Genius writing complimented by marvellous narration

Don’t be put off by the few negative reviews - why do we always give them more weight than multiples of great ones?
I wasn’t sure if this audiobook was going to be for me, based on some of the reviews. I’m not particularly literary and worried “all the poetry” would be beyond me but I needn’t have worried. Samuel West’s narration is exceptional, carrying me away to mythical lands and back to tide pools in Yorkshire.
I’ve a hole in me now that the book has ended.

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6 people found this helpful

Brilliantly read, moving and moreish!

I didn't think I was going to enjoy this book, I got it on a 2 for 1 and was going to exchange it but gave it a go and got really immersed in it. Admittedly I fell in and out a bit, as there is some poetic writing and a lot of letters (which I enjoyed but couldn't follow sometimes), but by the end I was hooked emotionally and was sad for it to end. Well worth persevering with a beautiful and satisfying end. Brilliantly read, moving and moreish!

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2 people found this helpful

great

Having read this book 3 or 4 times already, wanted to try listening. Not disappointed at all, Samuel West narrates beautifully.

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1 person found this helpful

Love story , detective story, magical, mythical,

Brilliant storytelling, intriguing , essentially a love story / detective story. Academics Roland and Maude untangle clues, letters,legends to discover a love affair between two Victorian poets, Christabel la Motte and Randolph Henry Ash. Their detective journey takes them to wild and beautiful yorkshire, to the bleak and beautiful coast of Brittany. Pursued by an unscrupulous, wealthy collector who is prepared to trick , deceive and grave rob to get his hands on the letters.

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1 person found this helpful

Enjoyable story

It took a while to get into this might have been easier reading rather than listening. Once in it was a really enjoyable listen. I sussed the whole Maud/ daughter ancestry thing quote early on so no surprises there for me but it didn’t detract. Overall a good listen, the narrator was fabulous.

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1 person found this helpful

Awe Inspiring and Immersive

Well... who would have thought a story about academic research could be so utterly gripping!?

This is a remarkable piece of literature that confirms my view that A. S. Byatt is one of the true greats of British Literature. Not only does she create a twisting, coiling narrative that makes us a gasp audibly at times, she creates a set of characters who remind us of the need to look beyond first impressions and search for the humanity and vulnerability within.

The world of Possession is so immersive that I had to pause at one point to double-check I was reading a work of fiction. I wanted to read more of the work of the two Victorian literary giants central to the novel, only to realise that their bodies of work were also invented by Byatt herself.

Subtly feminist, powerfully compassionate, this is one to read and read again. We grow to love even the most jarring characters by the end as we learn their stories and discover their truth.

It's not an 'easy' book. It challenges, takes commitment and concentration but my goodness is it worth it. It's the best novel I've read this year by a country mile.

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Brilliant!

Beautifully narrated - wonderful mystery/love story of epic proportions- highly recommended for those who love a well-written evocation of academia, poetry and romance.

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Moving, thought-provoking

Beautifully written, gripping story - a meditation on biography and the intersections of art and life.

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Just wonderful

I tried to read this 30+ years ago but couldn't grasp it and didn't finish it.. I somehow knew that one day I would return to it and boy, am I glad I did. It is a delicious tale, wonderfully narrated - a story to experience and luxuriate in. Sad that the author passed away last year.

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A literary masterpiece!

I'm so pleased I persevered through the parts I found challenging to follow. There are so many different styles of writing in the book, from journals to poems and multiple relationships over different time periods, Antonia really makes you work to understand her book.
in conclusion, I loved it. it's a masterpiece, and I feel I need to re-read it because I'm certain I'll absorb more delights, not necessarily given the respect deserved, on the first read.

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