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Shrines of Gaiety

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Shrines of Gaiety

By: Kate Atkinson
Narrated by: Jason Watkins
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

1926, and in a country still recovering from the Great War, London has become the focus for a delirious new nightlife. In the clubs of Soho, peers of the realm rub shoulders with starlets, foreign dignitaries with gangsters, and girls sell dances for a shilling a time.

The notorious queen of this glittering world is Nellie Coker, ruthless but also ambitious to advance her six children, including the enigmatic eldest, Niven whose character has been forged in the crucible of the Somme. But success breeds enemies, and Nellie's empire faces threats from without and within. For beneath the dazzle of Soho's gaiety, there is a dark underbelly, a world in which it is all too easy to become lost.

With her unique Dickensian flair, Kate Atkinson brings together a glittering cast of characters in a truly mesmeric novel that captures the uncertainty and mutability of life; of a world in which nothing is quite as it seems.

©2022 Kate Atkinson (P)2022 Penguin Audio 20th Century Biographical Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Thriller & Suspense World War I Fiction Biography Mystery England War

Critic Reviews

"This is the perfect novel for uncertain times."(The Times)

"I can think of few writers other than Dickens who can match it." (Sunday Times)

"Brilliant." (Richard Osman)
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Another wonderful Kate Atkinson story, wonderfully narrated to make a great listening experience - get it!

Fabulous narration

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My first impression was negative but I realised what a good writer this lady is and became quite enthralled by the story and characters. Sad that it ended.

Excellent

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Thoroughly enjoyed this book. I loved all of the characters’ backstories and how it all unfolds. Recommend this one.

Very enjoyable audio book

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This is a perfect jewel of a book, the characters so individually drawn, their concerns and interests observed in just the right amount of detail. I found myself listening to several chapters twice, just so I could enjoy them again.
The performance of the book matched the tone exactly and I couldn’t imagine better.
I wish every audio book was this good, and I can’t wait to read the book on paper now.

Perfection

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I’m very sorry to have arrived at the end of this captivating romp through London’s clubs & underworld in the 1920’s with so many finely drawn characters. Bravo Ms Atkinson on another superb book - so immensely enjoyable. Excellent narration & production - congratulations to all.

Superb

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I’m a huge Kate Atkinson fan so a tad bias. I loved this book. The characters, the backdrop, the humour. I love that KA revisits post and pre war Britain in her novels as she brings it to life so superbly.

Enjoyed the narrator with his range for accents.

I never don’t recommend listening to, or reading Kate Atkinson books. She’s one of my favourite authors. As I said, I am biased!

Never disappoints

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Wish it could just keep going.. wonderful characters, setting, storyline.. very well researched and brought to life by a fabulous author!!

Loved it!!

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Beautifully read
Beautifully written
Great story with wonderful characters
I loved this book and will be reading the written version of it very soon.

Brilliant

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Atkinson at it again with another brilliant book! The narrator did an amazing job!

Brilliant

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Loved this and the narration was excellent. So many quips and jibes and a beautiful vocabulary.

Brilliant

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