The Words in My Hand
Shortlisted for the Costa First Novel Award 2016
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The Words in My Hand
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Narrated by:
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Abigail Hollick
About this listen
Shortlisted for the Costa First Novel Award 2016.
The Words in my Hand is the reimagined true story of Helena, a 17th-century Dutch maid desperate to educate herself and use her mind in an era when women were kept firmly in their place.
Helena works in the Amsterdam lodging house of an English bookseller who rents out a room to the mysterious 'Monsieur', who turns out to be René Descartes. Always trying to keep one step ahead of the authorities desperate to suppress his free thinking, Descartes and Helena form an unlikely bond which turns from teaching into an affair.
For all his learning, it's Helena who provides him with insights and emotional perspective from the everyday life all around him. For this is Helena's story, a woman who yearned for knowledge, who wanted to write so badly - and who could afford nothing - she made her own ink from beetroot and used her body for paper.
Weaving together the story of Descartes' quest for reason with Helena's struggle for literacy, the novel follows Helena's journey across the Dutch Republic as she tries to keep their young daughter secret. Through Helena's story, everyday objects are transformed into new ways of learning. Their worlds overlap yet remain sharply divided; the only way of being together is living unseen. Helena and Descartes face a terrible tragedy and ultimately have to decide if their love is possible at all.
©2016 Guinevere Glasfurd (P)2016 Hodder & StoughtonListeners also enjoyed...
Editor reviews
"Guinevere Glasfurd's writing is fresh and elegant. I loved the subject and the way she brings Amsterdam in the 1600s into vivid, believable life." (Dinah Jefferies, best-selling author of The Tea Planeter's Wife)
"Amsterdam in the 17th Century springs to life in The Words in My Hand...This first novel from Guinevere Glasfurd is wonderfully atmospheric." ( Good Housekeeping)
What listeners say about The Words in My Hand
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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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
- Mrs D.
- 30-07-19
Compelling story woven around historical character
I was drawn into this story from the outset and loved the atmosphere, the sense of history and the central love story.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Mr C.
- 25-07-17
Interesting
I enjoyed the story. Well written and interesting. The consistent mispronounciation of the word "Monsieur" really got on my nerves though!!
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- bookylady
- 27-09-21
An interesting story based on real people
If you love historical fiction that is based on real people and real events then this book is worth trying. It is based on the life of Rene Descartes and his mistress, a household servant whom he plucks from obscurity and encourages to better herself. They have a child together but their personal relationship never seems to progress in any meaningful way beyond one of master and servant.
Nicely narrated and well written.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Lubsy1
- 14-05-22
Not for me.
I'm sorry to say this book didn't live up to my expectations. What exactly I was expecting, I don't know exactly but not this for certain. I was bored by the whole story. The characters were boring and flat. I couldn't engage with any of them. I disliked the storyline but forced myself to complete the book. I'm glad it's over and I can move on.
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- M. Sexton
- 29-05-21
Awful
The Descartes themed Mills & Boon the world didn't know it didn't need and never asked for.
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1 person found this helpful