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The Visitors

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The Visitors

By: Sally Beauman
Narrated by: Laurel Lefkow
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About this listen

Sent abroad to Egypt in 1922, 11-year-old Lucy is caught up in the excitement that surrounds the hunt for Tutankhamun's tomb. When she meets Frances, the daughter of an American archaeologist, the two girls spy on the grown-ups and a lifelong bond is formed. Haunted by the ghosts of her past, the mistakes she made, Lucy disinters her past. And she finally comes to terms with what happened after Egypt, when Frances needed Lucy most.

©2014 Sally Beauman (P)2014 W.F Howes Ltd Fiction Historical Fiction Heartfelt Haunted Africa Middle East

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Critic reviews

"Once you start reading a Beauman book, you can't put it down" ( Guardian)
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I wanted a story set against the backdrop of the discovery of King Tuts tomb and i got exactly that. Not romance, but a good long tale about friendship and love and all the complications these involve. Its helps to already know the story of the discovery of the tomb and to have seen some of the treasures up close in an exhibit. I really enjoyed the story, and marvelled at how the reader went so easily back and forth between British and American English.

For history lovers

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Beautifully read and atmospheric story surrounding the discovery of Tutankhamen's tomb in Egypt in 1922. It's the tale of the main character, Lucy, and her long life - which is actually quite sad but relieved by deep friendships throughout. I've listened to it twice now and recommend it as an absorbing and interesting story with an historical background.

Captivating story

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What did you like most about The Visitors?

I particularly liked the subtle development in the narratorial voice. It begins as a child and ends as a young woman, told in the retrospective narrative of an old lady.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Howard Carter really came to life in this fictional version of what happened when Tutankhamun's tomb was discovered.

What does Laurel Lefkow bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

Lefkow gives each character a separate voice. This is of course present in the text, but she makes them come alive.

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

Historical fiction that feels true.

Any additional comments?

The ending is poignant. This is a long book, but the character constellation at the end is definitely worth it.

Subtle fictional novel disguised as a memoir

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I've read this twice and thoroughly enjoyed the Audiobook. Sally Beauman at her best. A must-read!

Captivating saga

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I didn’t know what to expect but was rewarded with over 20 hours of captivating story-telling. It’s an excellent historical novel that gives a revealing account of the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb through the eyes of a fictional character, Lucy Payne, whose imagined life-story adds emotional depth to the book.

The book starts with an aged Lucy being quizzed for details by a film-maker preparing a documentary about the momentous discovery, but soon reverts to 1922 with an 11 year old Lucy witnessing the discovery. Her first-hand account brings to life those actually involved in the search and the conditions under which the archeologists worked. I was drawn into Lucy’s imagined life as she matured into adulthood and her path crossed over the decades with those she met in Egypt. It’s a bitter-sweet story of triumph and tragedy that captured my imagination and left me sorry that the book ended.

The author is adept at creating atmosphere and character and is well-served by the talented narrator who made me feel I was witnessing events and hearing conversations.

A gem of a book

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What did you like most about The Visitors?

I like the mixture of a fiction story and factual information

What did you like best about this story?

It is exciting but without lots of awful unpleasent bloody scenes

Which scene did you most enjoy?

I liked the scene in which they are wondering where Poppy is

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes if i had time to do so

Any additional comments?

The reader of this audio book read so well.

Want a good overall audio book Get this

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I so enjoyed this book. I found the characters engaging and lifelike, the setting and atmosphere enthralling and the relation of real historical events fascinating. Sally Beauman has an absolutely beautiful command of prose and the marvellously talented Laurel Lefkow brings each character to sparkling life, effortlessly switching between female and male characters and British and American accents. This was my first Sally Beauman book and I will definitely read/listen to more. I shall also be downloading more narrated by Ms Lefkow.

Fabulous story, beautifully told

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Wonderful prose and beautiful descriptions that made me want to repeat sentences aloud. The story weaves in and out past and future, seamlessly.

Heartbreakingly beautiful!

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Where does The Visitors rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

From a writing and reading point of view, one of the best.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Visitors?

Laurel Lefkow's narration is simply wonderful, her switch between character's, male, female and child is flawless. The whole story is memorable for its beautiful prose like writing.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

Every time Lucy and Frances got together (as children). The characters complimented each other, a kind of sugar and spice!

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Basically, it was a cosy comfortable feeling, which simply left a smile on my face.

Any additional comments?

The story itself, written by or read by anyone else may have left me wanting.
But this is much more than the story, more a work of art.

Wonderfuly written and read.

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Fictional view of the archaeological searches of Lord Carnavon, Howard Carter and others in the Valley of the Kings in the 1920s. I love to learn history this way. A story that finishes at the end of the century with many twists and turns en route, beginning with Lucy as a child and ending with ... well, that would be telling. Convincingly read (lots of characters with widely differing accents). I love Sally Beaumann's novels and this might be my favourite. It's long but very rewarding - I'd recommend it!

Egyptian treasure

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