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Shadowplay
- Narrated by: Anna Chancellor, Barry McGovern
- Length: 11 hrs and 40 mins
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Shadowplay
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Summary
From Irish PEN award-winning author Joseph O’Connor, Shadowplay explores the characters whose loves and lives inspired Dracula.
1878. The Lyceum Theatre, London. Three extraordinary people begin their life together. Henry Irving, the Chief, is the volcanic leading man and impresario; Ellen Terry is the most lauded and desired actress of her generation; and ever following along behind them in the shadows is the unremarkable theatre manager, Bram Stoker.
Bram is wrestling with dark demons in a new city, in a new marriage, and with his own literary aspirations. As he walks the London streets at night, streets haunted by the Ripper and the gossip which swirls around his friend Oscar Wilde, he finds new inspiration. But the Chief is determined that nothing will get in the way of his manager’s devotion to the Lyceum and to himself. And both men are enchanted by the beauty and boldness of the elusive Ellen.
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Critic reviews
"Joseph O’Connor is a very great artist and story teller. The quotient of enjoyment in his extraordinary new novel is stupendous." (Sebastian Barry)
"There are few living writers who can take us back in time so assuredly, with such sensual density, through such gorgeous sentences. Joseph O’Connor is a wonder, and Shadowplay is a triumph." (Peter Carey, twice winner of the Booker Prize)
What listeners say about Shadowplay
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 28-04-20
Story and performance both first rate
This is one of the finest audiobooks I have ever listened to, both the story and the performance were first rate. Compelling, compassionate. I have never read Dracula but I am going to now!
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4 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Chrissie
- 01-02-20
Stage hero’s and a heroine!
Brilliant portrayal of Henry Irving and Bram Stoker’s momentous contributions to the stage and to theatre history. Lots of lovely details bring their characters to life as the story cleverly unfolds. A powerful novel, I just wish it had been longer! Ellen Terry is there as well, adored, yet enigmatic. The scene setting is skilful, evoking the period with vivid description, scents and sounds. Mellifluous narration, made it, for me, a most enjoyable listen.
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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
- Lord Emsworth
- 04-10-20
Superb
Just wonderful. Even better if you are acquainted with Dracula. Perfect narration complements a splendid novel. My first, but not my last book by Joseph O’Connor
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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
- J Blackmur
- 01-03-20
Absolutely wonderful
O’Connor’s way with words in nothing short of magical...humour, pathos, touching moments, duelling with words...this is a majestic book...be prepared for a truly wondrous experience...
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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
- Ali G
- 02-08-19
A joy of a read, from start to end.
A most wonderful reading experience. A literary masterpiece, crafted by an author at the top of his game, skillfully narrated to bring life to each shining syllable. The dialogue and banter between Stoker, Irving and Terry skips along to the thrum of Victorian London life. Humorous, touching and emotive. Highly recommended, and an essential addition and listen to your Audible library.
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20 people found this helpful
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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
- Anonymous User
- 11-05-20
Wonderful, engrossing book
brilliant storytelling and vivid description. I have read it twice and listened once and there is always something new to discover.
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1 person found this helpful
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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
- Dorothy McGarven
- 05-03-21
A fantastic listen
I thought this book was brilliant. Joseph O'Connor has done a wonderful job of telling Bram Stoker's story. He has pulled together so many threads: the acting world, homosexuality in the time period, Jack the Ripper, conspiracy theories, Bram Stoker's life story, and Dracula. And he has handled each element so deftly, without casting any value judgements but just making the reader aware of them in the context of Bram's life. I found the ending a little drawn out, but it does hold some interesting insights into the times.
Both narrators were excellent but Barry McGovern was brilliant.
I will be searching out other works by both the author and the narrator. Just Brilliant.
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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
- CathyB
- 20-04-21
Fabulous Gothic Tale
I absolutely loved this book so beautifully narrated by Barry McGovern. Magnificent prose, atmospheric, tender and amusing. Will definitely listen to it again.
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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
- HK
- 01-05-22
Superb
The best work by far that I’ve heard on Audible. The book and the narration are nuanced and thoughtful, intelligent and immensely touching. If only there were more than five stars - this would deserve them all.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Dr Adam James Smith
- 19-10-24
breathtaking
An extraordinary work of breathtaking research and imagination. Deeply literary and featuring perfectly crafted dialogue I'll not forget.
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