Another excellent book ruined by awful narration

I really enjoy Dominic Sandbrook’s work. It is thorough, well researched, humerous and always offers fascinating insights into modern British history. This book is no different. It covers Britain from the late 1950’s through to 1963, and it provides a lot of fascinating information in an approachable and engaging style.

However, while State of Emergency and Seasons in the Sun were brilliantly narrated by David Thorpe, both White Heat and Never Had it so Good have been narrated by someone who seems to struggle.
The accents are genuinely appalling and there is little warmth or engagement. It’s so disappointing. I actually couldn’t listen to the chapter on Ireland as the accents were insultingly bad.
This is a real shame but I would suggest that, if you enjoy Dominic’s work, buy the book not the audio version.

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Outstanding contemporary history

Remarkably detailed coverage of a relatively short period from the mid 1950s in Britain to 1963. Sandbrook is an outstanding contemporary historian. Nearly 40 hours and in parts slightly repetitive but always interesting, particularly the Suez Crisis and the Profumo scandal. I didn’t find the narrator a problem at all & don’t understand the criticism.

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Narrator a disgrace

Looked forward to this as have read all the books. Very very disappointed with Roger Davis. He should read children's fairy tales not a well researched historical work such as this!!!!! I am returning the book to audible as only needed to get to chapter 2!! A disgrace.....David Thorpe and Sandbrook himself did a wonderful job....not this idiot.

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5 people found this helpful

Nasal performance

I love Sandbrook’s other works, State of Emergency, Seasons in the Sun and Who Dares wins and was looking forward to this but sadly the narrator in this one is awful.

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7 people found this helpful

Disappointing narrator

I was looking forward to this book but the narrator is so grim that I can't bear to listen to any more. I can't see how to return it

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2 people found this helpful

Another great book ruined by awful narrator

Sandbrook's explorations of British life post-Suez are rightly lauded for their ambitious scope and compulsive readabity, their collosal length a virtue rather than hindrance. 'life', as is experienced by the inhabitants of these isles is the key here. By combining astute political analysis with pointed social commentary and pop cultural insight, he provides an entirely original and immersive account of what it was actually like to live during these times. Previous titles were narrated by the peerless David Thorpe, whose bright but authoritative tones captured the brisk style of the author, complete with sly asides. Sandbrook's own narration (pre-podcasting) was a slight step down in terms of energy. However, the performance of Roger Davis is only just this side of unbearable. Erratic leaps in volume and emphasis prevent any kind of immersion in the text. One is always jolted out of the story by his nervy delivery. Come on Audible, don't you have any quality control when it comes to narrators? Do you even audition them? To follow David Thorpe with this guy is like following The Beatles with Atomic Kitten.

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3 people found this helpful