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Florence Foster Jenkins

By: Nicholas Martin, Jasper Rees
Narrated by: Katherine E. Kellgren
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Publisher's summary

"People may say that I couldn't sing. But no one can say that I didn't sing."

Despite lacking pitch, rhythm, or tone, Florence Foster Jenkins became one of America's best-known sopranos, celebrated for her unique recordings and her sell-out concert at Carnegie Hall. Born in 1868 to wealthy Pennsylvanian parents, Florence was a talented young pianist, but her life was thrown into turmoil when she eloped with Frank Jenkins, a man twice her age. The marriage proved a disaster, and, in order to survive, Florence was forced to abandon her dreams of a musical career and teach the piano. Then her father died in 1909, and, newly installed in New York, she used a considerable inheritance to fund her passion. She set up a prestigious amateur music club and began staging operas.

Aided by her English common-law husband, St Clair Bayfield, she worked tirelessly to support the city's musical life. Many young singers owed their start to Florence, but she, too, yearned to perform and began giving regular recitals that quickly attracted a cult following. And yet nothing could prepare the world for the astonishing climax of her career when, at the age of 76, she performed at the most hallowed concert hall in America.

In Florence Foster Jenkins, Nicholas Martin and Jasper Rees tell her extraordinary story, which inspired the film starring Meryl Streep and Hugh Grant, directed by Stephen Frears.

©2016 Big Hat Stories LTD and Jasper Rees (P)2016 Macmillan Audio
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What listeners say about Florence Foster Jenkins

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Florence book

Very different from what I expected. Didnt get past the voice,definitely not what I would of picked. For me the content was to much about others and not about Florence especially in the beginning. Hopefully the movie will be more gripping.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Jenkins book

While the story is fascinating (and I DID listen to the whole book), I found the patronizing tone of the reader INSUFFERABLE and INSULTING to the listener. I realize that she thought she was being clever in trying to indicate the over-blown style of the subject - it was condescending to the listener!

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Boring

Boring. I sure hope the movie is better. Only made it though the 1st 2 chapters.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

So boring

I got the audio book in anticipation of the movie. Now I am dreading seeing the movie because the book was so boring.

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1 person found this helpful