable to fulfill her family's ambitions and find a position as an office secretary. Lying to her parents and her brother, Michael, she takes a job as a housemaid at Number 35, Park Lane, where she is quickly caught up in the lives of its inhabitants - in particular, those of its privileged son, Edward, and daughter, Beatrice - who is recovering from a failed relationship that would have taken her away from an increasingly stifling life.

Desperate to find a new purpose, Bea joins a group of radical suffragettes and strikes up an intriguing romance with an impassioned young lawyer. Unbeknownst to each of the young women, the choices they make amid the rapidly changing world of World War I will connect their chances at future happiness in dramatic and inevitable ways.

Critic Reviews:

"Set in the same time period as the popular Downton Abbey television series, this title will appeal to fans of its era." (Booklist)

Members Reviews:

Dissapointed

I got sucked into reading this book by the promise that it will appeal to Downton Abbey fans, plus I love reading about early 20th century and WWI. Well the book has none of the Downton magic - none. Plus, purely on literally merit, - why, oh why did she choose to write in the present tense? It's extremely awkward to read and at time hard to comprehend what the author was trying to say. Both main characters, in my opinion, were one-dimensional and lacked personality. The plot was uninteresting and entirely too predictable. I hear Ms Osborne is an accomplished non fictional writer, may be she should stick with that. I am extremely thoroughly dissapointed with 'Park Lane'.

Wonderful! Can't Wait for Her Next Book!

Frances Osborne has written an engaging and engrossing novel in the fine English tradition that has come down from Jane Austen. Bea and Grace are fully realized characters, as are their erstwhile brothers, Edward and Michael. Osborne creates an upstairs/downstairs world at once more believable than Downton Abbey but just as entertaining.

Seeing some of the negative reviews on this page was puzzling at first, but reading through them I have the feeling that these readers were expecting more of a light, 'romance' read, or a frothy sex romp, or something. But this is a fully realized novel with three-dimensional characters living out their story at a crucial period in world history.

In short---Buy it, read it, you won't be disappointed. You'll be looking forward to many more fine novels from Osborne in the coming years!

Park Lane

I really wanted to like Frances Osborne's latest book. The time around WW1 is a fascinating time in England, and everywhere else, with so many changes in the world and the way that women and families view themselves, the story should have been really special, but I didn't care about any of the characters. I was very disappointed after reading her first 2 non-fiction books Lilla's Feast and The Bolter, which were really fascinating. I would advise Osborne to stick to non-fiction , that seems to be her real forte , and additionally she has such unusual , and riveting members of her extended family / scandals and some very interesting people were part of her family tree, which is much more interesting than any novels she could come up with.

Park Lane is not Downton Abbey

Park Lane had two very interesting characters.