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The Daughter of Time
- Narrated by: Derek Jacobi
- Series: Inspector Alan Grant, Book 5
- Length: 5 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Literature & Fiction, Classics
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Summary
'Truth is the Daughter of Time' is an old proverb. And The Daughter of Time is Josephine Tey's search for the truth about the murder of the Princes in the Tower. Was the hunchback, Richard III, the monster that Shakespeare and the history books have made him out to be? With real brilliance she conducts her search in the form of a crime novel, and her investigator is none other than her famous detective, Inspector Alan Grant, who starts to examine the centuries-old scandal.
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What listeners say about The Daughter of Time
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall
- jen
- 24-12-12
Tey's thought provoking Daughter of Time
In her last novel published in 1951 Josephine Tey used a story involving her detective character Inspector Alan Grant to present her detailed research into Richard III and the murder of the Princes in the Tower. I first read this in the 70's and it made me realise that what we are told about people and events in history should not always be taken as the truth. With the possible discovery of King Richard's skeleton, I felt it was time to revisit this story through this excellent reading by Derek Jacobi. Truth is the Daughter of Time, as Josephine Tey's compelling narrative allows her readers to discover.
25 people found this helpful
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- WoodWild
- 07-01-15
Ahead of its time....by 50 years
Written in 1951, it's a cross between rear window and the greatest history class you never had, as an injured detective solves a true historical murder mystery from his bed....
16 people found this helpful
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- Kris
- 13-04-13
Truth....
I was delighted to come back to this classic Josephine Tey. I first read it at school when a fiercely Richardian, anti Henry Vll history teacher was looking at the period. It's a brilliantly constructed re-examination of what was known at the time about Richard's history, given new resonance by the recent discovery in Leicester of the dead king's body. It's inspired me to listen to all of Tey's detective novels again starting with The Franchise Affair, another classic.
13 people found this helpful
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- Marjorie
- 13-04-13
Richard Didn't Do It !
The arguments concerning Richard the Third's part in the deaths of the Princes in the Tower have been resurrected recently because of the discovery of his body . Josephine Tey wrote " The Daughter of Time " long before the renewed interest in the subject but her arguments are relevant and clearly explained through the detective work of a temporarily bedridden policeman and his increasingly enthusiastic researcher . Both are sceptical at first but become more and more convinced of Richard's innocence , as does the reader .This is a very readable book and a challenge to anyone who unthinkingly accepts the Tudor version of events on which we were all brought up .
11 people found this helpful
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- Julie Bail
- 02-02-13
Enthralling
I had read all Ms Tey's books bar this one. I had put it off, thinking oh I am not that interested in the murder of the Princes, what a mistake. I listened to it straight through.
Derek Jacobi reads superbly. The story is gripping and past paced, showing the twists and turns of uncovering the truth, with interesting characters and observations about vested interests and bias and reputation along the way as temporarily bedbound Inspector Grant and his offsiders put the pieces together.
10 people found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 04-04-13
5 stars!
So I thought I knew history. But what you think is fact can be hearsay, heresy to any good Police Officer.
Here is History easily presented and beautifuly read by Jacobi. I'm off to see what other stories Tey has written...
7 people found this helpful
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- Roxy Peel
- 01-04-15
Wonderful book
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
This is one of my favourite books of all time. Really makes your opinion of Richard the Third take on a sympathetic view instead of the one drummed into you at school and the character created by Shakespeare.
Considering this book was written over 50 years ago very topical now Richard's remains have been found.
Wish he could have been buried in York. The only city to declare at his death "what a good and honourable king died this day."
What was one of the most memorable moments of The Daughter of Time?
Proof that Richard did not murder the princes.
Which character – as performed by Derek Jacobi – was your favourite?
All were great.
If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?
Justice at last.
5 people found this helpful
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- Kathryn
- 07-04-13
Addicted to past mysteries
I found this book to be one of those that draws you in slowly and before you know it, you can't wait to get back to it. I started it while on a long solo drive. I was so entranced, that I arrived home with fewer stops. It was an easy listen. I will definitely keep in my library. For a cold winters weekend in the future. The voice of Derek Jacobi is always easy to listen to, his switch between characters was excellent and I began to forget that it was only one actor. If you like an intriguing historical mysteries, I recommend this one.
4 people found this helpful
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- janet
- 10-07-13
A Book to return to ...
What made the experience of listening to The Daughter of Time the most enjoyable?
I first read this as a real paper and print book many years ago, and was fascinated by the mixture of fact, supposition and fiction, which is presented as a detective story. At the time I was swayed to a considerable degree of sympathy with King Richard. With the recent discovery of his remains and popular adaptations of other authors which present a complex picture of the man, this book is very topical. If you enjoy a good detective story, history and excellent writing, this is a great listen as well as a great read.
What was one of the most memorable moments of The Daughter of Time?
I rarely read a book twice, but this is my third time round for Josephine Tey's Daughter of Time. It has levels of interest which reveal each time.
What about Derek Jacobi’s performance did you like?
Fact, Fiction, Supposition, all parts of a good detective novel, presented without the guns and chases.
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
What could Derek Jacobi do wrong?
Any additional comments?
I would highly recommend this book whether you listen on the train or by the pool.
6 people found this helpful
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- Rozzi
- 21-07-18
Interesting but a bit like a lecture
It's an interesting idea to disguise a history lecture by making it into a detective story, but a bed-bound detective makes for limited action and no change of scene. Likeable and engaging characters but a rather dated style.
2 people found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 06-05-12
This is a classic - for good reason!
If you could sum up The Daughter of Time in three words, what would they be?
This is the classic armchair mystery. The primary sleuth, Inspector Grant, is in hospital and looking for something to keep himself amused. In desperation, he turns to historical mysteries and becomes fascinated with the story of Richard III and the Princes in the Tower. Since he can't do his own research, he relies on a young American researcher to do his investigating for him. What could be a story of boring, second-hand historical research is, in fact, quite interesting to anyone who has studied history in school and has wondered how "they" decided what was historically correct. It makes one ask - does what is written in the history books actually make any sense when considering human nature?
What does Derek Jacobi bring to the story that you wouldn???t experience if you just read the book?
The narrator, Derek Jacobi, is a joy to listen to. He uses subtle differences in accent and tone that make it easy to distinguish the "voices" of the characters, which makes it much more interesting for the listener.
2 people found this helpful
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- jagayhere
- 24-05-17
Drole, sophisticated, mellifluous
An immense pleasure to have Derek Jacobi in one's ears for this "who didn't do it" tale of how to keep yourself occupied while recovering in hospital.
1 person found this helpful
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- Delphine
- 25-01-15
Best Detective Novel ever
In 1990, the Crime Writers Association declared this the best detective novel ever. This may be true, it is one of my favorite ever, and Derek Jacobi's performance is amazing.
1 person found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 23-12-13
The book that inspired the Richard III Society
I loved this very special detective novel. Having been brought up on the Tudors perspective of Richard III, Josephine Tey made me question my long held convictions. She weaves a very convincing case for the innocence of Richard III's involvement in the disappearance of the 'Princes in the Tower' as well as other long held beliefs. Even though the jury is still out for me, I am much better informed and from now on will keep an open mind. The unfolding of the story is very clever and the narrator did an excellent job.
1 person found this helpful
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- peter
- 01-03-19
Yes a very fine novel
I don’t think I would call it the best mystery novel ever written although I can’t think of a better one at the moment - but yes really so very well written and narrated that it is clearly a cut above the average.