Anna Bentinck's characterizations bring to life the aristocratic Inghams and their fiercely loyal servants, the Swanns. The most beautiful of the four Ingham daughters is soon to be presented at court when tragedy strikes. The evil quickly fades to the background, however, and this romantic fairy-tale romp, lacking venom and a fully developed villain, becomes saccharine and trite. Nonetheless, Bentinck's vocal portraits, particularly those of the Inghams' insipid daughters, draw listeners into Cavendon Hall. This is no "Downton Abbey," in which a clear distinction exists between upstairs and downstairs. The aristocrats of Cavendon depend on their servants to solve their problems and keep their deepest secrets.
Pub Date: April 1, 2014
Duration: 13 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781427236142
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Ayla, one of the "others," is adopted by a clan of Neanderthal cave people. She struggles to conform to their ways, but her advanced human traits overwhelm and threaten their primitive culture in this initial installment of an immensely popular series. Although the story might benefit from abridgment, Rowena Cooper easily carries out the formidable task of enlivening the mostly silent and stereotypical characters with consistent, diverse personalities and human dimension. Through skillful phrasing and inflection, she maintains the reader's interest and suspense, especially with Ayla and her plight, throughout this rambling and imaginative story.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 22 hrs
Publisher: BBC Audiobooks America/ Chivers
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
This lyrical, sensual novel of woman's lot in Manchu, China, is as well researched as it is well written. Authentic in tone, it's nonetheless written for Westerners by a Western expert on China. Moreover, Susan Clark performs the demanding text superbly, with only occasional signs of fatigue. For the most part she not only sustains the quaint diction and Asian atmosphere, but also, creates whole worlds with her voice. She acts the book, rather than reads it, and, in so doing, turns a pretty trifle into a stupendous beauty.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 4 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Audio Literature
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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