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  • The School at the Top of the Dale

  • Top of the Dale, Book 1
  • By: Gervase Phinn
  • Narrated by: Gervase Phinn
  • Length: 13 hrs and 37 mins
  • 4.9 out of 5 stars (78 ratings)
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The School at the Top of the Dale cover art

The School at the Top of the Dale

By: Gervase Phinn
Narrated by: Gervase Phinn
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Summary

Newly qualified teacher Tom Dwyer has been given his first post in Risingdale, a sleepy little village at the very top of the Yorkshire Dales. Unsure if he'll ever fit into this close-knit community, Tom joins a motley staff at the village school. With pupils who know more about sheep than they do arithmetic, Tom has his work cut out for him. 

Add to that an altercation with the beautiful but stand-offish Miss Janette Fairborn and an argument with the local squire's son, and Tom's first term proves a baptism of fire. But Tom soon finds himself growing fond of Risingdale, and with a class of lively and demanding pupils, an end-of-term show to put on and a jewellery thief at large, he will find himself at the centre of drama, secrets revealed and plenty of love, laughter and new friendships. 

Full of colourful characters, and laugh-out-loud moments, The School at the Top of the Dale is a warm and humorous portrayal of life in a small Yorkshire village.

©2018 Gervase Phinn (P)2018 Isis Publishing

What listeners say about The School at the Top of the Dale

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Loved it

Loved it loved the narration felt as though at times I was there in the pub with the farmers as I did when growing up and going to the pub with my uncle and listening to his friends talking about sheep

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Charming and funny

Down to earth characters portrayed wonderfully by the author, with a warm soothing voice. Lovely story that is funny, compassionate and the Yorkshire dialect is brilliant!

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RELAXING

Engaging characters, many humorous moments, an engaging and coherent tale. Delightfully read by the author in an authentic local dialect. Loved it and look forward to listening to Phinn’s other novels.

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Excellent!

The usual gentle storytelling of Gervase Phinn in a new setting. It was nice to have the little cameo parts for some of my favourites from Barton in the Dale too. Enjoy!

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beautiful accent

What a delightful world we step into when we enter this author's realm ... he charmed me from his first sentence. Loved every bit of it. Thank you.

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Another great listen

If you like Gervase Phinn and his gift for narration, you will not be disappointed. All the ingredients are there, the usual characters, the funny and touchy moments and, if you like me you are a teacher and love what you do, a like minded spirit in Gervase Phinn with whom you share a passion!
I definitely recommend this book and am about to download the sequel on my kindle as sadly it is not on audible. I will certainly miss the lilt of Phinn’s voice and his expressive delivery.

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What a treat to listen to!!!

Gervase Phinn, I want you to know…I loved this book as an audiobook! It has been one of the few books I could not wait to get a minute to listen to more! Oh I have laughed out loud to the Yorkshire kids remarks to both their teacher, Mr Dwyer and the vicar, good job I was not drinking a cuppa at the time. Superb!
The voices were so authentic and I loved Miss Tranter. I cannot wait for the next one and can only hope it is as good as this.

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lovely

only criticism is it has same information as little village school, not new dales references.

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Enchanting.

Having just discovered this author I find I can't wait for the next chance of getting listen.
This book is beautifully written, the characters are just fabulous and the story brilliant.
This book is well worth a listen, it made me tear up in places and laugh out loud throughout.....always the sign of a great writter that can create such emotions in the listener/reader.
I cant wait to start the next one!

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laughed and sighed in equal measure

Beautifully written and is classic Phinn!
I was laughing, (out loud) sighing and nearly crying in equal measure.
Brilliant story telling, engaging descriptions of people and heartwarming threads of 'yarn' that make you wish you lived in the Village and knew the folk personally. ... very sad when I had finished it.

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