Shirley Audiobook By Charlotte Brontë cover art

Shirley

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Shirley

By: Charlotte Brontë
Narrated by: Anna Bentinck
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About this listen

Set in the industrialising England of the Napoleonic wars, a period of bad harvests, Luddite riots, and economic unrest, Shirley is the story of two contrasting heroines and the men they love. One is the shy Caroline Helstone, trapped in the oppressive atmosphere of a Yorkshire rectory, whose life represents the plight of single women in the 19th century. The other is the vivacious Shirley Keeldar, who inherits a local estate and whose wealth liberates her from convention.(P)2007 Isis Publishing Ltd. Classics Fiction Historical Fiction England
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What listeners say about Shirley

Average customer ratings
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Superb narration!

Anna Benting’s narration is superb and captivating. I have thoroughly enjoyed listening to this classic tale.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Not my favorite bronte, but definitely worth read

This was a little tiring at times but i still enjoyed it. by tiring i mean that it felt slow and there were times when i realized i wasnt listening and had to go back. that said, the narrator was good, and still the story line is nice and definitely worth reading. villette is still my recomended favorite of Charlottes.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

great listen

loved it, reader excellent, Bronte superb, enjoy English history and literature, combination is very entertaining

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

My love of the Classics

I recently fell in love with classic novels (less than a year) & I have found Charlotte Bronte's novels superb. The use of descriptive language makes me realize how much we (as a society) have lost with the growth in technology. No one utilizes language in this imaginative manner anymore! Shirley is an excellent, heart-warming novel. It is the perfect companion to any task or hobby.

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20 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

a better listen than read

This was proof to me of the value of audiobooks! I picked up my paperback of "Shirley" several times over the last 20 years but never got past the introductory chapters. As a listen, I very much enjoyed "Shirley" as a 19th century novel-romance and for the characters and the commentary on women's roles. I was disappointed in it as an "industrial novel," but I guess it's the best the experience a Bronte could furnish. I thought Gaskill's later "North-South" was a better example of that sub genre, but I do not find Gaskill's novels as satisfying a reading (or listening) experience.

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19 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Charlotte Bronte is my favorite

Charlotte Bronte is by far the most elaborate story teller. I love her so much. I started reading classics kinda late, and she's brought me into a whole world I long to explore very deeply. It feels like she's writing just for you

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1 person found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Anglophile favorite

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

Not necessarily

Would you recommend Shirley to your friends? Why or why not?

I would recommend Shirley to any who love the time period or the stories of British. I just returned from England and loved coming home and hearing the descriptions of the moors and the life of the English townpeople in their struggles during the British Industrial Revolution.

What about Anna Bentinck’s performance did you like?

Terrific reader that keeps one engaged in long descriptive parts.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Greenhagen

Shirley is a rich tale with depth of character and storyline!! I enjoyed every character and turn of events!! ❤️ Oh if language and sentences were structured as in the time of the Brontë sisters!! 🥰

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Boring story

It was rather boring although the reading was quite good. It was boring then exciting than boring than exciting. I cannot wait for it to be over.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

lots of wasted space

the author spends a lot of time on strange heresies, and ends too abruptly after things start to get interesting. great narration, however.

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