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A Woman of Substance

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A Woman of Substance

By: Barbara Taylor Bradford
Narrated by: Diana Quick
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About this listen

 Now a major new Channel 4 series starring Brenda Blethyn (Vera) and Jessica Reynolds (Outlander) from OBE‑honoured, award‑winning author Barbara Taylor Bradford

One girl. One secret. One unstoppable ascent.

In 1905 a young kitchen maid leaves Fairley Hall. Emma Harte is sixteen, single and pregnant.

By 1968 she is one of the richest women in the world, ruler of a business empire stretching from Yorkshire to the glittering cities of America and the rugged vastness of Australia.

But what is the price she has paid?

‘Rivals meets Poldark, with a dash of Downton and Dynasty’ Guardian

'Still a story for our times' The Times

‘ [This] blockbuster 1979 period saga of female empowerment has been remade for a new generation' Daily Mail

‘An extravagant, absorbing novel of love, courage, ambition, war, death and passion’ New York Times

‘Few novelists are as consummate as Barbara Taylor Bradford at keeping the reader turning the page. She is one of the best at spinning yarns’ Guardian

20th Century Coming of Age Genre Fiction Historical Historical Fiction Romance Feel-Good

Critic reviews

Praise for Barbara Taylor Bradford:

‘Few novelists are as consummate as Barbara Taylor Bradford at keeping the reader turning the page. She is one of the world’s best at spinning yarns’ Guardian

‘As romantic and thrilling as the rest’ Independent on Sunday

‘Another great yarn from the ultimate storyteller’ The Sun

‘An extravagant, absorbing novel of love, courage, ambition, war, death and passion.’
New York Times

All stars
Most relevant
I loved this book when I read it years ago and enjoyed the TVs mini series but this abridged version was rubbish it cut out almost everything I want the unabridged version

Disappointed

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Beautifully read but incredibly badly abridged. This first rate story reduced to a few headlines.

A Woman of little substance

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If u have read the original, this book will simply piss u off. It’s a waste of money for sure🙌🏽

Nonsense

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This abridged version has annihilated the story!!
Please can we have an unabridged version of this great book?!

Dreadful!

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What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

I chose this as I read the full novel years ago and wanted some easy listening for the car. I will admit to not noticing it was 'abridged' but by that it means the whole essence of the story is ignored and important scenes are missing.The treachery and intrigue of the tale is ignored. The Diana Quick's accents are abysmal for all characters, but her Yorkshire accents are the worst!

Has A Woman of Substance put you off other books in this genre?

No...just buying abridged ones. Once burned...

Who might you have cast as narrator instead of Diana Quick?

Someone good at accents

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from A Woman of Substance?

None

Any additional comments?

Total waste of money

Abridged? More like annihilated!

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