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The Foundling
- Narrated by: Laura Aikman, Hattie Morahan
- Length: 9 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Literature & Fiction, Historical Fiction
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Publisher's Summary
Two women, bound by a child, and a secret that will change everything....
London, 1754. Six years after leaving her illegitimate daughter, Clara, at London's Foundling Hospital, Bess Bright returns to reclaim the child she has never known. Dreading the worst, that Clara has died in care, she is astonished when she is told she has already claimed her. Her life is turned upside down as she tries to find out who has taken her little girl - and why.
Less than a mile from Bess' lodgings in the city, in a quiet, gloomy townhouse on the edge of London, a young widow has not left the house in a decade. When her close friend - an ambitious young doctor at the Foundling Hospital - persuades her to hire a nursemaid for her daughter, she is hesitant to welcome someone new into her home and her life. But her past is threatening to catch up with her and tear her carefully constructed world apart.
From the best-selling author of The Familiars comes this captivating story of mothers and daughters, class and power, and love against the greatest of odds....
Critic Reviews
"If you loved The Familiars, then you won't be disappointed by The Foundling. A gripping and moving read." (Libby Page, best-sellng author of The Lido)
"A masterpiece of storytelling - a perfect, captivating mystery that expands to ask big questions about love and motherhood, all while maintaining the breathless pace of a thriller, and the stunningly vivid and well-researched detail of the very best historical fiction. I can't recommend it highly enough." (Katie Lowe, author of The Furies)
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What listeners say about The Foundling
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Allysa
- 24-05-2021
Engaging and addictive
Loved this story. The two narrators made it more real. Couldn't stop listening.
Stacey Halls is already a favourite!
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- Lesley
- 17-04-2021
Utterly brilliant! Fantastic narration. Addictive.
The writing and narration create such a vivid picture. I did not want to stop listening.
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- Marian
- 13-05-2020
Hard to hear
Blame it on my hearing (I'm 83) but just could not get on with the accent - just could not make out the words. I am sure it is accurate for the area and I was looking forward to the story but time is too short to struggle on with it.
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- Sandhya
- 16-04-2022
Outstanding narration of a brilliantly written book!
While every word Stacey uses is remarkably chosen and placed to tell a heart wrenching story, the narration captures emotion and the language of the era.
Phenomenal performance of all characters!
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- Miss Sarah E Wilby
- 16-02-2020
Just loved every word.....
Just loved this book, listened to it in 3 days!
Loved it as much as Familiars, less magic, but description so detailed and you could imagine treading the London streets yourself.
An amazing book, thankyou.
25 people found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 26-05-2020
Brilliant Book!
I loved the familars having grown up with the Pendel Witches I wondered if this second novel would be as fantastic. I was not disappointed. the story is totally heart wrenching, uplifting and tragic. the multi context driven storyline tackling grief, motherhood, love, poverty, class divisions and the challenges of female expectations.
the performances were perfect filled with the emotion of the text. it allowed me to emerce myself within the characters.
one of the best new novels I've encountered!
21 people found this helpful
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- HK
- 29-02-2020
My kinda book..
I really enjoy Stacey Halls’ work. I preordered this and I wasn’t disappointed. I enjoyed the double narrative and the performances were brilliant too.
I enjoy reading historical novels and this was another cracker! Recommend her first title The Familiars also.
18 people found this helpful
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- cpnkim
- 27-04-2020
Another strong book for Stacey Halls
Having recently visited the Foundling Museum in London I was intrigued to listen to this book. It stays faithful to history and captivates the listener to those particular turbulant times of City life. The characters were well written, the story well put together, I enjoyed the narrator's. I recommend it!
16 people found this helpful
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- EDorey
- 12-04-2020
One not to miss.
A truly amazing story. Sad it has ended. Can't wait to read her other story.
12 people found this helpful
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- L M McDermott
- 12-03-2020
A Good Listen
well paced story ith strong characters. I enjoyed the atmosphere . Very well read by two readers.
10 people found this helpful
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- SHE
- 27-05-2020
Entrancing story and narration.
I really enjoyed this book and the narration added to the development of the main characters. Highly recommenced.
9 people found this helpful
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- Shannon Ainsworth
- 18-03-2020
disappointed
I expected so much more after reading the familiars. nothing at all wrong with the book, just not what I thought it would be. very predictable
9 people found this helpful
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- Karen
- 12-03-2020
The Foundling
Loved this book..the story, the characters, the narration.. I could not stop listening to it
8 people found this helpful
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- Kirstine
- 10-06-2020
An engrossing story
I greatly enjoyed this engaging and at times gripping story told from the perspectives of the two women closely involved the fate of a 6 year old girl. Set in the early 19th century it reminds one of the plight of unmarried women finding themselves pregnant with no where to turn and having to give up their babies to charitable organizations with the option, rarely exercised, of retrieving the child at a later date. The story highlights the disparity in wealth and influence between people at the top and bottom of society, but also how little the emotions differ in the face of loss. There is a gritty realism to the story until the pleasing but unrealistic final chapter.
Having very different voices for the two women makes the women seem like real people.
7 people found this helpful
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