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The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox

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The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox

By: Maggie O'Farrell
Narrated by: Daniela Nardini
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About this listen

From the Costa Award winning, best-selling author of This Must Be the Place and I Am, I Am, I Am, comes an intense, breathtakingly accomplished story of a woman's life stolen and reclaimed.

Edinburgh in the 1930s. The Lennox family is having trouble with its youngest daughter. Esme is outspoken, unconventional and repeatedly embarrasses them in polite society. Something will have to be done.

Years later, a young woman named Iris Lockhart receives a letter informing her that she has a great aunt in a psychiatric unit who is about to be released.

Iris has never heard of Esme Lennox and the one person who should know more, her grandmother Kitty, seems unable to answer Iris's questions. What could Esme have done to warrant a lifetime in an institution? And how is it possible for a person to be so completely erased from a family's history?

©2006 Maggie O'Farrell (P)2006 Maggie O'Farrell Family Life Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Psychological

Critic Reviews

"O'Farrell's imaginative territory is one you return to with delight." (The Times)

"Unputdownable." (Ali Smith)

"In one touching scene Esme, sitting in the car with Iris, attempting to process her sudden emergence into the world, pretends to fall asleep because 'she needs to think'. Iris reaches over and turns off the radio; this is 'the single nicest act that Esme has witnessed in a long time. It almost makes her cry'." (The Times)
All stars
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Sad story of institutionalising a young woman for too long. Well told story that revealed surprising things without over explaining. Only issue for me was I got confused with some of the characters thinking voices. Otherwise overall quite an excellent read.

Brilliant story, terrific narration

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The description of society turning it's back on an individual who did not conform, was horrifying.

A gripping tale

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I loved everything about this audiobook. The story is remarkable - full of tragedy, love, guilt and jealousy. The performance by Nardini was fantastic, transitioning seamlessly between characters. I didn't expect the ending at all.

Well worth a listen, I think.

Touching, gut-wrenching read

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Wonderful and hounding story. Spoken well and as the life of Esme is revealed there is want for the reader to find out more. Recommend a listen.

Excellent few hours of listening

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Amazing performance and storytelling. A moving and thought provoking story. Didn’t want it to end.

Brilliant.

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Great storyline enhanced by perfect Edinburgh accented narration .. was over all too quickly . Bizarre family secrets of pervious generation, who were unable to deal with an alternative intelligent female who did not conform.

Incredible family secrets and twists

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The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox is a sad and haunting story about a woman entrapped by the conventions of her time. Daniela Nardini narrates beautifully and gives each character their own voice, switching easily between them. A very good “read”.

Heartbreakingly good

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Beautifully read. Switching from character to character so seamlessly. I was so moved by the wasted lives and while I felt rage at some of the actions I felt compassion too. Creating characters who act so heartlessly and yet you cannot judge or condemn is not easy and Maggie O Farrell does this so well.

Sadness, wasted life

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Another enjoyable novel by Maggie O’Farrell. A slow start but well worth it once the story unfolds. An interesting depiction of the restrictions placed on women and the cruel circumstances resulting in that era. Intelligent women ahead of their time. Spellbinding ending!

Another good one

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