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South Riding cover art

South Riding

By: Winifred Holtby
Narrated by: Carole Boyd
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Summary

In this rich and memorable evocation of the fictional South Riding of Yorkshire are the lives, loves and sorrows of the central characters.

There is Sarah Burton, fiery young headmistress; Robert Carne of Maythorpe Hall, a councillor tormented by his own disastrous marriage; Jo Astell, a socialist fighting poverty and his own illness; and Mrs Beddows, the first woman Alderman of the district (like Winifred's own mother). They are the people who work together in the council chambers and backrooms of local politics. Alongside them, however, are the people affected by their decisions.

©2009 Winifred Holtby (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

What listeners say about South Riding

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

South Riding re-visited

I first read Winifred Holtby's South Riding more than 35 years ago and loved it. The writing is wonderful and the story moving and uplifting. In 1974 I watched the Yorkshire Television dramatisation with Dorothy Tutin and Nigel Davenport - a true adaptation and captivating. So I came to the unabridged audio version with high hopes and expectations. It didn't disappoint. It is beautifully read by Carole Boyd. If you only know her from her incarnation as the shrill Linda Snell in the Archers then be prepared for a surprise. She has a sensitive, versatile voice which picks up every nuance of the written word. I loved this audio experience. Without doubt the best listen of my audio year.

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24 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

South Riding

I took me some time to get into it. But then I could hardly put down my earphones intrigued by the story as well as the wonderful listening. Probably not the book you like to read whilst roasting on the beach but being snuggled up on a sofa with a cup of tea and biscuits or a long journey you do not have to concentrate on the traffic.

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13 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Shirley recommended this so warmly on Radio 4's Good Read

I am so pleased that I listened to this rather than read it off the page as the reader's, Carole Boyd, sympathetic interpretation of the text and convincing use of the Yorkshire accent added to its authenticity

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7 people found this helpful

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

a wonderful saga

This is one of my favourite novels and I go back to it again and again. I can't imagine a better narrator than Carole Boyd - if you know her as Linda Snell from The Archers you might be surprised at her range and versatility. The story is set in the 1930s in the fictional South Riding of Yorkshire, and is part social commentary and part a beautifully drawn and poignant story of the meshed lives of its characters, from the aristocratic but doomed Robert Carne and his daughter Midge, to Sarah Burton, feminist and unconventional new headmistress of the local girls' high school, to the impoverished Holly family and their brilliant daughter Lydia. A portrait of a society in flux; politics, morals, manners, and the humanity of the ordinary and extraordinary men and women who people this quiet corner of England. Winifred Holtby wrote other novels but this is her best, a real tour de force.

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6 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A must listen to audiobook.

Wonderfully relaxing novel. Beautifully read by Carole Boyd. Will return to again in the not too distant future.

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3 people found this helpful

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  • D
  • 04-09-20

Excellent

I really enjoyed this book, a portrait of life in the 30s. Characters who held your interest. I had feared it might be a bit dated, bur no. First class narration.

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3 people found this helpful

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

highly recommend

Loved it! The narrator had such a great range of expression and the story has really stood the test of time

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2 people found this helpful

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

Writer and reader - perfectly matched

Another classic I had somehow managed to avoid and which I don't think I would read, but as an audio book it is perfect.

I have so enjoyed being led through the small-town local politics, family dramas, big and small, and human observations of the South Riding in the 1930s. No character is sketchily drawn - they all have their moment and the economy of description is so good. I enjoyed the inter-twined plots very much.

Carole Boyd is my favourite female reader. It seems effortless to her (I am sure it's not!) and she adds a great deal to the overall enjoyment.

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2 people found this helpful

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

wonderful book, wonderful reading

full of drama, humanity and humour, all brought out by a mistresseful performance, absolutely loved it, written with wisdom and love for the people of Yorkshire

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1 person found this helpful

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

Absolutely wonderful

I read South Riding when i was still at school but had forgotten completely the story. When I saw that it was available on Audible with it being read by Carole Boyd it was an opportunity too good to miss. The story although being set in the 1930s didn’t seem as dated as it might have been. Carole Boyd made the book really accessible using all the vocal change of characters done so brilliantly. Was sorry when it ended although I did get slightly confused with the characters starting with S. Will listen to it again definitely.

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