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Lady Audley's Secret

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Lady Audley's Secret

By: Mary Elizabeth Braddon
Narrated by: Olivia Poulet
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About this listen

Summary

From the author of The Christmas Hirelings comes this Audible Exclusive production of Mary Elizabeth Braddon’s classic sensation novel Lady Audley’s Secret. English actress Olivia Poulet gives an assured and captivating narration; a cornerstone of the genre and a scandal at the time of its publication, Lady Audley’s Secret is an entertaining and shocking tale of high drama and shifting perceptions. Finding herself at the centre of an investigation into the disappearance of a local man, the beautiful yet mysterious Lady Audley must use all her deceit and cunning to prevent the truth being discovered.

About the book

Published in 1862, Lady Audley’s Secret is one of Mary Elizabeth Braddon’s most successful and well-known pieces of work. A founding text of the sensation novel genre, it delivers high drama with mystery, intrigue and plot twists aplenty. Comfortable in her place as a Lady of Audley Court, the beautiful and enchanting Lucy Graham soon finds her status brought into question following the disappearance of a man recently returned from Australia. As the hunt for the missing man intensifies, the threads of Lady Audley’s story begin to unravel, and our antiheroine must do all she can to prevent her past from catching up with her. Playing on Victorian anxieties about the domestic sphere and social mobility, Lady Audley’s Secret was a scandal for its Victorian audience. Its engrossing secrets and startling revelations continue to shock and entertain to this day.

About the Author

Mary Elizabeth Braddon was a popular English author who earned success in the Victorian era with her sensation novels. Born in London in 1835, she was raised by her mother, Fanny, after her parents’ separation. As a teenager Mary first began working as an actress, but after eight years, and with declining popularity and waning interest, she instead turned to writing. Her prolific output resulted in over 80 novels and 150 short stories as well as plays and articles. Braddon is best known for her novel Lady Audley’s Secret, which combines elements of the detective novel, the psychological thriller and the romantic comedy to become one of the most successful novels of the 19th century.

About the Narrator

Olivia Poulet is an English actress and screenwriter who made her acting debut in 2001 in episodes of Teachers and The Bill. Born in London in 1978, Olivia attended Putney High School before becoming a drama graduate of Manchester University. With appearances in film and on radio and stage, she is best known for her work on television, starring in the multi-award-winning British shows Outnumbered, The Thick of It, Sherlock and Holby City.

Public Domain (P)2019 Audible, Ltd
Classics Drama & Plays European World Literature Celebrity Fiction Feel-Good Disappearance British Literature

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Although at times I was confused with all the names and relationships etc and had to go back over it, it was worthwhile. There were lots of twists and turns and lots of sometimes superfluous detail. It got so I just kept wanting to listen to find out what happened. Which has got to be a sign of a good book

Good entertainment

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I knew that this was a famous Victorian ‘sensation novel’ so listened to this expecting to be amused. It was gripping: well plotted with excellent descriptions and characterisation and fast paced. The reader took it seriously and gave a range of voices and accents that added to my enjoyment. I would listen to it again.

An exciting story, well written and beautifully read

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Not finished this yet, can't stop listen g to it but dreading it ending. It's a psychological thriller but written with beautiful lyrical passages, and astute observations both of their time and timeless. Jane Austen meets PD James. Can't recommend enough!

Absolutely compelling.

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Well read and full of twists and turns. Reminded me of Wilkie Collins. Recommended - especially as free with Audible Plus.

Very entertaining story

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This was a surprise. I didn't expect the fast pace of the book [most books of that time drag sometimes] and did not expect the events which happened to be so graphic. It is classed as a "sensation" novel and I think it must have been shocking in its time. I think it was well-written on the whole and I would read more by this author I think.
What I liked most was the differentiation between the characters and the part they played in the whole book and also the incidental information one is given about what life was like at that time - the description of the countryside, London, the railway [who knew there were express trains to Essex?] etc.
The narrator did a good job on the whole....but I had to turn down the speed on the book - she was going so fast! But she did well on the different characters etc to make it an enjoyable listen.
Yes, glad I listened to it.

Gothic with a difference!

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Well read enjoyable story of a different era, easy to listen to. I recommend it

Well worth a listen

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I enjoyed the story well enough albeit a bit contrived, I found the reader far too rushed and did not care for the tone of her voice and nearly didn’t finish the book because of this which took from the story.

Enjoyable tale

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Loved it x like georgette heyer novels. Very good enjoyed immenslyv tge story cleverly thought out. And reader was lovely. Except from don j juan . Lol !!

Beilliantv

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I’m now looking for other books by this author, interesting and long too which is great thanks

Great story and narrator

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Loved it well worth a listen with an unexpected twist that I did not expect

Good

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