High Rising, Angela Thirkell
High Rising, Angela Thirkell
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High Rising
A Virago Modern Classic

Author: Angela Thirkell, Alexander McCall Smith

Narrator: Jilly Bond

Unabridged: 7 hr 8 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 11/03/2016

Synopsis

Successful lady novelist Laura Morland and her boisterous young son Tony set off to spend Christmas at her country home in the sleepy surrounds of High Rising. But Laura's wealthy friend and neighbour George Knox has taken on a scheming secretary whose designs on marriage to her employer threaten the delicate social fabric of the village. Can clever, practical Laura rescue George from Miss Grey's clutches and, what's more, help his daughter Miss Sibyl Knox to secure her longed-for engagement?

Utterly charming and very funny, High Rising is irresistible comic entertainment.

About Angela Thirkell

Angela Thirkell (1890-1961) was the eldest daughter of John William Mackail, a Scottish classical scholar and civil servant, and Margaret Burne-Jones. Her relatives included the pre-Raphaelite artist Edward Burne-Jones, Rudyard Kipling and Stanley Baldwin, and her grandfather was J. M. Barrie. She was educated in London and Paris, and began publishing articles and stories in the 1920s. In 1931 she brought out her first book, a memoir entitled Three Houses, and in 1933 her comic novel High Rising - set in the fictional county of Barsetshire, borrowed from Trollope - met with great success. She went on to write nearly thirty Barsetshire novels, as well as several further works of fiction and non-fiction. She was twice married and had four children.

About Alexander McCall Smith

Alexander McCall Smith is the author of over one hundred books on a wide array of subjects, including the award-winning The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency series. He is also the author of the Isabel Dalhousie novels and the world's longest-running serial novel, 44 Scotland Street. His books have been translated into forty-six languages. Alexander McCall Smith is Professor Emeritus of Medical Law at the University of Edinburgh and holds honorary doctorates from thirteen universities. He was knighted by the King in 2024.

About Jilly Bond

JILLY BOND has recorded over 300 audiobooks and won four Audiofile Earphones Awards. She also regularly appears on stage, and has appeared at the National Theatre in "Island", at the Birmingham Repertory in "Jump!", Manchester Lowry in "Transmissions", the English Theatre of Hamburg in "Othello" and "Mrs Warren's Profession" and on the Edinburgh and London Fringes, including at the Finborough as human-rights lawyer Fethiye Cetin in "I Wish to Die Singing" which won the Best Play UK Studio Theatre Awards. She has recorded over 100 radio plays for the BBC, as well as playing Bridget in "The Archers", and TV work has includedDr Greene in "Doctors", Dr Jannatie in "Judge John Deed" and roles in "Comedy Nation", "People Like Us", "My Hero" & "Alastair McGowan's Big Impression".

Reviews

Goodreads review by Magrat on November 26, 2023

Una novela divertida y encantadora, comedia de enredos sencilla y previsible pero entretenida a más no poder. 'Bienvenidos a High Rising' nos presenta a Laura, escritora de cierto éxito, independiente y resuelta que, durante la Navidad, deja su piso de Londres para instalarse en su casa de campo. Viu......more

Goodreads review by JimZ on November 15, 2021

When The Times of London reviewed this book (I dunno when) they called it ‘A delightful comedy of gentle irony and grave absurdity’ and in many respects it was. This was written in 1933 by a British author whose books I have not read, but who I wanted to give it a try. This is because I came across......more

Goodreads review by Nigeyb on November 30, 2021

High Rising is about as substantial as a soufflé, but who doesn’t enjoy a soufflé when the mood is right? Angela Thirkell (1890-1961) wrote many works of fiction and non-fiction. Her fictional books, which include 29 novels set in the fictional county of Barsetshire, were very popular in their day.......more

Goodreads review by Melindam on March 28, 2023

4 stars A cosy, charming read. I didn't like it as much as "Pomfret Towers", but I definitely prefer it to "Before Lunch". Also warning about a few comments where the Jewish origins of a publisher are referred to in a deprecatory way which will offend modern readers.......more

Goodreads review by Jacob on January 08, 2015

This was a flat-out delight with a few very mild drawbacks. I enjoyed the setting immensely and the characters were a delight (with one exception, but not for the reason you'd think). Laura, the chief viewpoint character, is funny and kind but with a biting wit when she wants one. Her friends in thei......more

Quotes

Charming, very funny indeed. Angela Thirkell is perhaps the most Pym-like of any twentieth-century author, after Pym herself

Appealing Glasgow Sunday Herald

A smart new edition . . . A terrific holiday story The Lady

A delightfully entertaining comedy of manners. Full of period charm and witty authorial comment Good Book Guide

To be so witty and charming yet also so brilliantly brusque and practical as Laura Morland is my new year's resolution

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