Forever Amber

By: Kathleen Winsor

Narrated by: Elizabeth Jasicki

Length: 42 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's Summary

Abandoned pregnant and penniless on the teeming streets of London, 16-year-old Amber St. Clare manages, by using her wits, beauty, and courage, to climb to the highest position a woman could achieve in Restoration England - that of favorite mistress of the Merry Monarch, Charles II. From whores and highwaymen to courtiers and noblemen, from events such as the Great Plague and the Fire of London to the intimate passions of ordinary - and extraordinary - men and women, Amber experiences it all. But throughout her trials and escapades, she remains, in her heart, true to the one man she really loves, the one man she can never have. Frequently compared to Gone with the Wind, Forever Amber is the other great historical romance, outselling every other American novel of the 1940s - despite being banned in Boston for its sheer sexiness. A book to listen to again and again, this edition brings back to print an unforgettable romance and a timeless masterpiece.

©1944 Copyright 1944 by Kathleen Winsor; Copyright renewed 1971 by Kathleen Winsor (P)2020 Audible, Inc.

So excited to FINALLY have this as an audiobook!

I love this story (great characters and the real history events during Amber's life are well told with detail) and the narrator does a great job! I have been checking for about 2 years now in hopes of seeing this so when I checked this month and saw that it was here it was an immediate purchase!

Wonderful memories from the 60s

Read this book in high school and enjoyed it so much. Pretty tame today lol. Enjoyed it again in audio after 50 years! Not my type of book anymore as a historical romance but the story and feeling of that era still fascinating. So happy publisher released this! Reader very good as well.

Outstanding. one of the best I've ever listened to

This is a powerful story set in 17th century England. The author did a stunning job of evoking life in that time. The main character in spite of her clay feet is driven by love that is obsessive but believable. In fact everything about this book grips the reader and drives the story forward at a fast gut level pace. I care deeply what happens to her but often want to slap her. This is not a romance though it is driven by Amber's love and ambition. It takes her through debtors prison (which was a huge eye opener), the bubonic plague, the London fire of that time and into the courts of King Charles, driven by her passion for Lord Carlton. Historical realism and astonishing detail, yes! A love story, yes, but there is nothing category or predictable about the plot beyond the fact that no matter how horrible things get, Amber will fight her way through. I don't ever want to meet this woman, but I care very much what happens to her. All the main characters are in depth, fallible, and the whole book leaves you with the feeling you've just walked through time. I think I'm rambling now. Listen to it. The performer is perfect for the book.

42 Hours I’ll Never Get Back

The main female character whines endlessly throughout the whole 42 hours of the narration and has no self esteem or worth. The main male character takes advantage of her lack of self worth at every turn leading her on.

There are several story lines that never conclude and as the book ends, 42 hours later, you are left feeling empty and frustrated.

Thank you Audible! What a fantastic book

A lovely story and I wish there has been so much more. It used to be a banned book which is why I wanted to read/listen.

One of my favorites

I first read this book years ago. This is my first experience with this particular audio version, but I’m very much enjoying it. I’m sure I will read this again and again as I already have done so imprint. This is one of my favorite novels of all time.

Great book

Read it as a young teenager In the early 70’s. I really enjoyed it then. I loved the audio just as much.

Loved this book

This is a great story! Well read and preformed. The book was great and the audible did it justice.

Didn’t care for it

I like to listen to books that are long. I might have to rethink that. This is story of a spoiled vain beautiful woman that repeats mistakes over and over again. It skips around and doesn’t give enough background to make sense. The performance was good.

A complete waste of time

I purchased this book because my mother in law said it was a “must read.” Oh my. I immediately found Amber to have no redeeming qualities....and my opinion of her did not improve after hours upon hours of listening to her ridiculous story. Don’t waste your time on this one.

Great yarn

I first read this book when I was 16. I’m in my 60s now and it has always stayed with me what a great book it was. I found it on Audible recently and decided to down load it. Was do not disappointed. It’s a great story from beginning to end. Well worth a listen.

Timeless

I searched for this book for years, i was thrilled to see it here as it has been out of print.

The reading is fantastic bringing all characters to life.

It is a timeless story that empowers women in a time where women were thought to have none.

It has a historical setting but it is not the main theme of the book.

I really enjoyed the book and the narration.

Great book!!

Loved it, read it years ago and really enjoyed it, I'm glad this time I could listen to it because I really couldn't put it down but glad I could do other things while I listened!!!

Don't pericaly like Romance but Loved Foever Amber

I don't nomaly like Romance stories so hade little hope for Forever Amber. However I loved all the twist and turns and how emotional attracted I become to the characters. I know little of Englands history so found this quite interesting to look up the historical events that tock place through out the book.

An enjoyable yarn.

I didn't like the narrator. it's not great Literature but it's fun and the historical period was well described.

Romping great story

Loved this! The story is as old as time, in so much as it covers love, lust and obsession. The story is not saccharine sweet but on occasion did sound a little of the time it was written, by that I mean non PC. It’s a romp through an age of decadence and the author transports you back there with her phraseology and informative references. If you want to get engrossed in a book, this is the one. Narrator was in point the whole way through and didn’t disappoint.

Blast from the Past!

I read this back in the 1970's and loved it then, so I thought I'd re-visit it. I am so glad I did, as I had forgotten most of it.
The description of the plague then, resonates with what is happening with covid now, the narrator was very very good and her voice and intonation was spot.
As Amber made bad decision after bad decision, I found myself rolling my eyes on disgust as I was so involved in the story.
Most of the characters didn't have many redeeming qualities, but the Reformation period was fantastically described.

Brilliant

I read this book many years ago and it made such an effect on me that I never forgot it. Many thanks to Audible for their version which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Very much of its time

This was written in the 1940s and I think it is very much of its time. Some parts of the book I thoroughly enjoyed, such as the historical narrative about the great events and the customs of the restoration period. Somewhat less enjoyable, was the strange obsessive 'love' the lead character Amber has for Lord Carlton who has absolutely no obvious merits in character. The only time he seems to give two hoots about her is when she falls sick after nursing him through bubonic plague, and then you get the sense he feels obligated to her rather than any real deep feeling. He even has two children by her and still he has no desire to marry her which seems to be Amber's main goal. There also seems to be very little in the way of subtle behaviour shown, it's all high passion and hate, and human nature is far more complex than that. I found myself getting irritated at the way Amber kept flinging herself at Lord Carlton who was happy to keep on taking advantage until he got married elsewhere and eventually dumps her for good as he fell in love with his wife! All in all, if you can overlook the sad obsession as described above, and like a good adventure, this story tells of how a young girl using nothing but her good looks and brains to get ahead in a world where equal opportunities do not exist, and for that aspect its worth listening to.

still an exceptional period drama

Captures the characters and the period of the day, still an amazing book, well read