Ladies in Black cover art

Ladies in Black

Film Tie-In of The Women in Black

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Ladies in Black

By: Madeleine St John
Narrated by: Deidre Rubenstein
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About this listen

 At the very end of the Ladies’ Frocks Departments, past Cocktail Frocks, there was something very special, something quite, quite wonderful; but it wasn’t for everybody: that was the point. Because there, at the very end, there was a lovely arch, on which was written in curly letters Model Gowns. Written by a superb novelist of contemporary manners, Ladies in Black is a fairytale which illuminates the extraordinariness of ordinary lives. The women in black are run off their feet, what with the Christmas rush and the summer sales that follow. But it’s Sydney in the 1950s, and there’s still just enough time left on a hot and frantic day to dream and scheme … By the time the last marked-down frock has been sold, most of the staff of the Ladies’ Cocktail section at F. G. Goode’s have been launched into slightly different careers. With the lightest touch and the most tender of comic instincts, Madeleine St John conjures a vanished summer of innocence. Ladies in Black is a great novel, a lost Australian classic.©1993 Madeleine St John (P)2009 Bolinda Publishing Historical Fiction Fiction

Critic Reviews

'A highly sophisticated work, full of funny, sharp and subtle observations ... a small masterpiece.' (The Sunday Times)
'A little gem ... shot through with old-fashioned innocence and sly humour.' (Vogue)
‘Seductive, hilarious, brilliantly observed, this novel shimmers with wit and tenderness.’ (Helen Garner, award-winning author of The Spare Room)
All stars
Most relevant  
This was such a fabulous tale. Highly entertaining with excellent narration. As an Aussie is was a joy to listen to and gave me many laughs. My only issue was that it was not long enough, I wanted more!!

Left me wanting more

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Loved the accents, made it interesting listening. Love the story and the characters. Worth listening to for sure.

What is not to love about this story?

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I loved it.....can not wait to see the movie. Very sweet, would have loved to like in that time

Fantastic

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I loved this story set in the 1950’s it was told in an authentic manner I remember Australians were like this when I first arrived in Australia in the 1960’s the story is set in a ladies frock dept about the lives of the women who worked there made laugh and cry but all in all I throughly enjoyed this well written and narrated story. Recommended for some light reading one for the ladies or maybe a gent or two.

Authentically Australian

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Loved this book. The narrator was amazing the way she changed her voice for the different characters. It was delightful.

Loved this book.

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A fun story that could have been much longer. I really got into the characters and then it was the end sadly.

not long enough!

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A little predictable but harmless. Just shows how things have changed in relation to employment protocols!

kept me listening

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I hope I get my listening all in one sitting badge. Well at least I find out if you miss out on that badge simply by swapping headphones because otherwise I listened in one sitting.

Character voices

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An unfogettable book.A faithful portrayable of the times and place.Well worth a reread. Hghy recommened

Happy reading.

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This story is delightfully charming and written with humour. It really gives you a trip back to 1950s Sydney. The characters are so engaging that I truly wished I could re-visit them once the story ended. This Audiobook version is beautifully narrated.

A charming and engaging story

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