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Shadowplay

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Shadowplay

By: Joseph O'Connor
Narrated by: Anna Chancellor, Barry McGovern
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About this listen

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.

©2019 Joseph O’Connor (P)2019 W. F. Howes Ltd Biographical Fiction Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Biography Heartfelt Thought-Provoking

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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)
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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!

Story and performance both first rate

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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...

Absolutely wonderful

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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.

Stage hero’s and a heroine!

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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

Superb

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I bought the hard-copy of this book and the audiobook after hearing the briefest of description on the radio, and I am so pleased that I did. This is a really rewarding listen/read both in terms of the relationships involving the characters, and also the ‘teasings’ concerning how much written about in this novel is reflected in Bram Stoker’s 1897 ‘Dracula’. I enjoyed the dialogue which never fails to hit the mark and frequently sparkles – but that does not mean it is always pretty. Some of the narrative is genuinely poetic. And at other times it can – to this listener at least – seem dense. The mix of narrative methods to carry the story along is welcomed, though there are times when a change of place or time can come quickly between lines and can give a surprise or a slight stumble. (Having the book in your hand easily recovers that.) The main novel’s frame and its coda (coda some 50 pages) I initially questioned. This was probably because I wanted more of the ‘meat’ of the goings on in the time the three lead characters were at the Lyceum Theatre together. I soon got over that and found the coda added considerably to the overall enjoyment of the book. I liked the loves, and the question of when people are really themselves or not; the regrets, and the forgiveness. The audiobook was very good though it did give me some niggling difficulties. The performer’s (Barry McGovern) narration speed at 1.0 was too slow for me and I had to reset the speed to 1.25 - such a boon with Audible. Because there are narrative changes to time or place, if only listening there is a good chance of a miss-step, I was pleased I had Audible 30 second play-back as well the book to hand. I disliked Anna Chancellor’s small contributions as the voice of Ellen Terry as these seemed wholly out of sympathy to the way that the character in the main narrative and performance is shown, but this is minor. The voicing of Henry Irving is a true delight. I was disappointed that the book’s ‘Caveat, Bibliography, Acknowledgements’ were not included in the audiobook - even in abbreviated form - as this denies the listener some real things of interest. A listen that will cause you to speculate.

More Hearts and Loves than Stakes

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A fictionalised account of the author of a classic book. Like many good books, prompted me to find out more about the main characters. Funny, interesting and enthralling.

Thoroughly enjoyable.

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Joseph O’Connor never fails to deliver. This is a wonderful book that transports the reader back in time. It’s beautifully narrated by Barry McGovern & Anna Chancellor.

A thing of great beauty!

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Exceeded my expectations. Gripping from start to finish. Best line: those who learned to see.

Gripping

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Thoroughly enjoyed this. The characters, the language, the setting, everything. Some beautiful and touching passages.

Perfect

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just didn't grab me. But narrator was fab and I cried at the end

I really wanted to like this

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