The Dig

By: John Preston

Narrated by: Simon Vance, Kate Reading, Fiona Hardingham, Derek Perkins

Length: 6 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's summary

In the long hot summer of 1939, Britain is preparing for war. But on a riverside farm in Suffolk there is excitement of another kind: Mrs Petty, the widowed farmer, has had her hunch proved correct that the strange mounds on her land hold buried treasure. As the dig proceeds against a background of mounting national anxiety, it becomes clear though that this is no ordinary find.... 

And pretty soon the discovery leads to all kinds of jealousies and tensions. John Preston's recreation of the Sutton Hoo dig - the greatest Anglo-Saxon discovery ever in Britain - brilliantly and comically dramatises three months of intense activity when locals fought outsiders, professionals thwarted amateurs and love and rivalry flourished in equal measure.

©2020 John Preston (P)2020 Penguin Audio

Loved it

I saw the movie and thoroughly enjoyed it so decided to read the book. It’s not often that one enjoys both the movie and the book but this was definitely the case for me. I don’t think it matters which way round you enjoy them. It’s a really interesting true story about an exciting archeological discovery.

Excellent listen

After watching the film I thought the audible would be a bit flat, but how how wrong was I?
It is a beautifully written book, transformed into a spectacular listen, different voice overs keep you entertained throughout and the story line is a never dull moment.
Personally, I found it is a welcome addition to the film.

Who Needs the Film Version?

This audiobook and its hardcopy should not be missed. I first read ‘The Dig’ several years ago, enjoyed it thoroughly and passed it on. The memory of it stayed with me, but inevitably merged with all things archaeological in newspapers, books and on TV. Then along came the film adaptation which I watched and enjoyed - to an extent, but felt it a compromise, and in some instances indelicate. So, I decided to buy another copy of the book, and audiobook as alteratives, and have been so pleased and rewarded that I did. The novel is written with 4 narrators and the audiobook deploys 4 voice actors. This is what makes the books so much better for me. There is more to learn and to enjoy about the characters from their view point and it reminds that this is a book of fiction and why fiction is fundamentally important. The narrations of Edith Pretty and Peggy Piggot are at the heart of this novel (as they should be) as this is about people first and foremost; an exploration of loss, disappointment, the wheel of time, and what of us we leave behind. The male narrations have their place, but the women make the book special. The audio book is very good, but I have to say I am not a fan of Simon Vance. His portrayal of Basil Brown is the least enjoyable of the four performers. Kate Reading shines out for me as Mrs Pretty in her convincing understanding and character understatement. Her description of her first impression of Basil Brown is a peach. Fiona Hardingham provides good voice contrast though equally able to reveal depth of feeling as well as disappointment and hesitant sense of worth. I thought long and hard about what seems something of an abrupt end to the book and it actually fits. It is no surprise and no loss that there are no narratives from the professional archaeologists. I am now ‘digged-up’ and what I hope will remain in me are the individual narratives of the four characters. (For those intrigued by the nightingale story, which is true, just Google for a wealth of information and clips.)

Sutton Hoo for 5 year olds

John Preston is taking the readers into Interwar Britain to Suffolk where Mrs Pretty, daughter of a rich industrialist and landowner, initiates excavations of several burial mounds on her estate. Sutton Hoo burial ship is discovered. Archaeologists from all directions flock to Sutton Hoo with one aim to become immortal in the same way Howard Carter did with his Tutankhamen discovery in the twenties.
This book tries to capture the excitement of this occurrence and brings together the major actors on 240 pages. Unfortunately we are confronted with an uninspiring half invented recount of what really happened. All main characters have some life issue which is equally uninteresting so Preston decides just to touch on them without any development. Nothing really happens. So we have to be satisfied with constant descriptions of clothes, weather, landscapes and habits of middle classes of interwar Britain. Most of the information about the findings we get are from dialogues between Basil Brown and Mrs Pretty’s son Robert who is a child at that time. The dialogues between the archaeologist are equally dull and the reader has occasionally the feeling to be in the children’s sand pit. The audible rendition of the story corresponds with the literary value of the book. Fiona Hardigham who is reading Mrs Piggot’s passage almost slips into child voice when approaching her husband. No wonder he is not interested in having any intimate relationship with her. You are better of visiting British Museum and reading the descriptions of the objects there than reading this book.

Beautifully read story of archaeology and loss.

The Dig is dramatises the famous Sutton Hoo excavation, imagining its impact on the finders.

Extraordinary

A beautifully crafted tale about an extraordinary archaeological discovery in the shadow of looming war.

Beautiful, gentle depiction of a real historical event

This is a lovely book to listen to, every narrator brings each of the characters to life. Thoroughly enjoyed this book. It’s also puts the current day difficulties of lockdown into context, the generations before us had a far harder set of circumstances to deal with. Delighted to discover that the nightingale story is true as well!

Great story and film.

Enjoy this story about english history and the people who worked on the site. will visit the museum to see the treasure one day.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Very well nuanced writing and great narration.
Just as enjoyable as the film.
Sutton Hoo is such a great topic to construct a book around.

History and a great listen

This book is brilliant. A gentle listen and beautifully read A credit very well used. Highly recommended.

Excellent

This audible book is better than the movie. I really enjoyed it and would recommend it highly.