High Rising

A Virago Modern Classic

By: Angela Thirkell, Alexander McCall Smith - introduction

Narrated by: Jilly Bond

Successful lady novelist Laura Morland and her boisterous young son, Tony, set off to spend Christmas at her country home in the sleepy surrounds of High Rising. But Laura's wealthy friend and neighbour, George Knox, has taken on a scheming secretary whose designs on marriage to her employer threaten the delicate social fabric of the village.

Can clever, practical Laura rescue George from Miss Grey's clutches and, what's more, help his daughter, Miss Sibyl Knox, to secure her longed-for engagement?

Utterly charming and very funny, High Rising is irresistible comic entertainment.

©2016 Angela Thirkell (P)2016 Hachette Audio UK

An Absolute Treat From Start To Finish..!!

I finished this truly enjoyable read half an hour ago ,... and I'm STILL smiling.
Jilly Bond as narrator was the perfect choice with all of the varying characters intonations.. she was spot on point the entire time..
What a delight.. thanks Audible for offering this little gem..!!

Front row seats ...

I read Thirkell in my teens and decades later am trying the Audible version. It's more delicious than ever, her wit is even sharper when performed. One might as well be at a Broadway play. Am quickly moving on to the next one.

I've discovered a gem!

I found both the story and the narration very entertaining. I enjoyed it from the beginning and hated for it to end. I'm looking forward to more books from this author and narrator. It was a delightful mixture of mystery, family drama, romance and just plain fun.

Beginning of a journey

High Rising is the first book in Angela Thirkell's revisiting of the land of Barsetshire in England, this area having been created by Anthony Trollope many years earlier. If you enjoy a mixture of clever use of language, insight into human relationships, the frustrations of daily life, satire and more this may be the series for you. And Jilly Bond does a very creditable job of telling this story, distinguishing characters and portraying the spirit of the book.

My one complaint of this recording is that the headline clearly states "Alexander McCall Smith - introduction", and that introduction is NOT included in the recording!!! The introduction is present in the Kindle and paper versions, but NOT in the audiobook. Audible should either get Jilly Bond to read the introduction and upgrade/update the offering or change the way this is listed/documented to make it clear that the introduction is NOT included in the reading.

In spite of this, I hope very much that more of Thirkell's works will be made available through Audible and also that more of them be made wispersync compatible.

Absolutely absurd in the best possible way

The perfect book for when you need something amusing and relaxing—low stakes but eminently entertaining.