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Title: History of a Pleasure Seeker

Author: Richard Mason

Narrator: Dan Stevens

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 47 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-06-11

Publisher: Orion Publishing Group Limited

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 8 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Piet Barol is an alluring and intelligent young man who has escaped his drab existence, living with his father in the university town of Leiden, and moved to Amsterdam to take up a job at a stunning mansion in the city's 'Gilded Curve'. He has been employed by the extremely wealthy Vermeulen-Sickerts family to tutor their son Egbert, a boy with prodigious musical talent who has not set foot outside for a year and a half. Piet soon attracts the attentions of Constance and Louisa, the boy's two sisters, and their mother Jacobina who has been living in a sexless marriage since her husband made a pledge to God. Piet is determined to find a way of gaining entry to high society, through the family, although he must also retain the good will of his fellow servants. Piet finds many ways to pursue his pleasure-seeking ways, but when he seduces - or is seduced by - Jacobina, the future he has been so carefully building could vanish...

Members Reviews:

Surprisingly pleasurable...

This fabulous story was not what I expected, however, I was pleasantly surprised by how well it progressed on its journey of love and betrayal mixed with at times shocking eroticism. The main character was portrayed in a way which made me both love him and hate him, but in the end wanting him to succeed... The open ending has left much to be desired - so to speak - and it will be interesting to see what happens next to Piet Barol.

Dan Stevens' narration is simply perfect, no surprises there (he is indeed one of my favourite actors). I have listened to this book twice now. :)

Beautifully Written

I loved this book & didn't want it to end, The narration was perfect & the musical inserts added to the enjoyment. You really felt as though you were living through it & the characters were very believable. Can't wait for the next one.

Super scrummy

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Absolutely. I've forced two friends to take it on and they adored it too; partly because the novel is rich and unusual and compelling and partly because we would listen to Dan Stevens read out numbers from the 'phone book; his voice is warm and confiding and a bit secretive which suits Piet Barol.

What other book might you compare History of a Pleasure Seeker to, and why?

To Jesse Burton's The Miniaturist - if only geographically and because it touches on things that Anglophones find fascinating about Holland - but some of the historical setting puts one in mind of Proust or Miklos Banffy.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

The Bath Tub! I had to stop the car. But there were a great number of good scenes and barely any of them dragged.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

You really can't improve on the title.

Any additional comments?

An excellent pairing of novel and narrator.

Terrific storytelling by both author and narrator

This book ended far too quickly for me. It was a clever story, really rich in detail and characterisation, and Dan Stevens was an inspired narrator. His voice perfectly captured the beautiful language that Richard Mason wrote, and I was engaged throughout.

'A sharply written story of love and money

Any additional comments?

Piet Barol has an instinctive appreciation for pleasure and a gift for finding it.