Always Greener cover art

Always Greener

The true story behind Restless Dolly Maunder

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Always Greener

By: Kate Grenville
Narrated by: Kate Grenville
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About this listen

'If there’d been a gun in her hand at that moment she knew she’d have shot them.... She’d been so pleased with little Dolly Russell, the good life she’d got for them all. Thought she had it made, had got her hands at last on the levers of her life.... Now it turned out that all that, being so pleased with herself, was no more real than a puff of smoke.'

Always Greener is an exquisite portrait of Kate Grenville's complex, conflicted grandmother, who she feared as a child and only in adulthood came to understand. Born in rural Australia, Dolly Russell becomes a successful businessperson, mother and troubled wife. Then came the depression, bankruptcy and World War I. Yet, in a way, those disasters freed her. They allowed her to use her intelligence and ambition to make a space for herself in a man’s world.

With all the pathos and subtlety that defined Grenville’s Australian classics such as Lilian’s Story and her Booker-shortlisted The Secret River, Always Greener tells the story of a generation of women often forgotten at our own cost.

©2021 Kate Grenville (P)2021 Audible Australia Pty Ltd. Historical Inspiring Heartfelt Thought-Provoking
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Terrific insight into white women’s lives in the era my own grandmother lived, late 1800s to early 1900s. My grandmother married a farmer and was also really determined to ensure her daughters were educated so they would benefit from the opportunities that would (and did) bring. I today also benefit from her hard work and reading this book made me even more grateful!

I really connected with this book

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Kate is a true story teller, and has a wonderful voice to tell them.
So much fascinating history in a short book. Thanks Kate.

Poignant

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An important glimpse into a different world to the one we women take for granted now. I found it deeply moving.

Lest we forget

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This was a free download and I found it very interesting and engaging to listen to while going on my daily walks. Thankyou

Interesting listen

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I loved listening to Kate read this story. My only regret is that it wasn't longer!

Great Story to Listen to

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I just love the way the author weaves the truth with imagination. And all the more special given it is based on her own grandmother’s possible life.

Kate Grenville never disappoints

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Thoroughly honest and enthralling look at early times in Australia in 20th century. Vivid in all it’s human colour.

Interesting and heartfelt

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I really enjoyed this, I felt for Dolly when I didn't expect to. It should have been twice as long, though.

It should've been longer

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Well done Kate. That was insightful, heartfelt, creative, kind and loving. A great window into our mothers’ mothers’ time. Thankyou

Yes!

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A very touching story and well told.Could really do without the sound effects, they were distracting and unnecessary.

Could really do without the sound effects. They were distracting and unnecessary, did nothing to enhance the story.

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