The Swift and the Harrier Audiobook By Minette Walters cover art

The Swift and the Harrier

 Preview
LIMITED TIME OFFER

3 months free
Try for $0.00
Offer ends July 31, 2025 at 11:59PM PT.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 3 months. Cancel anytime.

The Swift and the Harrier

By: Minette Walters
Narrated by: Emma Gregory
Try for $0.00

$0.00/mo. after 3 months. Offer ends July 31, 2025 at 11:59PM PT. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $16.07

Buy for $16.07

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
Switch payment method
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use, License, and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel

A sweeping historical adventure set during one of the most turbulent periods of British history—featuring a heroine you’ll never forget....

Dorset, 1642.

When bloody civil war breaks out between the king and Parliament, families and communities across England are riven by different allegiances.

A rare few choose neutrality.

One such is Jayne Swift, a Dorset physician from a Royalist family, who offers her services to both sides in the conflict. Through her dedication to treating the sick and wounded, regardless of belief, Jayne becomes a witness to the brutality of war and the devastation it wreaks.

Yet her recurring companion at every event is a man she should despise because he embraces civil war as the means to an end. She knows him as William Harrier but is ignorant about every other aspect of his life. His past is a mystery and his future uncertain.

The Swift and the Harrier is a sweeping tale of adventure and loss, sacrifice and love, with a unique and unforgettable heroine at its heart.

©2021 Minette Walters (P)2022 Blackstone Publishing Genre Fiction Historical Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Heartfelt

Critic reviews

Library Journal Editor’s Pick

Dear Listener,

Why did I want to write about this particular moment in history?
"The English Civil War marked the beginnings of Parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy. The seven-year conflict, a struggle for power between Parliament and King Charles I, was brutal and deeply divisive, and ended with the execution of the king. To set a story in the midst of so much upheaval was exciting. My challenge was to weave believable characters into known events, and, through them, to explore how the war impacted ordinary people. My protagonists, Jayne Swift and William Harrier, stand on opposite sides of the divide, but they share a longing for peace. I hope you enjoy hearing their story as much as I enjoyed writing it." – Minette Walter, writer of The Swift and the Harrier
All stars
Most relevant  
I enjoy historical fiction and stories from this time period. The person reading did a good job.

Historical fiction

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
The English Civil War, very interesting time in British history. Charles I was a stubborn man wanting to continue to rule by Devine right instead off sharing his power with parliament. It cost him his head. This was a very religiously repressed time in British history and capital punishment was brutal, yet relished by the masses. Great story with interesting characters.

Enjoyable..📚

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Excellent. I have enjoyed this book so much I spent the last hour looking for another. I hope I find one soon

The Swift and the Harrier

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I love Minette Walter’s stories!! The rythym of her story keeps you entranced! Listen to it!

Loved every minute!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Narration was great. Story believable. Details of medical practice were very interesting. And the dedication to historical details was great as well.

Character development and historical details

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.