The Century Girls
The Final Word from the Women Who've Lived the Past Hundred Years of British History
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The Century Girls
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Narrated by:
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Tessa Dunlop
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Sandra Duncan
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Anna Bentinck
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Pamela Miles
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By:
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Tessa Dunlop
About this listen
THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
'Tessa Dunlop...succeeds in weaving a rich tapestry of experiences.' Independent
‘A warm-hearted and engaging read, The Century Girls is replete with wonderful characters.’ Sunday Express
'A delightful book... all about women and women's lives.' Jane Garvey, Radio 4 Woman's Hour
'It’s a brilliant book… It’s fantastic!' Chris Evans, Radio 2 Breakfast Show
A celebration of the one-hundred years since British women got the vote, told, in their own voices, by six centenarians: Helena, Olive, Edna, Joyce, Ann and Phyllis – The Century Girls?
In 2018, Britain celebrated the centenary of some women getting the vote. The intervening ten decades have witnessed staggering change, and The Century Girls features six women born in 1918 or before who haven’t just witnessed that change, they’ve lived it. Empire shrank, war came and went, and modern society demanded continual readjustment.... the Century Girls lasted the course, and this book weaves together their lifetime’s adventures – what they were taught, how they were treated, who they loved, what they did and where they are now.
With stories that are intimately knitted into the history of the British Isles, this is a time-travel epic featuring our oldest, most precious national treasures. Edna, 102, was a domestic servant born in Lincolnshire. Helena is 101 years old and the eldest of eight born into a Welsh farming family. Olive, 102, began life as a child of empire in British Guiana and was one of the first women to migrate to London after the war. There’s Ann, a 103-year-London bohemian; 100-year-old Phyllis, daughter of the British Raj, who has called Edinburgh home for nearly eighty years; and finally ‘young’ Joyce – a 99-year-old Cambridge classicist who’s still at work.
It is through the prism of these women’s very long lives that The Century Girls provides a deeply personal account of British history over the past one hundred years. Their story is our story too.
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What listeners say about The Century Girls
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Florrie O'Mahony
- 26-05-20
Very Enjoyable.
A great insight into the different class distinctions and great personalities of 100 years ago.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Samantha
- 15-07-23
Probably better read yourself
The narration of this book is of poor quality. It is read in a very mechanical manner, and leaves what should be a fascinating book sounding like s lawn mower manual. I will try to find it in paper copy and just read it myself.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Campesque
- 04-11-23
Fascinating book. Oral history at it's finest.
I loved this book. It tells the story of a group of women - from different social backgrounds - through the decades. The twentieth century is the background for this narrative... and what a century it was. My own grandmother was born in 1908 - just a few years earlier than the oldest subject of this book. Her life spanned 93 years, and it was fascinating to read the different experiences of women born at a similar time.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- mr s robinson
- 17-05-20
Essential listening that is a privilege!
Tessa Dunlop has made an incredible foray into the private lives and opinions of a varied quintet of very old ladies. We are given perspectives on 5 very different walks of life across ten decades. The book flows and weaves beautifully with a directness That refuses to sentimentalise or heaven forbid patronise. Instead it is respectful and candid, the back drop of facts and history do much to set the context and are so vivid and interesting.
The narration flows beautifully and the actresses represent the women so well.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- NCD
- 27-02-20
Remarkable ordinary women
An interesting read following the lives of seven centurion women, who have all led different and interesting lives. A great read to enhance your history knowledge and your understanding of life back in the day. My only criticism is that it was hard to follow as it kept changing from one women to the next to follow a chronological order or their lives.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- C
- 30-03-22
Wonderful
I loved this book - It was a real guide through history while following the lives of some lovely and remarkable women. Very empowering! I felt like id lost some best friends by the time I finished it.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- Mog BooBoo
- 19-01-20
Century Girls for the Girls of 2020
Really interesting book about the lived experiences of ladies born 100 years ago. I’m old enough to have known women from that era, now passed away- so interesting to know what women actually did in their younger days. Understanding their lives, relationships, opportunities and adventures has been inspiring and fun. Well written and well read.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Corie S.
- 15-04-22
I wish it had been longer.
This was a fascinating book, really well researched and put together. The lives of these six different women made for compelling reading. It’s not often a non-fiction book is so hard to put down. I just wish it had been longer, I am sure the stories Tessa was told had some lovely anecdotes which were missed out!
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