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Rough Magic

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Rough Magic

By: Lara Prior-Palmer
Narrated by: Tamaryn Payne
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About this listen

Penguin presents the audiobook edition of Rough Magic written by Lara Prior-Palmer, read by Tamaryn Payne.

The Mongol Derby is the world’s toughest horse race. A feat of endurance across the vast Mongolian plains once traversed by the people of Genghis Khan, competitors ride 25 horses across a distance of 1000km. Many riders don’t make it to the finish line.

In 2013 Lara Prior-Palmer – nineteen, underprepared but seeking the great unknown – decided to enter the race. Driven by her own restlessness, stubbornness, and a lifelong love of horses, she raced for seven days through extreme heat and terrifying storms, catching a few hours of sleep where she could at the homes of nomadic families. Battling bouts of illness and dehydration, exhaustion and bruising falls, she found she had nothing to lose, and tore through the field with her motley crew of horses. In one of the Derby’s most unexpected results, she became the youngest-ever champion and the first woman to win the race.

A tale of adventure, fortitude and poetry, Rough Magic is the extraordinary story of one young woman’s encounter with oblivion, and herself.

©2019 Lara Prior-Palmer (P)2019 Penguin Audio Equestrian Sports Horse Racing Sports Animal Sports Racing Adventure

Critic Reviews

"[Prior-Palmer's] gorgeous, sensual depiction of this race is a literary marvel; it feels like you are riding alongside her across the desolate steppes; her verbal acuity makes vivid the most elusive of landscapes; her triumph becomes ours." (Nylon)

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It’s a beautiful insight into the mind of the adventurer and explorer, it’s not always with planned determination but an unspoken desire.

Really loved the way she writes and words her sentences, yes it is poetic but that doesn’t take away from the thrill of living the race through Lara’s point of view.

Lovely insight

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An interesting journey to learn about, beautifully written and soothingly narrated. I chose it as 'something different' and I'm glad I did.

Engaging!

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What a dreadful disappointment. All about Lara and her thoughts. She’d probably be better writing poetry

Not about the race

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In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.