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The Passion

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The Passion

By: Jeanette Winterson
Narrated by: Daniel Pirrie, Tania Rodrigues
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About this listen

Henri had a passion for Napoleon, and Napoleon had a passion for chicken. From Boulogne to Moscow Henri butchered for his emperor and never killed a single man.

Meanwhile, in Venice, the city of chance and disguises, Villanelle was born with the webbed feet of her boatman father - but in the casinos she gambled her heart and lost.

As the soldier-chef's love for Napoleon turns to hate, he finds the Venetian beauty, and together they flee to the canals of darkness.

©1987 Jeanette Winterson (P)2015 Audible, Ltd Historical Fiction Heartfelt

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I didn’t know what to expect with this title, but was very pleasantly surprised. I’ve read some of Jeanette Winterson’s more autobiographical writing, which was very enjoyable but this is in another league again. Lyrically arresting in its elegance and poignant as a story, beautifully voiced by both narrators (although I found the changeover a jolt at first), definitely a standout among the audiobooks I’ve listened to.

A delight to the senses

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If you love Winterson at her best, you’ll love this book. The readers capture the dreamlike magic of her writing perfectly.

Classic Winterson

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Enjoyed it as much as original version- definitely a book to re read when you need to listen to a good tale.

Classic Winterson

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I really enjoyed Jeanette W‘s “Oranges are…” and “Why be happy…” but am unsure about “The Passion”. There are vivid and evocatively written passages, but these feel mismatched with the novel as a whole, where different storylines seem forced together. The impetus of the book dwindles as the author allows promising lead characters to disappoint at the end.

Disappointing

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Jeanette Winterson's storytelling is superb, and it is narrated well by both narrators. Favourite fiction listen.

Incredible

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In this strikingly original novel the Napoleonic Wars are enmeshed with magical realism via Jeanette Winterson's lucid prose. (Her simile comparing the act of inhaling the frozen air of the Russian winter to being embalmed is one which will stay with me.) Like the magical sections of "Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit", this book has at times a distant fairytale feel to it in spite of its historical setting. Although initially I didn't feel a strong affinity with Henri, I identified with Villanelle immediately, and shortly after her introduction, I found myself getting much more involved with Henri's story. By the end of the book I was emotionally invested in both characters.

As with all Jeanette Winterson's books, be prepared to give "The Passion" the attention which it deserves, so that you can fully enjoy the exploration of different types of love. I devoured the whole novel (187 intense pages or 5.5 quite demanding hours of audiobook) in one sitting and was glad I had the time to do so; I don't think I would have appreciated it nearly so much in multiple short sessions. I am sure it is a book to which I shall return.

I can recommend the audiobook, though I did find Tania Rodriguez' reading of Villanelle's viewpoint a little robotic, yet at the same time, breathy.

Magical realism meets historical fiction

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The story was really interesting and original, but it felt like the women's voice lack passion. Ironically. At times it was as if she was reading a news broadcast.

Brilliant story not sure about the narration

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I loved this book but didn’t enjoy the voice of the Villanelle. It was too robotic.

Fantastic book

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This is a beautifully written book as ever, fantastical and provoking. There are two narrators, and the female drove me insane. She sounds like an over the top computer voice. If this was re-recorded and used along side Daniel Pirrie - it would be a far better experience. A narrator can kill a great novel dead.

Would be better if the female narrator was replaced

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This is one of my favourite books of all time
It's about humanity, love, what motivates us. How well we do or dont understand ourselves and each other.
Beautifully done through a historical context, with some fairy-tale like magical realism thrown in.

Beautiful, magnetic genius.

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