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The Marriage of Opposites

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The Marriage of Opposites

By: Alice Hoffman
Narrated by: Alice Hoffman, Gloria Reuben, Tina Benko, Santino Fontana
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About this listen

From best-selling author Alice Hoffman comes a love story about one of history’s most captivating ‘invisible’ women: Rachel, the mother of impressionist painter Camille Pissarro.

Growing up on idyllic St. Thomas in the early 1800s, Rachel dreams of life in faraway Paris. Rachel’s mother, a pillar of their small refugee community of Jews who escaped the Inquisition, has never forgiven her daughter for being a difficult girl who refuses to live by the rules.

Growing up, Rachel’s salvation is their maid Adelle’s belief in her strengths and her deep, life-long friendship with Jestine, Adelle’s daughter. But Rachel’s life is not her own. She is married off to a widower with three children to save her father’s business.

When her husband dies suddenly and his handsome, much younger nephew, Frédérick, arrives from France to settle the estate, Rachel seizes her own life story, beginning a defiant, passionate love affair that sparks a scandal that affects all of her family, including her favourite son, who will become one of the greatest artists of France.

Set in a world of lush, exquisite beauty, The Marriage of Opposites shows Alice Hoffman at the height of her considerable powers. The marriage of Rachel and Frédérick is an unforgettable story of an extraordinary woman and her forbidden love.

©2005 Alice Hoffman (P)2015 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd
Fiction Historical Fiction Marriage

Critic Reviews

"Hoffman reminds us with every sentence that words have the power to transport us to alternate worlds." (Jodi Picoult)
All stars
Most relevant  
This story was so beautifully told, introducing you to every character with such depth, and weaved you through this journey of this family’s life

A perfect story

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I couldn't stop listening, this was a totally engaging story with really good narrators as well

Loved it, totally engaging story

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I enjoyed this book. It gave a memorable background of the painter's life.

Interesting and warmly narrated

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I have listened and read this book so many times!

The first half where Rachel’s story is being told is my favourite. I loved hearing about her life the whole time i was engaged.
For me this book is a comfort read, the description of the island and the character is so well thought out and thorough.
I would have preferred the whole book to be about Rachel as her character was most interesting

Favourite book!

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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.