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The Outcasts of Time

By: Ian Mortimer
Narrated by: Barnaby Edwards
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Summary

‘Beautifully written and superbly executed’ Times
'A joyous romp around England’s dark past' Suzie Feay,
Guardian

From the author of the bestselling The Time Traveller's Guide to Restoration Britain, this is a stunningly high-concept historical novel that is both as daring as it is gripping, and perfect for fans of Conn Iggulden, SJ Parris and Kate Mosse.

December 1348: With the country in the grip of the Black Death, brothers John and William fear that they will shortly die and go to Hell. But as the end draws near, they are given an unexpected choice: either to go home and spend their last six days in their familiar world, or to search for salvation across the forthcoming centuries – living each one of their remaining days ninety-nine years after the last.

John and William choose the future and find themselves in 1447, ignorant of almost everything going on around them. The year 1546 brings no more comfort, and 1645 challenges them still further. It is not just that technology is changing: things they have taken for granted all their lives prove to be short-lived.

As they find themselves in stranger and stranger times, the reader travels with them, seeing the world through their eyes as it shifts through disease, progress, enlightenment and war. But their time is running out – can they do something to redeem themselves before the six days are up?

What people are saying about The Outcasts of Time:
‘Wow, what a book! I absolutely adored this. This was ambitious but done to perfection’ Sara Marsden
The Outcasts of Time is a tour de force, rich in spellbinding detail. Haunting and atmospheric, there is warmth and humour alongside fear and torment; all human life is here. As perfect a novel as any I've ever read’ Ophelia’s Reads

©2017 Ian Mortimer (P)2017 Simon & Schuster UK
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What listeners say about The Outcasts of Time

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  • Overall
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    5 out of 5 stars

Clever

This is my favourite author and historian. I love it when he writes history for us mere mortals and brings it to life
This book is a very clever insight into history of the plague with a very different way of taking the reader on a journey through time
Easy to listen to while still making the reader wonder what will come next
If you like history this is for you

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23 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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based on a place close to my heart.

loved this so much. the detail is brilliant and so personalised to the area. I want to go visit all the places this weekend. I can't wait.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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A Superb Book.

The story takes a chapter to warm up but after then it draws the listener along. I highly recommend it and look forward to hearing more like it.

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1 person found this helpful

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Thought provoking

I loved this book. Original and thought provoking. First time I have given five stars.

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1 person found this helpful

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Time travel through the ages

Wow what a clever book.

This was a fabulous time travel through the ages, each day moved 99 years forward and so much had changed, I know that is a cliche, but each era was so well researched. Each new day to the last detail was beautifully described, that I somehow felt I was on the journey too.

There was a satisfying closing twist at the end.

Narration was effortless by Barnaby Edwards, who took old the old English speech through the ages,without it sounding odd. thoroughly recommend this interesting book.

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Brilliant

Possibly one of the best books I have ever read. An amazing journey. Excellent narration.

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    4 out of 5 stars

Interesting

Really interesting and nice story but none of the time zones were that exciting. A slow burner and well worth reading (or listening to) great narration but for me that magic element was not quite there.

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    3 out of 5 stars
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Starts well then drags

Pity a good start slowly descends into a very tedious lesson in the characters self pity which drags chapter after chapter seriously sometimes it’s just well, depressing

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The Weary Time Traveller

John, a skilled Mason carves stone in cathedrals until he tries to escape the Black Death spreading across the country. A most enjoyable book, well-read and amusing as he tries to make sense of a changing world.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Not quite where I thought it was going

The concept is really cool but I feel the execution is slightly lacking. I say this never having written a book so am probably being too harsh. It was enjoyable but not as gripping as I was expecting.

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