
Black Diamonds
The Rise and Fall of an English Dynasty
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Narrated by:
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Gareth Armstrong
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By:
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Catherine Bailey
About this listen
Brought to you by Penguin.
An extraordinary tale of family feuds, forbidden love, civil unrest and the downfall of a mining dynasty
Wentworth in Yorkshire was surrounded by 70 collieries employing tens of thousands of men. It is the finest and largest Georgian house in Britain and belonged to the Fitzwilliam family.
England's forgotten palace, it belonged to Britain's richest aristocrats. Black Diamonds tells the story of its demise: family feuds, forbidden love, class war, and a tragic and violent death played their part. But coal, one of the most emotive issues in twentieth century British politics, lies at its heart.
This is the extraordinary story of how the fabric of English society shifted beyond recognition in fifty turbulent years in the twentieth century.
©2022 Catherine Bailey (P)2022 Penguin AudioCritic reviews
"Magnificent...peels back the grand façade of Wentworth to reveal a family riven with fueds, mental illness and forbidden love." (Tatler)
"A compelling new history...fascinating insights into the dynasty that once ruled this Yorkshire roost." (Daily Mail)
"An aristocratic tale of epic proportions, this gripping novel cleverly interweaves interviews, letters and historical fact...Fascinating." (Easy Living)
Having spent some time at Wentworth in my early teens, it was good to hear about the history of the house and family. Familiar village names are mentioned along with Sheffield where I was born. Since listening to this book, I have been back to Wentworth House after discovering it now belongs to the nation and is open to the public. It is possible to take a special tour of the house that relates to the book.
Wentworth House gift shop sells the book Black Diamonds, along with Black Diamonds Gin!
I highly recommend this book and a visit to Wentworth House.
Excellent wish I had found this title earlier.
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Family relationships - how they have changed
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Interesting
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Local history
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The local and society accents are very well-performed. Only a few mis-speakings - some local names like Elsecar and Hoyland defeated the narrator!
Enthralling weaving of story and social history
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Loved it!
Enjoyed every word
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Most enlightening......
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fascinating stories about local history
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Truly amazing
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Just brilliant
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