Previously I loved this novel

This novel in paperback I loved and I consequently went on to read Erskine's other novels. But this was excruciating. The author read it as if it were Mills and Boon and jolly hockey sticks. For old time's sake I tried to persevere but I gave up.

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4 people found this helpful

Didn't realise it was abridged

The full book is way better, can't understand why you would alter such a great story. The narrator was not up to par either, with mispronounciations and awful accents. Having read the book, I was disappointed with this variation.

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Good but not the best

As someone who, without much actual evidence, believes in the idea of re-incarnation, or certainly of more than one appearance on the earth, I obviously enjoyed this book.
However, it does not have the power, or general taughtness of Green Darkness by Anya Seeton, which handles a similar theme but with much greater power. Of course, it depends whether you are interested in the past or present of the characters, and the petty feuding, bitchiness, and fragility of relationships of the present made an interesting comparison with the similar feudseabitchiness and friendgility of relationships in the past, though in the past for the 'titled classes' (the equivalent of the 'chattering classes' today) athe means and ends were much worse -- I don't think any one starves to death these days in an oubliette, though in less democratic places there are plenty of unexplained disappearances.
My only criticism is that I didn't really care that much about the characters, apart from Nick, perhaps. The others were just cyphers and I didn't find myself worrying greatly over their fates. But maybe that's me just being unkind.
A pleasant and entertaining read and not too historically flawed, (and I am a medievalist).

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1 person found this helpful

My favourite book - ever!

I read this book once a tear, at least, and now have it on Audible. I never get tired of it.

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Very disappointing abridged version of a great book.

This book suffered hugely from being abridged. Most of the wonderful historical discrimination of the medieval lives were cut. We were left with too much physical relationship descriptions. Sad because Barbara Erskine's books capture past times beautifully interwoven with modern. I've got all the other books which are unabridged and they are marvellous.

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12 people found this helpful

If only it weren't abridged...

Any additional comments?
This was the first Barbara Erskine book I read, years ago, and I think her best. Since then the stories gradually became a bit formulaic, but I always returned to re-read this. When I first joined Audible, it was also the first I listened to, and Isla Blair reads it beautifully and had me hooked on audiobooks from around chapter 2. Maude, or Matilda, de Braose is a fascinating character and Erskine's interpretation of her family's relationship with King John is compelling. It's very much a novel but is based on fact - these people did live and much of their lives is documented. The result is a very strong, well headstrong, but 3 dimensional character. I've just listened again, and it is a book you can return to and still enjoy fresh. A fascinating period in history, and the reincarnation aspect is dealt with well. So with 4 for story and 5 for narration, why 3 overall? Purely because it's abridged. I wish Isla Blair could also record the other Erskine book that (nearly) measures up to Lady of Hay, Kingdom of Shadows. It's not listed. But please, unabridged.

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9 people found this helpful

Wonderful book I loved listening to it.

Would you consider the audio edition of Lady of Hay to be better than the print version?

I read the "Lady of Hay" many years ago and loved it then but listening to it was a vast improvement.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Lady of Hay?

It has a very happy ending and I loved this as so many of Barbara's books don't.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

I just enjoyed listening to the book.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Most of the book is very sad.

Any additional comments?

Looking forward to the next Barbara Erskine book in the Spring.

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1 person found this helpful

love it

This book was one of the very first I read as a young teen. Because of it, I now love any fiction involving women during the medieval/tudor times. I hope they upload Child Of The Pheonix soon as that partly follows on from this book and is even better!

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Absorbing listening

I have read the book twice, but it in no way compared with this audio version.
The characters came alive for me, and i strongly recommend The Lady of Hay audio book .
It was superbly written by Barbara Erskine, which we have come to expect, and brilliantly narrated by Isla Blair.

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1 person found this helpful

An intriguing and memorable timeslip

I’m still thinking about this tale several days after having finished listening to the audible book. An intriguing and truly thought-provoking story on so many different levels: the harsh reality of life 800 years ago; belief in reincarnation or not; Man's capacity for manipulation and self-gratification; and great love requiring redemption. I have given it an overall 4-star rating because, although Isla Blair did a fantastic job as narrator, I found the switching between the large cast of characters confusing. Interestingly, when I read a sample of the book I didn't experience the same difficulty, and I wonder if this is because this audible book is an abridged version... maybe 'abridged' a step too far?!

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