Dr. Wortle.

Brilliant performance.
Hope for humanity, uplifting and exciting story.
Thank you for the experience.
Dr. Charles Carson.

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An interesting story, expertly told

I really enjoyed this book. There can be no finer narrator than Timothy West. He is a superb reader and has made me in a big fan of Trollope. An inspirational story, sensitively written with such insight into humanity.

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A situation no longer remarkable

The moral dilemma Dr Wortle finds himself and to which he responds in what I think most of us these days would consider an enlightened and compassionate manner must have been pretty revolutionary at the time - at least, Trollope's treatment of it must have been. I read another review, suggesting Trollope's attitude was 'compassionate' and I think one can't improve on that description. That's one of the great joys of Trollope's writing: his attitudes to a number of things are way ahead of his time and his characters, particularly his women, have credible intellects and he appears to value their opinions - compare Dickens, whose women, though vastly entertaining, are almost all either monsters or ninnies.

So: another interesting and enjoyable story and, as ever, Timothy West is perfectly matched to the material. The man is a master of this. There seem to be some titles still that he hasn't recorded...can someone from Audible ensure he record the remaining ones and that as soon as possible?

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14 people found this helpful

Very enjoyable.

Perhaps not to everyone's taste, but this is a very enjoyable narrative, and it is expertly read.

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3 people found this helpful

Excellent reading of a minor Trollope

This may not have the breadth of some of the author's other works, but I much enjoyed his humane examination of what must have been a rather shocking subject at the time in which it was written. Superb narration by Timothy West.

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1 person found this helpful

A book for our times

Wonderful. Deeply satisfying exploration of the complexity of wise decision making and the challenges facing a person who wants to take a principled compassionate stance in the face of passive aggressive gossip and media ridicule. Such insight into the best and worst of human nature and the parts in between. It could have been written yesterday.

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A Trollope Classic

A short story by Trollope standards but still the same length as a contemporary novel! Thoroughly enjoyable and expertly read as always. Loved it.

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Masterful reading by Timothy West

It’s fun to discover the standalone Trollope novels and I cannot imagine a better narrator for this purpose than Timothy West. He is subtle and intelligent, bringing out all the dry wit and good humour, as well as the good-heartedness, which characterise Trollope.
An unusual story with very different and surprising elements, with a wonderful character at the centre and some genuinely interesting questions about true moral values.

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3 people found this helpful

Enjoyable rendering of Trollope as ever

I love Timothy West's renderings of Trollope. This is a tale I was not familiar with and proved an excellent yarn

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Wonderful

Would you consider the audio edition of Dr Wortle's School to be better than the print version?

Timothy West's narration makes you realise that Trollope is a satirist. It's not cosy at all.

What did you like best about this story?

The believability of many of the characters. Dr Wortle, and most of high society.

What does Timothy West bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

The way his reading brought out the hypocrisy and cowardice of Victorian society and almost makes you laugh sometimes.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

It would be worth it, though it is rather long!

Any additional comments?

Trollope had to have a happy ending and a love story, which may seem a bit perfunctory.

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