Virginia

This is the most wonderful presentation of a fascinating story. The plot is intricate and beautifully brought to a conclusion. The readers are simply marvellous. To listen to them all in roles of the colourful characters was a pure joy. An absolute thrill. Wilkie Collins writes with such clarity without wasting a word. Beautifully musical sentences. Lots of fun and a glimpse into an intriguing historical era. Wilkie Collins was a bon vivant and his writing reflects his thirst for life. Witty and clever writing. One of the best mysteries I have read. Great characters and I loved the settings of the action. Reading this has made me want to explore all his other stories and read his letters and biography. There is a Wilkie Collins Society in London which I will join when I finish reading and listening to all his works. I also listened to a shorter story called A Rogue's Life. This was great fun and very tongue in cheek. Again Collins creates a thrilling and symmetrical plot. When I listened to The Woman in White I also bought the book just so I could read the superb language he creates. There is not a single dull moment in this book. I recommend this famous novel to you. Next I am going to listen to and read The Moonstone. Wilkie Collins conveys tension and intrigue in a way that simply grips the reader. He sets scenes to a point where the reader feels totally immersed in his world. He is interesting in the way he treats his women too. The reader sees the sexism of the Age but also feels that Collins himself was not one to stereotype women to the extent that one may see in Dickens' characters. Collins creates somewhat more rounded characters. His virtuous characters are not quite as sickly as those Dickens creates. His villains are really wicked and conniving to an engaging and thrilling extent. Collins takes the reader on a ride that one wishes would never end but which forces one to rush enthusiastically to the conclusion. Brilliant presentation of a gem!

The book is simply beautiful and the narration is perfect. A sheer joy from start to end.
If you like Trollope, you must read this book and the others in the series. Timothy West is the perfect reader for this work. Brilliant!

This is the most beautiful and confronting book I have read this year. The narrator is simply perfect. The story is heart-breakingly lovely. So sad to say good-bye to these characters. I did not want the book to end. An absolutely brilliant book. Brava!!

Stilted and self-conscious writing. Patrick Tull is usually fantastic as a narrator but was truly awful on this one. Couldn't be bothered finishing it. Dreadful.

Thrilling and charming adventure. This was a sheer delight and I am at a loss as to why I have not read this book earlier. Delightful in every sense of the word. Endearing characters and pure escapism. The performance by Patrick Tull was sublime. He was perfect. The tension and excitement he created were spine-chilling at times. One of my favourite books and I have listened to it twice already. Fabulous!!!!

Glimpses of the time through the narrative of a non-military perspective. Somehow the era is beautifully created through these short stories. There is a humour and poignancy which I really enjoyed. Some great characters too. A light but insightful and subtle book. Nice reading style from the narrator who captured the atmosphere beautifully. For me this was an unexpectedly enjoyable book. Not a masterpiece but quite beautiful. Loved it.

Amid the bustling preparations for a wedding the subtle, intertwined relationships of the party emerge. Amusing and sad misunderstandings abound. Somehow, the listener cares about the characters. This book is written in a similar real-time, day-in-the-life manner used by Virginia Woolf. I loved it. Wonderful narration. Nice inter-generational descriptions that were quite touching. Delightful, funny and picturesque.

Tony Britton has a beautiful voice and superlative diction. I thoroughly enjoyed both the story and the performance. This is an interesting book and the characters are engrossing.

I am just hoping that I won't develop post-Palliser depression! Timothy West is as one with the words.... simply sublime. I so loved this series. The final sentence is one of the most brilliant in literature. Profoundly pleasurable. Thank-you.

The narration of this wonderful book by Timothy West is simply superb. Because he is so obviously absorbed in the story and the characters, the whole experience is rich and authentic. Timothy is such a consumate actor that he sweeps the listener into Trollope's world. Simply sublime! Interesting insight into the isolation of the lonely and self-doubting leader. This is a fascinating installment in this brilliant and engrossing series. Emily's resistance became a little tiresome but Trollope was probably endeavouring to protect the honour of his heroine. What a marvellous team: Timothy and Trollope! This series is pure bliss!

If you want a bit of fun, this book is for you. The narrator is perfect for the story. I enjoyed this book immensely. It has all the elements that you would expect of a P.G. Wodehouse story. If you like this sort of comedy, you won't regret listening to this. Jonathan Cecil really reflects the class and era of the story's setting. Utterly charming and delightful in every way. I loved it.