Billy
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Billy
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Narrated by:
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Vaughn Johseph
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By:
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Albert French
About this listen
Brought to you by Penguin.
Featured on the Graham Norton Book Club.
Discover Albert French's haunting first novel: a story of racial injustice, as unsentimental as it is heartbreaking.
The tale of Billy Lee Turner, a 10-year-old boy convicted of the murder of a white girl in Mississippi in 1937, illuminates the monstrous face of racism in America with harrowing clarity and power. Narrated in the rich accents of the American South, Billy's story is told amid the picking fields and town streets, the heat, dust and poverty of the region in the time of the Depression.
©1967 Albert French (P)2021 Penguin AudioListeners also enjoyed...
Critic reviews
"Billy is a book that will stay with me in my dreams." (Tim O'Brien author of The Things They Carried)
What listeners say about Billy
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- sarah c.
- 06-08-21
Heart reaching.
Powerful story of innocence, a mothers love, death and a graphic glimpse of history. Such an amazing read. Vaughan Johseph read it beautifully with such emotion. This book should be read in schools.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- scoots
- 05-10-23
Just brilliant
Wow! I’ve just come to the end of this book and have so many emotions coursing through me. Throughout the book I felt in turn happiness and joy, the lightness of youth, then sadness and anger at how characters are treated. Such a great portrayal of mid century Mississippi, you would hope we have come a long way since that time however we still see echoes of it today. With sparse prose and wonderful narration, every single word counts. Just brilliant, totally recommended read, also the episode of Graham Norton’s Book Club where he speaks with the author.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- E Wilson
- 17-08-21
A memorable book.
The story is one told so many times, but the brevity of the writing style added pathos to this tale. It almost exaggerated Billy's plight. The narration was perfect, any other narrator would not have done this story justice at all. I'd recommend this book to anyone.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- ALWAYSTHEBRIDE
- 06-12-21
Heart Wrenching
Well narrated, heart wrenching story. I gasped out loud at parts & cried at others. A glimpse of American Mississippi life in 1937, was to me, quite shocking. I felt for everyone, but as a mum, especially to Cinder
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- A Soldado
- 02-09-21
Holly Smoke!!
Thank you to the Graham Norton Book Club I stumbled on this Book. This is a heart-rending story. Fantastically performed by Vaugh Johseph.
I can't believe that Mr Albert French is not writing any more, I would love to read more from him.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Mrs SE Wilson
- 29-08-21
Heartbreaking
Found this through the Graham Norton book club. Be prepared to cry - a lot.
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- Jacey
- 11-07-22
A truly sad tale
I also came to this through the Graham Norton Book Club and the episode which discusses the book has an interview with the author which is well worth a listen. Amazing narration of a such a tragic story. It will stay in my thoughts for quite a while I think. Thoroughly recommend.
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- Betsymakes
- 04-01-22
Amazing narration, perfect for this story!
This is a beautiful, sad, thought provoking story that is so well written that it draws you in to feel the pain and torment of the characters. This little boy’s life determined in so many ways because of the racist society he was born into.
The emotion in the narrators voice made the experience of listening so real that I was totally encompassed, and whilst it’s a hard listen at times, it’s also enjoyable and very worthwhile.
I’m hoping that Vaughn Johseph will be able to bring Albert French’s other book ‘Cinder’ to life soon too!
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- AnaCruz
- 08-02-23
Very powerful
Like most, I can across it on Graham Norton's Book club and very glad I did. Beautifully narrated and powerfully written. Would highly recommend the book and the episode on the book club where Graham has a chance to interview the author. Unmissable.
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