The Jewel in the Crown cover art

The Jewel in the Crown

Raj Quartet

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The Jewel in the Crown

By: Paul Scott
Narrated by: Sam Dastor
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About this listen

In the India of 1942, two rapes take place simultaneously - that of an English girl in Mayapore, and that of India by the British. In each, physical violence, racial animosity, the coercion of the weak by the strong all play their part, but playing a part too are love, affection, loyalty, and recognition that the last division of all to be overcome is the colour of the skin. The whole spectrum of Anglo-Indian relations is vividly evoked in a brilliant assessment of emotions, personal clashes and historical reasons that eventually prised India - the jewel in the Imperial Crown - from its setting.

©1966 N.E. Avery Scott (P)2014 Audible, Inc. 20th Century Contemporary Contemporary Romance Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Historical Fiction Romance War & Military

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Critic reviews

"It takes a masterful reader to captivate listeners for 21 hours. Sam Dastor, winner of numerous Earphones awards, does it again. His elegant interpretation makes Scott's prose seem even more eloquent than it is. Even more impressive is his brilliant dramatization of individual characters... Sam Dastor should get a jewel for his crown!" ( AudioFile)
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possibly the finest piece of literature to have emerged in second half of 20th C concerned with the legacy of the British Imperial rule in India and the portents of its end. the story weaves on so many different levels impressions and accounts of the experiences of the Brits and Indian peoples in the final those of the Empire. Its themes of race, colour and class are deep and revealing, stark and sometimes brutal reflections of divisions and attitudes. the narration is quite superb throughout and brings the story out vividly. As soon as I'd finished, I began again...

remarkable story narrated with superb skill

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My favourite Audible to date, I think. Magnificent writing with enormous psychological depth, brilliantly performed by Sam Dastor, who rises to the challenge of conveying a huge number of different voices and backgrounds and mentalities to perfection. The Jewel in the Crown is just the first novel in Paul Scott's Raj Quartet. Sadly, the other three are not (yet) available on Audible, but they would definitely be a wonderful addition to the catalogue. I live in hope!

Superb in every respect

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What a wonderful narrator - SD brings each character to life as separate voices pitch perfect. And what characters Paul Scott created. . .

Brought to life

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Paul Scott's book is a wonder of English literature. How is it that he has not had produced more masterpieces? Sam Dastor does a truly amazing job with the different Indian accents, not to mention getting the subtle class differences of the English characters spot on. A rare book that I can safely say that it was better to listen to than read. Wonderful.

Wonderfully written, superbly read by Sam Dastor

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Would you listen to The Jewel in the Crown again? Why?

Yes.

What did you like best about this story?

Everything.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

It can't possibly be as good as Sam Dastor's reading.

Any additional comments?

I wish Part 2 (The Day of the Scorpion - upon which I've just embarked) was being read by Sam Dastor. Richard Brown's reading is boring and (worse still) totally unresearched.

Sam Dastor's informed Reading is sheer Genius.

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Please get Sam Dastor to read the other three volumes - he is a great narrator

A wonderful book

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The evocative story needs no further comment. I have heard great narration. This is the best ever, whether the story telling or the dialogue whatever the nationality, class or gender. Just sublime.

Sublime

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Excellent story telling and social commentary. An important book which delivers a critical view but which has the authenticity and authority of deep love and deep knowledge

A monument to an age nearly forgotten

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Very moving history and so well compared to a love story between two people. Beautifully read, beautiful English.

More than brilliant in every way.

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A great pity that Scott's tetralogy isn't more popular as it's insights seem to me profoundly relevant and contemporary still. I suggest they're not popular because Audible never finished the series. The first part is both a good story and social analysis, but I would suggest uses the political and social situation of India at the time of the Raj to explore the various forms of alienation and self-loathing that Caste and Class systems invariably produce and which the author would seem to suggest are only transmuted by economic egalitarianism retreating to the vulgarity of superiority being premised upon presentation alone. ( A big shout out to the Bling culture). Ostensibly the story is that of a young English girl being raped by some Indians and its fall out running alongside the growing demand for independence in the face of the British reneging on promises made during the Great war. However the rape itself is a metaphor for the reality that her love for the Indian Hari Kumar is itself only possible because she sees him as a brown English boy just as the British Raj could only accept that India which presented itself as suitably English; the actual India could only rape and ravage their senses. The plots and various voices are excellently presented by the narrator, his Indian speaking English accent is convincing enough and his grasp of tone of that innate arrogance of the (British) possessor is superb. I just wish Audible had finished the series and done Staying On as well. Recommended

Superb Work

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