Small Bomb at Dimperley
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Small Bomb at Dimperley
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Narrated by:
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Lucy Briers
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By:
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Lissa Evans
About this listen
Brought to you by Penguin.
Discover the heartwarming, witty, and poignant new historical novel about changing (sometimes reluctantly) with the times set in the aftermath of WW2, perfect for fans of Maggie O'Farrell and Rachel Joyce.
It's 1945, and Corporal Valentine Vere-Thissett, aged 23, is on his way home.
But ‘home’ is Dimperley, built in the 1500s, vast and dilapidated, up to its eaves in debt and half-full of fly-blown taxidermy and dependent relatives, the latter clinging to a way of life that has gone forever.
And worst of all - following the death of his heroic older brother - Valentine is now Sir Valentine, and is responsible for the whole bloody place. To Valentine, it’s a millstone; to Zena Baxter, who has never really had a home before being evacuated there with her small daughter, it’s a place of wonder and sentiment, somewhere that she can’t bear to leave.
But Zena has been living with a secret, and the end of the war means she has to face a reckoning of her own…
Funny, sharp and touching, Small Bomb at Dimperley is both a love story and a bittersweet portrait of an era of profound loss, and renewal.
'Generous, touching and romantic' Clare Chambers
'Incredibly assured and affecting... the perfect novel to be read in such dark times’ Graham Norton
'Wodehouse meets Barbara Pym… Funny, poignant, perfect' Daisy Goodwin
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Critic reviews
'An irresistible novel which combines a crumbling once-grand house, bumbling aristos clinging to the pre-war past, and the magnificent Zena Baxter, one of my all-time favourite heroines. This is Lissa Evans at the peak of her mighty powers' (India Knight)
'A glorious read. I laughed many times rejoicing in the wit, cleverness and humanity' (Elizabeth Buchan)
'I loved this. Brilliantly funny, moving and joyous. Also, there’s a perfect moment – when one character moves from liking someone to love' (Catherine Johnson)
What listeners say about Small Bomb at Dimperley
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Sarah O'Dea
- 13-09-24
Brilliant
Funny & beautifully written, a wonderful cast of characters, great narrator and a lovely story - a joy to listen to!
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Green Henry
- 09-04-25
Very cosy. Excellent narration. Well written.
I enjoyed the writing and the story was enjoyable, if slightly predictable. The characters were three dimensional and attractive. The narration made the most of all of it and I’d certainly try another
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- C. Bowden
- 09-12-24
Lovely story.
Takes us back to the post war years at a struggling country house but many voices and views are brought together in a lovely story.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- J. Dixon
- 02-12-24
Bit predictable but sweet
A pleasant read, a little formulaic but entertaining with nice characters. Very lighthearted and uplifting
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jilx
- 27-01-25
Gentle humour
Loved all of it. Memorable characters, atmosphere of the period vividly drawn, lightness of touch
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- MABS
- 11-03-25
Happy escapism
Oh this was a treat.
Really enjoyable, I’d recommend.
I was sad when it ended and will listen to others by the author.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Client d'Amazon
- 02-05-25
Wonderful charaters
I can't remember when I last enjoyed a book as much. Beautiful writing , packed with details.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Bridget Cusack
- 26-09-24
Witty and delightful story full of authentic detail and well observed characters.
I’m on board with any story set in a decaying English mansion and if interesting characters and dry wit are thrown in, then so much the better. Lucy Briers is a brilliant narrator.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Head Coach
- 28-11-24
Great story and wonderful characters
It all starts quite slowly but this story reeled me in and I loved many of the characters who were very well brought to life. Humour also crept in when I wasn't looking and I found myself laughing out loud frequently in the second half of the book. Narration is excellent.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Blondie
- 30-12-24
Another great book by Lissa Evans!
This was a wonderful book and I love the narration by Lucy Briers. Her observations funny, interesting, witty and the characters are always so well formed. I'm sad that it's over!
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