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Ancestral Vices
- Narrated by: Griff Rhys Jones
- Length: 8 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Literature & Fiction, Genre Fiction
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Summary
When Lord Petrefact hires Walden Yapp, Professor of Demotic Historiography at Kloone University, to write a scurrilous family history Yapp finds plenty of material in Buscott village, where Frederick Petrefact is running the Mill and adding new vices to the family collection. If Yapp can lay his hands on the Petrefact Papers in the Buscott Museum he may be able to expose the multi-national capitalism of the Petrefacts to the whole world. Unfortunately when he takes lodgings with the Coppetts of Rabbitry Road and encounters the peculiar charm of Rosie, a woman of large body and little mind, he sets in motion a train of events which are to lead to his undoing.
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What listeners say about Ancestral Vices
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Clive
- 01-12-13
Rollicking good yarn
Would you listen to Ancestral Vices again? Why?
I most certainly would listen to Ancestral Vices again and again. It is full of humour, good clear speech and several different voices. The narator is quite an expert at changing his voice to suit the characters which makes it all the more enjoyable to listen to.
What was one of the most memorable moments of Ancestral Vices?
I found the experience of the proffessor and the antique bath to be one of the most memorable experiences in the book. An event that was described very vividly by the author and brought to life by the narrator
What about Griff Rhys Jones’s performance did you like?
The whole story as narrated by Griff Rhys Jones is an absolutely exciting and professional narration. He manages to bring to life each and every character alive and they were just how I imagined them to be like. His use of the author's description coupled with his accents and dialect was an entirely pleasurable experience.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
I first read this book several years ago and found that once I had started to read it, I could not put it down. I read it several times and was never dissappointed and so, when I found it on the lists of Audible, I had to listen it. I have now listened to it a couple of times and, like reading the book, I have found that once started I could not switch it off. It is still just as funny as when I first read. The narrator was the perfect choice for this book.
Any additional comments?
I am going to purchase the rest of the books in the series. I have already listened to Porterhouse Blue by Tom Sharpe and cannot wait to hear his other yarns.
13 people found this helpful
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- Pooella DeVille
- 08-02-19
Awful narration
I was really looking forward to listening to this as I enjoy Tom Sharpe. I thought it would be great with Griff RJ narrating but it’s awful. GRJ has ruined the story with his super fast narration and his shrill interpretation of the main character (I think it’s the main character as I’ve only managed to bear this up to chapter 4).
I’ve slowed the speed down but along with the shrillness GRJ’s voice fluctuates between high and low volumes so I cannot get into the story.
The sample didn’t seem that unbearable.
Wish I had not bought this!
11 people found this helpful
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- Perry Montague-Mason
- 26-05-15
Inaudible
The narrator has missed the single most important issue. That being to speak at a speed that makes it possible for the listener to understand. Of the first chapter I understood about half.
I didn't bother with the rest.
10 people found this helpful
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- Neil Parker
- 20-07-15
Laugh out loud.
Would you listen to Ancestral Vices again? Why?
One of the funniest books I have listened to for ages. Made me laugh from start to finish.
Which scene did you most enjoy?
One of the best bits is when Yapp it trying to take a bath and the mayhem that ensues afterwards.
Any additional comments?
I would like to see more of Tom Sharpe's work made into audio books so I can re-live the humour and joy of my youth when I read hsi early works.
7 people found this helpful
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- Lynxbci
- 01-11-18
Good story but rushed narration
Tom Sharpe has a certain way of working, and Gryff captured the characters very well, but certainly for the first half of the book it seemed like he had somewhere else to be, rattling along at a great speed. The story panned out and Gryff seemed to calm down, but I almost pressed stop...
6 people found this helpful
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- gemma
- 25-05-15
fantastic
i have read that before n love tom sharpe. please get vintage stuff read by stephen fry.
10 people found this helpful
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- Michael Harry
- 17-03-21
GRJ cant save this
the voice acting is incredible but the story is so utterly boring I just couldnt finish. I usually like Tom Sharpe but this is not one of his good ones.
2 people found this helpful
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- Mr. R. Jarmain
- 15-02-21
Hilarious!!
One of the funniest books ever. The best laugh I have had for years. An outrageous plot and the narration is simply superb. I was sorry when it ended. A wonderful tonic during this awful Coronavirus pandemic.
2 people found this helpful
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- Bulldog
- 01-12-15
Shame about the bad diction.
What disappointed you about Ancestral Vices?
Griff Rhys Jones's terrible diction. I realise how famous the gentleman is and what a wonderful career. However this book deserves a command of the English language and while Mr Jones has an enthusiasm for the characters the way it is conveyed sounds as if he is in a rush.to finish, which is a great shame.His narration skills has worked very well in television programs such as "Three Men In A Boat" but he seemed more relaxed and composed.I assume the book must be read in particular time frame which unfortunately has gone against Mr Jones. A great book ruined for me.
What was one of the most memorable moments of Ancestral Vices?
Accident turned into implicated murder.
Would you be willing to try another one of Griff Rhys Jones’s performances?
If the performance is more relaxed .
You didn’t love this book--but did it have any redeeming qualities?
I do love this book when I have read it. like I said it is just the translation of the prose.
Any additional comments?
A shame there has not been a revival in Tom Sharpe books in audible form.
4 people found this helpful
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- D. Manley-Leach
- 29-01-21
Spiffing
Tom Sharpe has a wicked sense of humour, and a lovely way with words. he creates characters that seem to come to live and oddly enough reminds me of Stephen King, but without the humour.
This is though rather mean spirited at times and I found myself feeling sorry for several of the characters. But that said, it's still bloody funny and fantastically enhanced by Griff Rhys Jones simply excellent narration.
1 person found this helpful
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- Gareth
- 16-12-19
Entertaining read
Enjoyable but not amazing. personally I found it very diffcult to follow and the narration over the top. I found his other books much better.
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- Hans
- 20-08-18
be aware: You will not be able to stop laughing
I am a huge fan of Tom Sharpe and to me this is his absolute best. It is true that the story has a quick ending (maybe Tom ran out of time) but none of his books gives complete closure. Also Griff Rhys Jones is just fantastic.