Gaudy Night

Yet another brilliant storey, so many ways this could go. Nice to finally see his love interest bloom.

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Dorothy L. Sayers at University

This is a wonderful example of the work of Dorothy L Sayers with her Hero Lord Peter side lined by Harriet who seeks a nasty prankster at her old college at Oxford. Not only do we find several excellent red herrings but also a chance to realize how far we have progress in the education opportunities for women. There is also a good illustrations of the problems that can arise in hot house intensity of higher education, also the danger of out growing youthful friendships. All set against the tensions in the lead up to the Second World war. A must for all Dorothy L Sayers fans with the performance bring the words to life.

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Miss Sayers at her best - shame the narration wasn't that great

I have waited a long time for this book to be released I audio for at. In my humble opinion this is Miss Sayers at her very best. By why oh why didn't the get Edward Petherbridge for the narration. This is why I have marked down the performance.

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15 people found this helpful

The narrator does not do a good job

This story is absolutely wonderful.

All the way through I kept trying to figure out the exact nature of the narrator's shortcomings:

1. She has a nice voice
2. She doesn't have the ability to differentiate her voices according to character, sometimes she tries it and applies the voice too late, mostly she doesn't (Martin Jarvis is one of the best in this regard and often improves one's enjoyment of the story).
3. The way that the words are strung together sounds like my kindle when I select the voice option (what you get is a computer selecting the words from a database and stringing them together without the necessary understanding to give the correct intonation and emotion).

It is a real tragedy because it appears that this narrator is currently the only option in the audible stable for the Lord Peter Wimsey books.

However, this story is wonderful and scholarly, I am not a scholar and supplemented my understanding by researching for example Latin phrases on the Internet - it gives more depth and tenderness to the story.... Sublime, truly sublime..............shame about the narrator.

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11 people found this helpful

Ruined by performance

This is one of my favourite books which I have read many times since I was a teenager. However my enjoyment is completely spoiled by the very strange reading. Robotic, erratic stressing of words, just dreadful.

2021 Edit. It is still impossible to buy unabridged recordings of Sayer’s books that aren’t read by this dreadful narrator, even though wonderful recordings of them being read by Ian Carmichael exist. A great disservice to the author and Audible customers.

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2 people found this helpful

They finally get together

Good story and well read with the ending that everyone wants Cannot wait for the next story to be available as an audio book

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Gaudy Night

9/10 Great detective story even without a body. Very well written and an intelligent story with believable characters also a few twists and red herrings.

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Sayers needed a ruthless editor

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

The jerky, spitting style of the reader spoils the book

What did you like best about this story?

The Wimsey Vane romance resolution, The detective work is fun and original

Would you be willing to try another one of Jane McDowell’s performances?

No. Couldn't stand the jerky style. Totally overdoes the attempt to 'spit out' upper crust speak.

Was Gaudy Night worth the listening time?

Yes. But i wish it had been a different reader or in a dramatised form.

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1 person found this helpful

Classic golden age of crime literature

Any additional comments?

I'm surprised to realise this was the first Dorothy L Sayers I have ever read. The story was both gloriously golden age, but also surprisingly relevant today in regard to men and women's relationships, right versus kindness, women's education. Not a book where there's a new corpse every couple of chapters and so much better for developing at a thought provoking pace.I want to hear more, but concur with other reviewers that sadly the narrator let the author down.

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1 person found this helpful

Brilliantly realised

What did you like most about Gaudy Night?

There is a strong plot and engaging characters. Miss Sayers' wit comes out most strongly in this book

Who was your favorite character and why?

Peter Wimsey has always been my favourite detective, the epitome of a civilised gentleman who treats everyone with courtesy and charm.

Which character – as performed by Jane McDowell – was your favourite?

Ms Mcdowell's narration brought out the character of the Dean very strongly, in particular.

Any additional comments?

I was a little hesitant in ordering this book, as the narrator has received a number of bad reviews. However, I found her approach to be perfect for a novel of the 1930s. Her pronunciation is not perfect, but there is always something to criticise in any audio book. I will listen regularly to this performance of one of my favourite books.

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