Fantastic book, brilliant performance.

I’ve been transfixed by this book for a few days. It’s fascinating, heart rending, shocking, funny. The 18th century style of writing is so interesting. The performance, in the voice of Ignatius Sancho, breathes life into this historical figure I knew so little about. As well as the harrowing descriptions of slavery, issues of everyday racism are still pertinent today.

3 people found this helpful

great book, folloeed by annoying interview

a great book, but the interview with the author that follows is ruined by the interviewer's constant interruptions, incessant yeah, mmm, yes, yes indeed, even talking over the author..... so annoying that I gave up half way through.

2 people found this helpful

An absolute gem!

As the author read, his skill, his gift, his talent brought every character, scenario, event, experience, encounter and emotion to life. A richly illuminated delivery of an amazing story, so beautifully written. Brilliant!

1 person found this helpful

Wonderful

A brilliant story about an interesting life and person. Brought to life by the wonderful narration by the author.

Staggering audio recording of a particularly good book

Stunning. I read the book in print last year and lived with the characters for a few weeks, and I’ve just finished listening to the audiobook and the wonderful, lively interview at the end.

The book is brilliant: deeply moving, witty, compelling, distressing, and ultimately rounded, humane, and memorable.

I expected the audiobook to be really good based on a reading I attended online last year, and it is. It’s staggeringly good. I couldn’t stop listening. I’m very glad to have heard the story in both media. This really is a memorable performance of the text, and I know I will be listening to it again from time to time.

Highly recommended.

Amazing and enlightening

thoroughly enjoyed hearing this and would recommend to anyone. particularly enjoyed the interview at the end which brought all the ideas together and gave some useful context

Just brilliant

Moving, entertaining and informative. Wonderfully performed. I particularly enjoyed the interview at the end. Am recommending far and wide.

5 star plus book

I enjoyed this book so much. The characters, an epch coming alive, their resilience, humour and chutzpah.
It was brilliantly read by Paterson himself and I loved the interview at the end with Malorie Blackman.

Beautifully written, universally relevant

It’s been a while since I have heard such a well crafted book. Well constructed and linguistically absorbing. Speaks to anyone who has dealt with injustice if any kind.
Also educated this reader without lecturing.

Brilliant

Joseph’s writing brings Sancho and his age to life, warts and all, in a way that has changed the colours I see the past in, but has made me feel even more deeply about it. There’s some fantastic period detail, with sights, sounds, smells and tastes, hopes and fears. Characters pop off the page. He treats often difficult subjects with heartwarming - sometimes heartbreaking - humanity and shows the beauty of friendship and camaraderie along side the sobering brutality of the time. In spite of the weight of the subject matter, however, the writing rarely comes across as heavily didactic or lecturing, instead Joseph lets the reader feel their own way.