The Sisters Audiobook By Mary S. Lovell cover art

The Sisters

The Saga of the Mitford Family

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The Sisters

By: Mary S. Lovell
Narrated by: Annie Wauters
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This is the story of a close, loving family splintered by the violent ideologies of Europe between the wars. Jessica was a Communist; Debo became the Duchess of Devonshire; Nancy was one of the best-selling novelists of her day; the ethereally beautiful Diana was the most hated woman in England; and Unity Valkyrie, born in Swastika, Alaska, would become obsessed with Adolf Hitler.

©1991 Mary S. Lovell (P)2013 Audible, Inc. Art & Literature Authors Entertainment & Celebrities Europe Great Britain Women England Celebrity War Imperialism Middle Ages Royalty United Kingdom

Critic reviews

"[A] balanced, well-researched, and beautifully written biography...[an] exceptional achievement." ( Bay Area Reporter, Tavo Amador)
"The Mitford girls were probably the most spectacular sister act of the 20th century." ( Vogue)
All stars
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Great story but somewhat spoiled by the narrator's total lack of understanding of English pronunciation.
High Wycombe is pronounced High Wick-Ham, not Why-Combe.
Cheyne Walk is pronounced Chain Walk, not Chey Knee Walk.
Why not get a narrator from England?

Interesting story.

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I think for me it was the style of the book. I mean, she preferences that saying that she’s reading different letters and journals, etc. I just didn’t like the style. I think these women sound very interesting but I don’t wanna listen to it anymore. I’m totally bored by the reader and the content.

I didn’t like the style of the reader who may have been the author. Boring presentation.

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It is too bad the reader doesn’t know how to pronounce English words. I have noticed this before with other audible books

Poor pronunciation

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Such an interesting and revealing saga of the famous Mitford sisters, engaging and well-written. And such a shame no one edited, coached, or apparently even listened to the extremely unfortunate reader. Seriously, Audible Inc, the performance was shockingly amateurish and an insult to the writer.

Fascinating women

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Fantastic story but the narrater sounds like 1980’s AI but it’s worth it if you can’t read it

Missing the Mitford

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What made the experience of listening to The Sisters the most enjoyable?

They were a fascinating family and the writer tells their story well.

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

The story of Unity Mitford is tragic, strange and dramatic.

How could the performance have been better?

Find a reader who can pronounce things properly and who can read a sentence following the punctuation. As others have said, this TERRIBLE reader stops mid sentence at times, pauses, then finishes the sentence. If she did this at a comma or semi colon it might make some sense, but she just runs out of breath at random points. She obviously did not read the material ahead of time. Even more annoying is the fact that she didn't bother to learn the correct pronunciation of various English names and place names, e.g. High Wycombe, where the Mitfords rented a summer place. It is mentioned frequently and she pronounces it High Why-comb, when it should be High Wick-um. It is INCREDIBLY off putting, as is her changing pronunciation of Redesdale, the family surname. Sometimes it's Reds-dale. Sometimes it's Reeds-dale. Ugh, just ask someone, lady!

Any additional comments?

Audible: maybe you need to pay more attention to the readers you hire!!!! I've had this problem with other books recently. Who are these people you're hiring? Could I read one of the books? I promise to do a better job than this person!

Great story, terrible reader

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A fascinating story of some fascinating women made boring and tedious by a dreadful narrator. Typical disregard for punctuation is a serious distraction ie. "He was the head of the horses and ponies... I adored..." and "It was the German educated... prof... as Diana... called him" So distracting! Then the tone of voice, this woman is on auto pilot. She has absolutely no passion for her subject and has the uncanny ability to make even the Mitford family seem dull, urbane and above all simply boring.

A narrator lets this down badly

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Enjoyed this family tale. They are the original quarreling loving family with higher stakes than most. I found some of them unlikable which kept the story interesting. The reader was both excellent and difficult to adjust ones ear to. Her jolting rhythms become normal sounding after a while. I love the writer's balanced treatment of her material. I especially loved the comment quoted from a friend that the thing to remember about the family is that they were full of fun. The writing is very good although I wonder how the author and her editor missed usage instruction about "...on the other hand." "On the one hand" logically and correctly precedes "on the other hand." It's not a great thing, except when it is used often and then it is distracting.

Compelling in every respect!

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This is a well written biography of a family of controversial sisters. The style is accessible and the author is non judgemental about their controversial beliefs and associations, particularly in regard to the Fascist sympathies of Unity and Dianne. She does a good job of highlighting the attitudes of the parents and how they influenced their daughters. Some aspects of this family and their beliefs certainly do not fit in with the precepts of the current "woke" culture prevailing in much of what purports to be history. The author allows the reader/listener to come to their own conclusions regarding both the subjects and their beliefs. This is appreciated by the reviewer, at least.
This is a good book hampered by the narrator. Annie Wauters either did not rehearse this reading or has real difficulty in reading sentences with multiple clauses. So many times the sense of sentences is broken by poor reading. Also, please take the time to learn how to pronounce British place names. An English voice would have perhaps been appropriate, given the background of the family. How they spoke defined them for good and bad then and now in much of British society and there is little of that sense in the narration.

Interesting Muti-Biography

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Would you listen to The Sisters again? Why?

Yes, I have listened twice already. There are details I missed the first time that were worth going back to get the second time.

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

The stories about Hitler and how opinions changed about him when people met him.

Which character – as performed by Annie Wauters – was your favorite?

Not sure, but she does an excellent job of narrating.

Any additional comments?

I purchased this because I listened to "Wait For Me." They go very well together.

Blood is thicker than water, but...

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