Mother's Boy
A stunning novel of Cornwall, war and hidden love
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Mother's Boy
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Narrated by:
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Patrick Gale
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By:
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Patrick Gale
About this listen
From the best-selling author of A Place Called Winter comes Mother's Boy, a superb historical novel of Cornwall, class, desire and two world wars.
Laura, an impoverished Cornish girl, meets her husband when they are both in service in Teignmouth in 1916. They have a baby, Charles, but Laura's husband returns home from the trenches a damaged man, already ill with the tuberculosis that will soon leave her a widow. In a small, class-obsessed town she raises her boy alone, working as a laundress and gradually becomes aware that he is some kind of genius.
As an intensely private young man, Charles signs up for the navy with the new rank of coder. His escape from the tight, gossipy confines of Launceston to the colour and violence of war sees him blossom as he experiences not only the possibility of death, but the constant danger of a love that is as clandestine as his work.
Mother's Boy is the story of a man who is among yet apart from his fellows, in thrall to yet at a distance from his own mother; a man being shaped for a long, remarkable and revered life spent hiding in plain sight. But it is equally the story of the dauntless mother who will continue to shield him long after the dangers of war are past.
©2022 Patrick Gale (P)2022 Headline Publishing Group LtdListeners also enjoyed...
Critic reviews
"One of the joys of Gale's writing is how even the smallest of characters can appear fully formed, due to a charming wickedness alongside deeper observations." (Irish Times)
"A writer with heart, soul and a dark and naughty wit, one whose company you relish and trust." (Observer)
What listeners say about Mother's Boy
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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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
- Gillian
- 06-02-24
Very abrupt ending.
A gentle story but I don’t share the feelings of other reviewers who appear blown away by it. It was enjoyable but has a very abrupt ending. I bought this in one of the 2 for 1 sales, taking advantage of the opportunity to try something different from my normal fare and I don’t regret it but I’m not tempted to listen to more from this 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
- Charlotte Buchanan
- 16-11-22
Beautifully Cornish
Such brilliant description of the county where I was born with moving detail about the deep impact of war. I loved this listen and was sad when the book ended. Give it a listen!
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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
- Anonymous User
- 31-01-24
Another wonderful Patrick Gale novel
Beautifully read by the author adding to a warm, fascinating story of war, family friendships + of course Cornwall.
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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
- Julian
- 22-04-22
A wonderful story
I found Patrick Gale's most moving. Patrick's narration is sublime. The story has depth of emotion in its subtlety. A great retelling of a life.
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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
- Anonymous User
- 08-11-22
Excellent and enlightening story
I didn’t know of Charles Causeley when I bought this novel & I feel now I’ve made a friend! It’s a beautiful fictional telling of his life which embraces life in pre and post war Cornwall and the wartime years for Charles in the Navy. Highly recommend.
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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
- Pat Lynch
- 24-12-22
A Mother's Love
Because they are telling the story of a life, factional stories can sometimes lack in the necessary plot devices of a more traditional novel but here that is more than made up for by the affection and warmth that Gale brings to his subject. If Causley is well drawn it is mother Laura who is the hero of the piece. From the outset she fills each scene with her simple loving presence of hardwork and genuine decency. Her gorgeous courtship with Causley's father is made all the more poignant by how tragically fleeting their lives together are to be. From the playful Cornish accents to this dip into a very different time and place this is a story to fill you with warmth and belief in the goodness of people and community. All delivered of course by an absolute master of this craft. Brilliant.
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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
- Mac
- 19-07-22
Beautifully researched and written
I always love Patrick Gale’s writing, and have enjoyed several of his books on Audible.
Some people have criticised his reading of his own material. I speak as a performer myself when I say that his reading of his own work gives it an extra dimension. His voice is warm and embracing.
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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
- Mr K P Stratfull
- 17-07-22
Wonderful novel - Beautifully narrated
Sad,touching,heartwarming novel about a son and mother's relationship.Brilliantly poetic passages with mouthwatering descriptions of the Cornish landscape...and food!
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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
- Lesley
- 30-09-22
excellent
what an excellent story, which I suddenly realised was about a loved poet,Charles Causley.I am now intrigued to find out more about him
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- rose
- 16-04-24
brings history alive
I felt so part of the story and drifted along with a more closely discription of a sailors life in war time...and a understanding of having to live in a not so enlightened time.
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