The Doll Factory
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The Doll Factory
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Narrated by:
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Tuppence Middleton
About this listen
This audiobook is read by Tuppence Middleton and includes an exclusive interview with Elizabeth Macneal.
Now a major TV series with Paramount+
Sunday Times Bestseller – BBC Radio 2 Book Club Pick – BBC Radio 4 Book at Bedtime
The intoxicating story of one woman's dreams of freedom in Victorian England and the man whose obsession threatens to destroy them forever . . .
'A sharp, scary tale of love, art and obsession' – Paula Hawkins, author of The Girl on the Train
London. 1850. On a crowded street, the dollmaker Iris Whittle meets the artist Louis Frost. Louis is a painter who yearns to have his work displayed in the Royal Academy, and he is desperate for Iris to be his model. Iris agrees, on the condition that he teaches her to paint.
Dreaming of freedom, Iris throws herself into a new life of art and love, unaware that she has caught the eye of a second man. Silas Reed is a curiosity collector, enchanted by the strange and beautiful. After seeing Iris at the site of the Great Exhibition he finds he cannot forget her.
As Iris's world expands, Silas's obsession grows. And it is only a matter of time before they meet again . . .
'A dark delight and fans of The Miniaturist and The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock will love it' - Red
Sunday Times Best Paperback of 2020 Pick – soon to be made into a major TV series!
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What listeners say about The Doll Factory
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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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
- Amazon Customer
- 19-06-19
Her first novel.
For a first novel it is excellent. For me I found her writing exquisitely descriptive, not just the characters in the story but the way in which she brings London alive at a not so pleasant period in it's history especially for the poor. Although it paints a picture of a time and place I would love to view first hand, it is not one where I would want to have lived. To say I enjoyed this book does not go far enough but I seriously recommend you to listen to this one if you, like myself are captivated by tales of the 1800s.
At the end She mentioned that she has not finished with this period and gives a brief insite to her 2nd book and I can't wait to hear it. 5stars for The Doll Factory. May there be many more from Miss Macneal.
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7 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
- Caitlin Browne
- 22-05-19
Incredibly Vivid
I really enjoyed this book, the way both the author and the narrator describe iris’s process of painting was particularly inspiring, I felt like I too was learning from a master painter
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Kazgriki
- 16-09-20
Evocative, imaginative and great story-telling
Wonderfully evocative of the Victoria era, this is an engaging historical thriller. Iris' mentor and lover being a member of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood was a bonus as I love the Pre-Raphaelites and am very familiar with their paintings.
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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
- howardyates
- 03-10-19
Gripping historical faction
Terrific description of Victorian London and some of the characters who lived there.
Gripping story of a young woman with artistic talent who sought recognition.
Well narrated and an interview with the author included.
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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
- Arianna H
- 05-05-19
Excellent listen!
So richly told, this is an excellent story that takes you right back to Victorian London. Highly recommended.
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7 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
- bookylady
- 08-08-19
What a stunner!
For me, this was a first novel that lived up to the hype of the myriad of glowing reviews from publishers and bloggers. It was a really satisfying listen and I particularly enjoyed all of its layers which contained a wealth of period detail and social history.
Set in the year of the Great Exhibition, the story centres on Iris who works, together with her twin sister Rose, as a face painter in a Victorian doll factory. Iris chafes against the constrictions of her life and longs to escape and be a painter. But Rose, who was once beautiful before being disfigured by smallpox, is set against her sister’s plans and wants to bind Iris to her family and the dull, limited but safe life they have in the factory.
Chance meetings between Iris and two different men set off a chain of events that will alter Iris’ life forever. Louis, an artist and a member of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, tempts Iris to become his model and to learn how to paint within his studio. Silas, a maker of curiosities and nick-named The Cadaver, dreams of Iris becoming his friend and of her loving him.
Both men call Iris their queen and grow increasingly to desire her. But as one of them falls in love, the other becomes more and more obsessed. It becomes clear that Iris may well have escaped a life of boredom and drudgery to find herself in a bohemian world fraught with hidden dangers.
The novel covers many different aspects of Victorian life and provides interesting insights into the art world, the lives of women, attitudes to marriage and the world of collecting. Iris is a fantastic character, a woman who knew her own mind and set about achieving her ambition to be a painter.
Tuppence Middleton did a great job with the narration.
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3 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
- Vicky
- 03-06-20
could feel the air
slow bad start, but once I fell for the characters it was a fantastic book
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Angela Eden
- 18-05-19
The doll factory
I real enjoyed this trip back in time to the horrors of Victorian London. I found the ending very slightly disappointing but overall it was a very good listen.
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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
- Anna
- 26-05-20
Captivating!
I found this audio book to be utterly captivating and empowering! I loved every minute of it!
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mike
- 28-07-19
Enthralling story with many twists and turns.
I was modeling for an art class whilst listening to this book about art , Painting and modeling.
It felt like a real insight into life at that time. Was a really interesting read. I could not wait to read more.
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