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A Place Called Winter

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A Place Called Winter

By: Patrick Gale
Narrated by: Patrick Gale
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About this listen

From the author of the best-selling Notes from an Exhibition comes an irresistible, searching, and poignant historical novel of love, relationships, secrets, and escape. To find yourself, sometimes you must lose everything .

A privileged elder son, and stammeringly shy, Harry Cane has followed convention at every step. Even the beginnings of an illicit, dangerous affair do little to shake the foundations of his muted existence - until the shock of discovery and the threat of arrest cost him everything.

Forced to abandon his wife and child, Harry signs up for emigration to the newly colonised Canadian prairies. Remote and unforgiving, his allotted homestead in a place called Winter is a world away from the golden suburbs of turn-of-the-century Edwardian England. And yet it is here, isolated in a seemingly harsh landscape, under the threat of war, madness, and an evil man of undeniable magnetism, that the fight for survival will reveal in Harry an inner strength and capacity for love beyond anything he has ever known before.

In this exquisite journey of self-discovery, loosely based on a real-life family mystery, Patrick Gale has created an epic, intimate human drama, both brutal and breathtaking. It is a novel of secrets, sexuality, and, ultimately, great love.

©2015 Patrick Gale (P)2015 Headline Digital
Historical Fiction Fiction Emotionally Gripping Heartfelt Inspiring Tear-jerking Thought-Provoking Scary Winter
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What listeners say about A Place Called Winter

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Painful, heart-breaking book

I listened to at least half of this book with a physical pain in my throat. I knew it wasn't going to be a happy story but the sense of impending tragedy that comes throughout the book kept me listening.

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5 people found this helpful

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thoroughly enjoyed the journey

I always enjoy a historical drama where the fact that it's about a gay man or woman is secondary to the good story. The setting of the story is very interesting starting in England and moving to Canada before the First World War. All the scenes that the author sets are just breathtaking. The conditions in Canada are well detailed. Harry's journey from privileged Englishman to working-class Canadian is the most interesting part for me. A very good read.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Captivating and complex

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this audio book and - knowing very little of the White settlement of Canada in the late 19th/early 20th century - I also found it historically enlightening and interesting. It was perhaps a bit slow to get started as we get a thorough introduction to Harry Cane's family and background, but it all deepens the listener's understanding of and sympathy for Harry whose life story is indeed a remarkable one. The narration seems a bit aloof, but I still liked the fact that it is the author himself who narrates the story as it adds an extra dimension to the characters; this is how he imagines they sound and act. Definitely recommended if you enjoy slow-paced historical novels with complex characters.

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Thoroughly Enjoyable

This story reinforced in me a belief in the kindness of fellow humans, of sympathy, empathy and compassion in the most challenging circumstances and particularly when up against convention, judgement and socially acceptable norms.

The tale unfolded beautifully and sometimes unexpectedly. I have read Patrick Gale's Notes From An Exhibition and enjoyed that also, however I don't find his narrating skills as appealing as his writing. It didn't spoil the experience and I urge listeners not to let it put you off.

Lovely, moving story with characters that have stayed with me and are vivid in my imagination.

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4 people found this helpful

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Poignant slow burner

An exploration of several difficult themes:- sexuality, mental illness, war and immigration wrapped up in a riveting story set in early 20th century Canadian prairie. Like all Gale’s novels the scrupulous details of everyday farming life and family relationships create a vivid imaginary world. A bitter sweet ending. My only bugbear was the portrayal of native Indians felt rather stereotypical although sympathetic. Surely they were not all mystical Shaman or illiterate...

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Wonderful book

What made the experience of listening to A Place Called Winter the most enjoyable?

The fact it was based on true events; it gave the listener an insight into life at that time and how prejudiced the world was, and how little they understood about homosexuality.

What did you like best about this story?

All of it.

What about Patrick Gale’s performance did you like?

Easy to listen to.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The scenes in the asylum

Any additional comments?

Great book, recommended. Will be reading more books by this author.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Fascinating story beautifully written

loved the story, the characters and the narration throught. was really sorry it finished whilst I walked around Athens.

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  • Overall
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ugh so beautiful it hurt

I'm so happy to have read this. I recognised so much of myself in this novel: very true issues surrounding shame and masochistic relationships. The ending was so beautiful, sad, and satisfying.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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It was beautifully told.

It was beautifully told. Loved it, cried, felt the despair & hope. Really good book

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Spectacular!

A beautiful written and compelling book. I took longer routes to work as I didn't want to stop listening.

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