The House on the Cliff

By: D. E. Stevenson

Narrated by: Candida Gubbins

Length: 8 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

'Suddenly Glen Siddons turned his head and saw her...and smiled to her. He had smiled to her as if they two were alone in the world and she had fallen in love with him then and there.'

Elfrida Jane, accustomed to the energetic life of a small-part actress, finds life at Mountain Cross very different. At first her mother's old cliff-top house seems lonely and bleak, compared to the glitter and bustle of the theatre. But Elfrida has plenty of courage and soon settles down to enjoy herself. Then, suddenly, her peace is shattered. To the house on the cliff come unexpected visitors from the world of the theatre - a world Elfrida thought she had left behind forever...

©1966 D.E. Stevenson (P)2023 Soundings

The House on the Cliff

I love D E Stevenson read by Candida Gubbins. This book is beautiful, interesting, cleverly woven with magical threads. There is warmth and beauty in it contrasted by meanness of spirit and even cruelty.
The reader is amazing. I listen to it repeatedly to hear and admire the fascinating way she reads the book. Each character has a specific recognized voice which is carried effortlessly through the whole book without a miss. I listen and am amazed every time. It is a combined masterpiece of writer and reader. The city and mostly, the countryside and sea shore, are described in a way that the reader sees and feels the place , the weather and the atmosphere. I feel as if l visited the place, sat in the rooms of the old house, was welcomed to the old kitchen and walked in every trail among the little forest, the dwellings of the piglets and l am sure l went down to the seashore but prefer to walk in the wilderness of the rose garden. A magical book with deep feelings and lovable people, especially the Heroine, Alfrida Jane. I just hope that if she met me she could liked me too.

Another Delight

This is another delightful audiobook version of a novel by D. E. Stevenson. I have always enjoyed the story of how Elfrida Jane adjusts to life in the country, in the home of her grandparents. Her mother, the only child of the family, had become estranged from her parents upon her marriage to an actor against their wishes. Elfrida Jane had been raised largely in London, working in the theater, but never quite fitting in. That and an unhappy unrequited love affair inspire her to move to Mountain Cross, the House on the Cliff, instead of accepting the legal advice to sell it. She finds her true place, and along the way makes friends and acquires a family. As with just about all DES books, there is an eventual Happily Ever After.

I especially enjoyed the descriptions of Elfrida Jane's first Springtime in the country, and how it compared to city springtimes.

A stand alone novel, although with a slight connection to the novel The Blue Sapphire.

A charming story well-voiced

This is a delightful book with a heroine who falls in love with the countryside and then with the right man. The narrator has done an excellent job of giving each character a distinct personality.

Another Charmer!

I just love DE Stevenson’s stories! This is another delightful tale, of life. Hardships, life’s twists and turns and love.

Excellent reading of my favourite DES book.

Gentle, sweet, funny Cinderella story of a young, worn woman working in the city who unexpectedly inherits the family country manor where her beloved mother, estranged from her parents and recently deceased, had grown up. The heroine blossoms in her new surroundings with a wonderful cast of characters, a mild mystery, everyday heroics, and a gentle romance, she must find a way to keep the home she has come to love.

Great Story; Very Badly Voiced; Lackluster Intetpr

This is the story that got me started on audiobooks. I couldn't find it, so I recorded it for myself. I like my performance much more than this one. The reader gives the hero a squeaky, high tenor voice, even higher than she gives the 8-yr-old boy. She has the hero showing lots of excitement over minor things, but when the heroine is truly angry, she makes her sound bored. The villain, who is supposed to be a theater heart-throb, has a voice that could only be cast as an ineffectual minor character. In short, I doubt I'll ever want to listen to this performance again.

Another good story by D.E. Stevenson but disappointing choice of narrator.

We listen to D E Stevenson’s books over and over again, especially in the last couple of years. This one - never again. The narrator simply ruined it by using the same, high squeaky voice for most of the characters. It was not a relaxing, entertaining listen at all.

Not much of a story

Disappointing book but D.E. Stevenson. It is dated and very predictable. The characters are completely one dimensional. One the positive side, the narration is excellent.