The House at Tyneford

By: Natasha Solomons

Narrated by: Justine Eyre

Length: 14 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

An irresistible World War II story of a forbidden upstairs-downstairs romance in a great English country house.

It’s the spring of 1938 and no longer safe to be a Jew in Vienna. Nineteen-year-old Elise Landau is forced to leave her glittering life of parties and champagne to become a parlor maid in England. She arrives at Tyneford, the great house on the bay, where servants polish silver and serve drinks on the lawn. But war is coming, and the world is changing. When Kit, the son of Tyneford’s master, returns home, he and Elise strike up an unlikely friendship that will transform Tyneford - and Elise - forever.

A pageturning tale of family, love, loss, and the power of the human spirit set against the perennially popular backdrop of World War II England, Natasha Solomons’ The House at Tyneford is upmarket romantic fiction at its best.

Natasha Solomons is a screenwriter and the internationally bestselling author of Mr. Rosenblum Dreams in English and Mr. Rosenblum’s List. She lives with her husband in Dorset, England.

©2011 Natasha Solomons (P)2011 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Natasha Solomons has written a lovely, atmospheric novel full of charming characters and good, oldfashioned storytelling.” (Kristin Hannah, New York Times best-selling author)

An unusual look at WW II from the point of view of a young well born girl from Vienna who is forced to flee to England

There are so many layers to this story and I enjoyed them all. We see how the war transforms lives in the English countryside, destroying the centuries old system. We also see how a high born girl from Vienna, forced to flee Hitler, goes to England as a servant and ends up loving the squires’ son whom she loses at Dunkirk. Still young, she falls in love again. Excellent character development from the most minor characters to the major characters. I loved it!

Great Narration, Enjoyable Read

The narrator of this book is fantastic. Her accent on the main character is really well done.

The characters in the novel are very well executed, my only complaint is that the language can be a bit too descriptive for my tastes.

Classic Romance Novel - in the style of the Harlequin paperback

A long long novel filled with sameness of flowery descriptions and the feelings of the main character. Missing character development and substance. Not what I expected so of course I’m disappointed, but I did manage to get to the end.

wonderful story & reading, beautiful voice

Where does The House at Tyneford rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I have read too many to rank them. All different kinds of stories and subjects. It was well written and lovely to listen to.

What did you like best about this story?

Gave even more understanding in what happened during pre war (world war II) Vienna to the Jews.

What about Justine Eyre’s performance did you like?

very good accents, made it all come alive

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

no, no time for that.

Good Read, But...

I enjoyed this story very much. I loved the way Solomons builds each character and brings them to life. As much as I enjoyed it, I did feel that Mr. Rivers was a bit short-changed. He spoke of having more children and an heir. He ended up with neither at the end and that seemed like a cruelty for such a kind and giving man. Children would have also provided Elise a legacy. The reuniting of the sisters... the Vienna scene.... It all felt rushed. We don't even know how old Elise and Daniel were at the end. I would have given it 5 stars if not for the rushed ending.

Absolutely wonderful. Don't pass this one by.

The first few chapters were a bit slow but as the story unfolded, I found it difficult to stop listening. I can't imagine this book being read by anyone else. Justine Eyre was simply outstanding. I was transported back to a time when England was entering the war. This book was happy, sad and filled with emotion, but in my opinion not sappy. Stiff upper lip and yes, life must go on.

A Remarkable Book

I have listened to 100s of books and this is the one that gripped me to the end. the storyline is excellent and the narration perfect. I look forward to listening to it again.

Depressing

If you want to read a book where nothing goes right for anyone, this is it. At every plot turn I thought “ok, now is the time that he/she could be happy” nope. I don’t know about you, but I don’t read books that mirror life too much, I read to escape the raw world.

Beautiful Story!

Definitely worth your time. The narrator was excellent. I look forward to more of this authors work!

Wrong reader

The tight-jawed British accent of the reader made me cringe. Granted, the premise of the story is an aristocrat seeking refuge from persecution of the Jews; but reader/actor’s tone is snobbish and tone-deaf to the story’s characters she is supposed to portray.
The story may be good, but the performance got in the way of giving it a fair chance.