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Giving Up the Ghost

A Memoir

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Giving Up the Ghost

By: Hilary Mantel
Narrated by: Jane Wymark
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About this listen

Opening with "A Second Home", in which Mantel describes the death of her stepfather, Giving Up the Ghost is a wry, shocking, and beautifully written memoir of childhood, ghosts (real and metaphorical), illness, and family. Finally, at the memoir's conclusion, Mantel explains how a series of medical misunderstandings and neglect left her childless, and how the ghosts of the unborn have come to haunt her life as a writer.

©2003 Hilary Mantel (P)2012 W F Howes Ltd Art & Literature Authors Memoir Haunted Emotionally Gripping Inspiring Heartfelt Thought-Provoking Ghost
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What did you like most about Giving Up the Ghost?

The author's fiercely loud and beautiful use of words. They fight brilliantly with and for a hard life.

What did you like best about this story?

It is a prismatic, not " true" version of a life in depth..but of enormous value in breaking the ice in the ocean surrounding one's own life.

Who might you have cast as narrator instead of Jane Wymark?

Sorry, but it is over acted..a terrible no, no in a memoir of significance. The person who read Mantel's short stories was more realistic in her approach.

Any additional comments?

Listen to this and enjoy.

Acerbic but nice

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I have never read any of Hilary Mantel’s books, but I most certainly will after listening to this beautifully written autobiography, which moved me greatly. It is brought to life by the excellent performance of Jane Wymark.

A beautifully written, performed and moving book.

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I really loved this! Very moving and beautifully written. Wonderful narration. One of the best I’ve listened to this year.

One of my best listens this year!

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As a huge fan of Hilary Mantel’s writing, I eagerly listened to the Radio 4 Book of the Week excerpts of this but I am so glad I then downloaded the whole book - there’s so much in here that resonates with recent history of life in England, she has given me an insight into the world my parents grew up in for which I am profoundly grateful. Seeing the world through her eyes I can also now finally understand how she was uniquely able to create such a vivid reader experience with the Wolf Hall trilogy. The narration on the audible version is also, in my opinion, pitch perfect. I feel overwhelmed - I need to take a few days to process this before reading anything else. Rest in peace Hilary Mantel, you gave us so much. Thank you.

Wow - absolutely spellbound by this book

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This a gorgeous, funny, sad book: Jane Wymark’s reading captures all its nuances. Highly recommended.

Beautifully read

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