Listen free for 30 days

Listen with offer

Sample

£0.00 for first 30 days

Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

The Tailor of Salisbury

By: Lindsay Fairgrieve
Narrated by: Martin Jarvis
Try for £0.00

£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £2.99

Buy Now for £2.99

Pay using card ending in
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.

Summary

Re-released. Geoffrey James Hurford, a tailor who worked in Salisbury, England, was born in 1921 in Damerham, Hampshire, at a time when Crown Prince Hirohito, aged 20, had just been named Regent of Japan, when the cinema was erupting with excitement at the arrival on screen of Italy's most glamorous star, Rudolph Valentino, and when, in the United Kingdom, a 45-mile-to-the-gallon, brand-new Rover two-seater car could be bought for 230 guineas.

As a child, Geoffrey contracted osteomyelitis, a chronic bone infection, and subsequently spent several years in hospital undergoing traumatic operations. By the time he was 21, he voluntarily made the decision to have his leg amputated.

This fascinating account of Geoffrey's life - childhood, tailoring college, marriage and an extensive working career - is given a sensitive and humorous "talking head" performance by Martin Jarvis. It is an aspirational and entertaining true story of a tailor who, until his death in his early 80s, carried on working from the Dickensian tiny front room of his house in Salisbury's city centre.

©2001 Lindsay Fairgrieve (P)2001 Rickshaw Productions Limited
activate_samplebutton_t1

Critic reviews

"…a gem…" (The Sunday Times)
"…incredible…" (The Times)
" …staggering…" (The Guardian)

What listeners say about The Tailor of Salisbury

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 3 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    2
  • 4 Stars
    1
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    2
Performance
  • 3 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    3
  • 4 Stars
    0
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    3
Story
  • 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    3
  • 4 Stars
    1
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    2

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great story, horrible narration.

Love the story as I’m a Salisbury girl but felt it was ruined by the constant swallowing and mouth noises from Jarvis. Really spoiled the experience.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

HUGE LETDOWN

Very disappointed, the cover looks intriguing and the storyline reads as though it will be an interesting listen. However; it was all a huge let down, so very drab I could not reach the end. So I did not understand how the other reviewer gives a praised written review and yet only gives each section one star! which it deserves. Then holding my device with my thumb hanging over the screen, I ACCIDENTALLY VOTED their review helpful when I DO NOT find it helpful at all, but rather confusing. All in all an utter shambles!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A social and personal history

I’m probably bias because I’m Salisbury born and bred. I remember many of the places mentioned, some still remain but most have gone or changed completely. I remember Geoffrey sitting in the window of his work room. His reminiscing is sad, funny and brave especially those surrounding his osteomyelitis and his decision to have the leg amputated. I’m glad to a met him for his tailoring skills and that he had a successful life. It’s a shame an author historical note didn’t finish his story given this was published in 2013 and Geoffrey died in 2006. His obituary can be found in the Salisbury Journal. Martin Jarvis brings his story to life.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Thoroughly enjoyed listening to this book

An impulse buy that I am very pleased to have found. The narration by Martin Jarvis is excellent . The story itself recalled many memories and was a delight to listen to.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful