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The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock

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The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock

By: Imogen Hermes Gowar
Narrated by: Juliet Stevenson
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About this listen

Random House presents the audiobook edition of The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock by Imogen Hermes Gowar, read by Juliet Stevenson.

This voyage is special. It will change everything....

One September evening in 1785, the merchant Jonah Hancock hears urgent knocking on his front door. One of his captains is waiting eagerly on the step. He has sold Jonah's ship for what appears to be a mermaid.

As gossip spreads through the docks, coffee shops, parlours and brothels, everyone wants to see Mr Hancock's marvel. Its arrival spins him out of his ordinary existence and through the doors of high society. At an opulent party, he makes the acquaintance of Angelica Neal, the most desirable woman he has ever laid eyes on...and a courtesan of great accomplishment. This meeting will steer both their lives onto a dangerous new course - one on which they will learn that priceless things come at the greatest cost.

What will be the cost of their ambitions? And will they be able to escape the destructive power mermaids are said to possess?

In this spellbinding story of curiosity and obsession, Imogen Hermes Gowar has created an unforgettable jewel of a novel, filled to the brim with intelligence, heart and wit.

©2018 Imogen Hermes Gowar (P)2018 Random House Audiobooks Fantasy Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Magical Realism Sea Adventures Magic Adventure Heartfelt Merfolk

Critic Reviews

"A cracking historical novel... The story is by turns intriguing, touching, funny, sad and heartwarming. It will make you laugh and it may make you cry.... The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock is superb." ( The Times)
"A marvellous, high-energy, inventive romp through Georgian society. Rich in delicious period detail and written with a wickedly observant eye, the path of this unlikely romance leads down some unexpected byways to give a fantastic and thoroughly enjoyable reading treat." ( Daily Mail)
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This was a recommendation for me that I almost didn't pick up and I'm SO GLAD I DID. Unexpectedly wonderful. Lovely prose, well constructed characters, unexpected storyline. Minor deduction for not wrapping up all the storylines. I would happily recommend this.

wonderful and unexpected

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I loved every moment of this book!
Beautifully read and such an interesting narrative with endearing characters and well structured plot!
Throughly recommend this one.

Wonderful story!

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I was put off this book originally by the title but I really enjoyed this story and the narrator was excellent.

loved this story

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What a find...absolutely magical writing...what a mind and ear for language, poetry and the craft of story telling... beautifully brought to life by the genius of JS. Thank you both.

Stunning

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A wonderfully written story which has been brought to life by an excellent narrator. Very much enjoyed this one.

Terrific

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Excellent glimpse into a different era brought about by excellent story telling . Original and thoroughly enjoyable.

lovely story wonderfully read.

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I really enjoyed this book! And I really loved the ending xx the Narrater - Juliette Stevenson - does a phenomenal job with all the voices and brings them all into being so well!

Very well done

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I love Juliet Stevenson narrating almost any book so was looking forward to listening to her reading this much lauded new novel. Juliet does not disappoint, but sadly the novel does. I very rarely give up on a story but I couldn’t go on with this one. I persevered for several hours longer than I might have because of JS’ performance but during the mermaid in the whorehouse scene I decided life was just too short. I thought I must be missing something given the praise lavished on this book, but for me the characters never came to life so I lost interest in their increasingly sordid exploits.

Juliet Stevenson shines as ever but the novel does not.

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