The Town House

By: Norah Lofts

Narrated by: Juliet Prague, Martyn Read

Length: 17 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

"It was in the first week of October in the year 1391 that I first came face to face with the man who owned me…the man whose lightest word was to us, his villeins, weightier than the King’s law or the edicts of our Holy Father.…"

So began the story of Martin Reed - a serf whose resentment of the automatic rule of his feudal lord finally flared into open defiance. Encouraged by the woman he loved, Martin Reed began a new life - a life which was to culminate in the building of the House, and the founding of the dynasty who were to live there.

©1959 Norah Lofts (P)2014 Soundings

My favorite author

Norah Lofts has been my favorite author since the age of twelve. I love this.

Another winner by Norah Lofts

I've been reading Norah Lofts books back to back and have not grown tired of her voice yet. Normally writers have one formula and very little but names change. Tho this is true to a certain extent the story line & the characters mainly are so real with real things happening not just HEA & HEA they live like real people with lives that struggle loves that come and go. Not everyone gets their happily
ever after and it's sad when you have fallen for this persons life and feel they deserve the happiness...but alas it's not always meant to be. But when it does happen it's all the better!
Moving on right now to the second book in this trilogy.

Engrossing Tale

This held my attention from start to finish. Very nice mix of characters and well performed.

Impossible to put down

Fascinating tale of medieval life of common people. Well written and performed. Looking forward to to the next book in the trilogy

Old book friend, great audio

I love Norah Lofts...came across an old copy of one of her books, and remembered this one. Narration good, though the voices of the children a little annoying, like read kids are! characters you can relate to, with Lofts' understanding of the time presented beautifully.

Become a part of the House

I found this book ages ago, when I was 20, in a box in the attick. Noone knew where it came from. It was in english and very difficult english at that. I started reading it (I'm danish) and when I got to the end I started again. Over more than three decades I read this book about once a year, I got caught in it every time. Eventually I bought the two following books on a trip to London. Loved them too, but Martin Reed's tale is the most exciting.
I love Martin, the founder of Old Vine. He went through asome very rough years and events before he built the house. There is so much history in these books and so many different caracters.
The Town House is the one book I would bring to a dessert island. If I could bring more than one, I would also bring The House at Old Vine, The House at Sunset - and the Harry Potter books.

Well-researched historical novel

If you could sum up The Town House in three words, what would they be?

As above!

What other book might you compare The Town House to, and why?

The next book in the trilogy is good, too, the third quite disappointing. Norah Lofts really knows her history and her characters are totally convincing.

What about Juliet Prague and Martyn Read ’s performance did you like?

Both of them managed local dialect well, but not overdone.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

I wouldn't want a film.....

Any additional comments?

I don't like this new way of reviewing books. You can't get a proper flow of your opinions. I have read and enjoyed almost all Norah Lofts' books. She really seems to be able to write convincingly about historical daily life and to make her characters real enough for you to care what happens to them and this is basically the test of a novel.

Fabulous

Truly fabulous story very well read, enjoyed hearing it. Wish that Norah Lofts had written more books and more are available

great for the historian

its a classic I had be gripped due to the story and the human aspect and great characters but the level of historical context was fabulous and obviously well researched. I loved the detail and the way the story weaves through the years. I loved the characters and gave me a great insight into the times. I can't wait to get into the next one.

An old favourite

I've read this so many times and the audible version is excellent with two very talented narrators.
Norah Lofts was an amazing writer of historical fiction. Her characters are so multi-faceted and their stories are utterly believable. I love the way they are seen from others' perspectives through this book. And she never feels the need to bring everything to a happy conclusion so you can't predict outcomes.
This trilogy is just brilliant, as are all Norah Lofts' books.

Great from beginning to end

First in the House Trilogy. Have listened to them all. All wonderful and beautifully read.