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The Children of Green Knowe

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The Children of Green Knowe

By: Lucy M. Boston
Narrated by: William Franklyn
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'What if my great-grandmother is a witch!' thought Tolly, as he journeyed by train across the waterlogged countryside towards his great-grandmother's house. She wasn't a witch, but both she and her old house, Green Knowe, were full of a very special kind of magic. And Green Knowe turned out not to be the lonely place Tolly had imagined it to be. There were other children living in the house - children who had been happy there centuries before....

©1954 L.M. Boston (P)2014 Audible, Inc. Science Fiction & Fantasy
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I used to listen to this as a kid, the opening takes me straight back to rainy afternoons the reader, this version, in my opinion beats the socks of the newer recording, has the perfect voice full of warmth and charm.
I've checked every few months for it for about three years now and when it came on I didn't wait for credits. I brought it straight away for early Christmas gift to my self.

The perfect ghost story for children at Christmas

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I have read this book every Christmas since childhood,but thought I would try the audio version this year. It did not disappoint..William Franklin’s narration is superb. Highly recommend.

Christmas tradition

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This timeless story, so sensitively written by Lucy Boston, gently takes the reader into a world of snow, friendship and magic. I grew up treasuring this book, reading and rereading many times over.

Whilst William Franklyn does justice to some sections of the story (e.g. the ‘action’ sequences), much of the beauty of the quieter scenes and nuances of the dialogue are lost. Please Audible, commission a sensitive narration!

Wonderful story needing a better narrator

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I love this story, it is Christmas to me. It's a lovely story, poignant in places but not a sad tale on the contrary it is uplifting. The narration is also spot on.

Wonderful

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What did you like most about The Children of Green Knowe?

I have adored this story ever since I first heard it on Jackanory in 1966. It predates Harry Potter as a children's story that is just as magical for grown ups. It's a ghost story about a little boy who finds himself spending Christmas with his great grandmother in a 1,000 year old house (which really exists and you can visit it) - and the ghosts of his ancestors. The writing and story telling are masterful and it's wonderful for dark winter evenings.Unfortunately William Franklyn isn't quite up to the job. He's great at narrative, but not good at female voices - he only has one voice for all the female characters. And his singing is execrable; flat as a pancake and no idea of the well known tunes he's supposed to sing. A little more attention to detail, such as having someone play the flute and a few children singng would make all the difference. And an actor or actress who can do more than one voice.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I love them all

Who might you have cast as narrator instead of William Franklyn?

Stephen Fry or Samantha Bond plus a decent flautist and some child singers.

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

Oh yesssss

Needs a new narrator

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