Sample
  • The Potato Factory

  • The Australian Trilogy, Book 1
  • By: Bryce Courtenay
  • Narrated by: Humphrey Bower
  • Length: 23 hrs and 23 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (5,997 ratings)

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The Potato Factory

By: Bryce Courtenay
Narrated by: Humphrey Bower
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Publisher's summary

Ikey Solomon is very successful indeed, in the art of thieving. Ikey's partner in crime is his mistress, the forthright Mary Abacus, until misfortune befalls them. They are parted and each must make the harsh journey from 19th century London to Van Diemens Land.

In the backstreets and dives of Hobart Town, Mary learns the art of brewing and builds The Potato Factory, where she plans a new future. But her ambitions are threatened by Ikey's wife, Hannah, her old enemy. The two women raise their separate families. As each woman sets out to destroy the other, the families are brought to the edge of disaster.

©2013 Bryce Courtenay.By arrangement with Penguin Group (Australia). Copyright Christine Courtenay (P)2014 Bolinda Publishing

What listeners say about The Potato Factory

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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    3,751
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  • 2 Stars
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Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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    3,104
  • 4 Stars
    1,106
  • 3 Stars
    336
  • 2 Stars
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  • 1 Stars
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing in all aspects

What made the experience of listening to The Potato Factory the most enjoyable?

All, the story, the performance...

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Potato Factory?

No one in particular. Ike's character is superb though

Have you listened to any of Humphrey Bower’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Not before but I will look him over

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The part of Mary quite contrary

Any additional comments?

A must listen to book

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Stectactular Story. This author is a true find!

Where does The Potato Factory rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Having been an Audible member since 2004, I have a large library and this will definitely rank in my top 10 reads. The rich characters, the incredible language and the engaging story combined with an excellent reader makes this worth every minute.

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

Absolutely Fantastic Beginning To A Great Epic!!!

Read the entire three book set...it is an awesome epic journey!!! I highly recommend it to anyone interested in Aussie history

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great story

The audio equivalent of a "page turner" the story moves fast covering a lot of historical, cultural, and geographical content. I especially enjoyed the cameo appearance of Charles Dickens. Very entertaining.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Beautiful Saga

This was the best audible book I have ever listened to
I can’t wait to read the whole trilogy
But better even was the narrator. His voices and his accents gave a face and a soul to every character. Well done!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Great

Loved the story. Brought old London to life. Narrator does wonderful job with accents and dialects.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Best story AND narrator I've ever heard on an ebook! Highly recommend!!

This is one of my favorite narrators and one of my favorite authors. Give this book a try, you won't be sorry

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Good but not his best

This is a good book with a lot of research behind it but it is certainly not as good as "The Power of One"; or What I think is a masterwork "Four Fires". It is a good entertaining listen but I didn't find myself staying up late listening on a work night.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Binding story.

I Love Bryce Courtenay’s way of telling a story . His wordplay engulfs you and sucks you in so that it becomes hard to think of anything other than the book at hand.

Humphry Bower also brings to life this tale in a most amazing way.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Incredible story

Loved everything about this !! Story and narrator !!
The research that went into this was amazing !!

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