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The Scarlet Sisters

My nanna's story of secrets and heartache on the banks of the River Thames

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The Scarlet Sisters

By: Helen Batten
Narrated by: Annie Aldington
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About this listen

‘Oh my goodness - another girl, Mrs Swain!'

Clara's normal iron composure broke, and she screamed, ‘No! That's not the bloody deal!' And that was how my nanna, Bertha Swain, entered the world.

When Helen Batten's marriage breaks down, she starts on a journey of discovery into her family's past and the mysteries surrounding her enigmatic nanna's early life.

What she unearths is a tale of five feisty redheads struggling to climb out of poverty and find love through two world wars. It's a story full of surprises and scandal - a death in a workhouse, a son kept in a box, a shameful war record, a clandestine marriage and children taken far too soon. It's as if there is a family curse.

But Helen also finds love, resilience and hope - crazy wagers, late-night Charlestons and stolen kisses. As she unravels the story of nanna and her scarlet sisters, Helen starts to break the spell of the past and sees a way she might herself find love again.

©2015 Helen Batten (P)2015 Random House AudioBooks
Great Britain Historical Politicians Women War England Marriage
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What listeners say about The Scarlet Sisters

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The Narrator

Loved everything. Bit confusing sometimes with the backwards and forwards of the stories . Past and present had to be listed to again in some chapters.

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family ups and downs

lots of 'i didnt know that' or 'no one spoke about that' basically 21st vs early- mid 20th ordinary family ups and downs

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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touching

Told beautifully, it makes you laugh then makes you cry. I felt that I was living the life with them.

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1 person found this helpful

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Totally Absorbing and somehow cathartic

I never imagined that from a story about a mother and her daughters I should learn so much about my own family, their actions and history. Thankyou Helen Batten, for removing the scales from my eyes and helping me understand my own family.

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    3 out of 5 stars

Good story, easy to listen to

Held my interest and I finished listening to it over three days. Fascinating insight into the lives of past generations, comparable to present day.

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Scarlet sisters

Such a lovely book sadness in places but that's what life is a lovely memory for a family through the ages

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best regards

loved it emotional yet funny in places excellent five stars narration to

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2 people found this helpful