Jessica

By: Bryce Courtenay

Narrated by: Humphrey Bower

Length: 19 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

Jessica is based on the inspiring true story of a young girl's fight for justice against tremendous odds. A tomboy, Jessica is the pride of her father as they work together on the struggling family farm. One quiet day, the peace of the bush is devastated by a terrible murder. Only Jessica is able to save the killer from the lynch mob - but will justice prevail in the courts?

Nine months later, a baby is born...with Jessica determined to guard the secret of the father's identity. The rivalry of Jessica and her beautiful sister for the love of the same man will echo throughout their lives, until finally the truth must be told.

Set in the harsh Australian bush against the outbreak of World War I, this novel is heartbreaking in its innocence, and shattering in its brutality.

©2013 Christine Courtenay (P)2014 Bolinda Publishing Ltd

Jessica is a hidden gem!

Bryce Courtenay was unknown to me until my niece told me about his "Power of One". Jessica is his 4th book I've read (listened to) and was just as richly detailed and filled with characters unique and complicated as previous reads. Jessica's story takes you out of contemporary times and sets you down in the middle of 1914 Australian bush country. The detail of the landscape and Jessica's spirit and drive will be with you long after you finish. For me Jessica is one of those books that are hard to follow - once you finish it and want to begin other books they pale in comparison. Other Bryce Courtenay books I loved and would put in my top 10 best loved/most enjoyed are "The Power of One" and "Tandia." Review written by Robert's wife Denise

Celebration

Bryce Courtenay describes in vivid color the life of Jessica. She has many experiences that will make you cry and others laugh or smile.

Story opens circa 1914. Jessica lives with her evil and manipulative mom and older sis and loving dad. Their home is in the Bush country of Australia.

I ways celebrate a new Bryce Courtenay novel. And Humphrey Bower, in my opinion, is the very best narrator. Each character has a distinctive voice. And that makes the novel that much better.

This novel is very hard to put down and will haunt me for a very long time. Definitely will listen again.

Wonderful Book, Wonderful Narrator

Great storyline with great character development. I was engaged from the beginning. Jessica has a compelling personality. I would have given it a 5, but I admit I was disapointed by the ending.

Heart wrenching

This story is beautiful written and performed, bringing painfully to live and unbearably heart wrenching story. I am gutted!

Excellent

I have become a great fan of BC and his narrator Humphrey Bower. Jessica was not as good as The Power of One but better than Matthew Flinder's Cat. I was fully immersed in this book and laughed/cried in places as he makes the characters come alive. This book is definitely worth the price of a credit.

Wonderful!

One of the very very best audible presentations

Courtney at his very best
Can’t wait to hear more

Another amazing story by Courtenay!

I loved listening to this book! The story is wonderful as is the narration! I love Bryce Courtenay books and listening to Humphrey Bower doing the narrating makes this book even more wonderful! I can't say enough good about this book!

Jessica

The beautifully written story kept me enthralled and the performance with many different accents was excellent.

No light reading!

I have read or I should say listened to most of Bryce Courtenay's novels - the last three in sequence of reading were "Four Fires", "Whitethorn" and most recently "Jessica". Courtenay's books are powerful, stimulating and at times quite funny. In "Whitethorn" and to a lesser extent, "Four Fires", good triumphs over evil. Not so in Jessica; evil prevails. "Jessica" rates up there with Thomas Hardy's "Tess of the d'urbervilles", but Hardy's heroine never encounters the depth of human depravity and corruption so endured by Jessica. Courtenay attacks racism head on, sometimes with ridicule, sometimes with humor and always vividly exposing the cruelity and inhumanity of the state departments, in this case, Education and Aboriginal Affairs. The Church also does not escape the biting criticism of the author's pen.
At the risk of being too negative, I point out that there is a strong bond created between Jessica and the aborginal, Mary, a bond that endures a lifetime. The two lawyers, one who is a drunkard and the other a young idealistic communist, are both endearing, intelligent and principled.
One other reviewer who did not have much good to say about "Jessica" claimed that the ending was "silly". I don't think so. Life happens sometimes that way.
One final note: what else can be said about Humphrey Bower. He is utterly amazing, so many characters brought to life by Mr. Bower.

Engaging story

Bryce Courtenay's novels are the benchmark of a great listen. Coupled with Humphrey Bower's narration - his stories are hard to beat!
I love how all his stories seem to intertwine with his other books!
Entertaining! Wonderful characters! Absorbing!
You won't be disappointed!