![Good Evening, Mrs Craven: The Wartime Stories of Mollie Panter-Downes | [Mollie Panter-Downes]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/518cX9+EucL._SL175_.jpg "Good Evening, Mrs Craven: The Wartime Stories of Mollie Panter-Downes | [Mollie Panter-Downes]")
Good Evening, Mrs Craven: The Wartime Stories of Mollie Panter-Downes
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- Regular Price :$10.86Special Offer: Learn how to get this for $7.49 !
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Average Customer Rating
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LENGTH4 hrs and 39 mins
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RELEASE DATE07-08-11
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AUDIO FORMATS
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Program TypeAudiobook
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PUBLISHER
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Publisher's Summary
For fifty years Mollie Panter-Downes' name was associated with The New Yorker, for which she wrote a regular 'Letter from London', book reviews and over thirty short stories; of the twenty-one in Good Evening, Mrs Craven, written between 1939 and 1944, only two had ever been reprinted - these very English stories have, until now, been unavailable to English readers. Exploring most aspects of English domestic life during the war, they are about separation, sewing parties, fear, evacuees sent to the country, obsession with food, the social revolutions of wartime. In the Daily Mail Angela Huth called Good Evening, Mrs Craven 'my especial find' and Ruth Gorb in the Ham & High contrasted the humour of some of the stories with the desolation of others: 'The mistress, unlike the wife, has to worry and mourn in secret for her man; a middle-aged spinster finds herself alone again when the camaraderie of the air-raids is over...'
The stories read by English actress Lucy Scott beautifully re-create this tumultuous period.
©1999 The Estate of Mollie Panter-Downes (P)2011 Persephone Books and The Story Circle Ltd
What the Critics Say
“Sated as I am with a steady stream of blokey, schmaltzy or just plain bad second world war-related audios, I can only say that this funny, intelligent, deceptively low-key collection about the Home Counties under siege is long overdue....These semi-autobiographical stories...are splendidly read by Lucy Scott.” (Sue Arnold, The Guardian)
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What Members Say
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"Another Great Persephone read"
Like all of the audiobooks published by Persephone, this book is very professionally done. Lucy Scott's reading of the stories reinforces the mood and feel of these stories which tell us a lot about England during WWII "on the home front" and also about how human beings interact and react. I will be keeping my eye out for more forgotten treasures from this publisher.
6 of 6 people found this review helpful -
"Domestic Perspective Wartime"
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.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful -
Cariola Chambersburg, PA USA 07-18-12 Member Since 2005malfi
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"The War at Home"
The book's subtitle gives a clear description of its contents: a collection of stories written during the war years (1939-45). Most of them focus on the lives of British women and the minor and major inconveniences they experienced, from rationing food to finding a safe haven, from opening homes to refugees from the city to having to say goodbye (sometimes more than once). In her understated way, Panter-Downes brings to the fore the quiet--often silent--heroism of these women in wartime, adding a touch of humor and poignancy. While I can't say that I absolutely loved the book, I did appreciate many of the stories in it. The reader was over-the-top with a few characters but for the most part did an adequate job.
4 of 5 people found this review helpful -
Betsy Georgitis Western US 04-16-13 Member Since 2012
I enjoy a variety of books including mysteries, historical fiction as well as young adult and children's literature. Listening to books gives me the ability to "read" in the car as well as the evening as a nightcap before bed.
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"Interesting Story Collection"
This collection of stories gives insight into the lives off those English citizens on the home front during WW II. Although I am not a usual fan of short stories, this collection was a winner. Many of the stories leave you wondering and seem not quite finished but this is part of their charm. It is unusual to hear about the changes everyday people, rich, poor and middle class experienced during this time period. A refreshing change from tales of life on the front lines.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful