Of High Descent by George Manville Fenn AUDIOBOOK

Set against the rugged coastline and sunlit waters of the West Country, George Manville Fenn’s "Of High Descent" unfolds as a vibrant study of character, interplay, and the ever-present pull of family ties. With the Atlantic glinting in the background and the sounds of gulls echoing above, Fenn immerses the listener in a world where the forces of sea and land shape the temperament and destinies of his cast. The opening scenes introduce Mr. Luke Vine, a sharp-featured, solitary fisherman, and the lively Polly Perrow, whose robust good humor stands in contrast to Luke’s gruff cynicism. These interactions, captured in brisk, authentic dialogue, lay bare the tensions and affections that ripple through the small coastal community.

The novel’s sense of place—marked by the jagged granite, booming mining works, and bustling estuary—serves as more than mere setting; it weaves into the daily dramas of its people. Fenn’s prose, evocative yet unadorned, navigates the nuances of kinship, ambition, and youthful hope. Louisa Vine and her companion Madelaine embody the region’s vitality: spirited, independent young women whose presence brings warmth to the old fisherman, despite his protestations. Through their exchanges—teasing, loyal, and candid—Fenn explores the generational frictions and shifting notions of duty and affection.

Themes of social standing, the call of adventure, and the burdens of legacy move beneath the surface narrative. With a perceptive eye for both the picturesque and the psychological, Fenn crafts a story that balances humor with gravity, set within an atmosphere rich with maritime light and the tacit threat of nature’s power. Listeners will be drawn into the rustic cadence of coastal life, the complexities of love and rivalry, and the quietly persistent question of what it means to belong—in family, in place, and in descent.

Audiobook time & format : 14h25m52s, OPUS, 672 Mo
Audiobook free extract time & format : 5m (see below to listen), WAV
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