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China Towns: Based on the Five Towns Novels
China Towns: Based on the Five Towns Novels
Sep 21, 2024 12:34 AM

Author:Arnold Bennett,Kate O'Flynn,Neil Dudgeon,Tim McInnerny,Don Gilet,Rebekah Staton,Full Cast

China Towns: Based on the Five Towns Novels

Neil Dudgeon and Tim McInnerny star in this epic tale of money, passion and defiance, inspired by the 'Five Towns' novels of Arnold Bennett

In this radical reinterpretation of Arnold Bennett's classic novels set in the Staffordshire potteries, it's the 19th Century and the Industrial Revolution is at full throttle. Only the ruthless thrive in this uncompromising world - and Ephraim Tellwright and Darius Clayhanger are both determined to succeed.

From humble beginnings, these two self-made men have risen to become wealthy and powerful. Now, they hold the fate of the Five Towns in their hands, passing judgement on those who put the prosperity and reputation of their community at risk...

Over 10 hours and almost 40 years, we follow them, their descendants, and the inhabitants of Bursley and the Five Towns, as individuals rise, fall, flourish, age, and see the world around them become unrecognisable, transformed by new technology. Fortunes are lost, hearts broken, empires built and compromises made.

These tales of aspiration and passion, damage and danger are told with Bennett's forensic eye for human psychology and a surprising degree of witty comedy, and feature a star cast including Emma Cunniffe, Kate O'Flynn, Don Gilet and Rebekah Staton.

Reviews

Rachel Rhys’ atmospheric novel mixes glamour with tantalising intrigue – and a dark hint of dread

—— Daily Mail

An atmospheric, page-turner

—— DAILY MIRROR

Deliciously intoxicating

—— HEAT

Rachel Rhys should be on everyone’s summer reading list

—— CLARE MACKINTOSH

With a dash of Agatha Christie and a nod to Zelda Fitzgerald, Rachel Rhys' historical mystery is simply gorgeous. The late 1940s Cote d'Azur setting is a character in its own right - one that will have you yearning to sip a gin fizz while watching the sun sink into the Mediterranean

—— KATE RIORDAN

I am racing though this delicious thriller set on the French Riviera in 1948. Rachel Rhys really is a natural successor to Patricia Highsmith. Out July, put it on preorder now so you don’t forget.

—— SARRA MANNING

Deadly secrets, dazzling sunshine - utterly seductive. This book is a total joy

—— LUCY DAWSON

Atmospheric, totally absorbing and joyfully original

—— JANE FALLON

Utterly enthralling; Rachel Rhys brilliantly evokes the shabby glamour and bruised hearts of the post-war Riviera, where everyone has a secret to hide. I adored it.


—— JANE CASEY

I absolutely loved this book. All the intrigue of Agatha Christie with the intelligence of Barbara Vine in the most glamorous of settings. Rhys writes like an exotic dream!

—— LIZ NUGENT

Public service announcement; this book deserves to be massive. Can’t tell you how hard and fast I fell for it. A stunningly beautiful, page turning feast of a novel

—— COLETTE MCBETH

Who doesn't dream of a letter from a solicitor informing them of something that is in their interest? When Eve sets off for the South of France to discover what lies in wait, she finds filmstars, roues, drunken writers and a disaffected housekeeper - the perfect recipe for a glorious post-war thriller. A wonderful bouillabaisse of glamour, greed, revenge and romance as Eve fights to escape a loveless, bloodless marriage and find her true self. As chic as Chanel with a hint of Christie, A Fatal Inheritance will be on all the best-dressed sun-loungers this summer.

—— VERONICA HENRY

Rachel Rhys wove a spell over me with this book and whisked me away to the glitz of 1940s French Riviera. Sumptuous and hugely compelling, Rhys is a master of dialogue and observation and her characters crackle with life.Utter bliss.

—— AMANDA JENNINGS

Fizzing with glamour and secrets, I adored this gorgeous novel. An absolute stunner in every way, it had me captivated from beginning to end

—— JENNY ASHCROFT

I had to make myself slow down when reading this delicious, thrilling novel, because I didn’t want it to end. If Daphne Du Maurier had been writing about the Cote D’Azur instead of Cornwall, she couldn’t have done it better. Absolutely superb.

—— CASS GREEN

I raced through this and absolutely love it. What a cleverly woven plot, with intriguing characters and great period atmosphere! It made me want to drop everything and rush out to live there, in a house as similar to Villa la Perle as I can possibly find.

—— GILL PAUL

This atmospheric and intriguing novel will transport you to a glamorous – and deadly sun-baked world

—— Irish Times

TOP HOLIDAY READS - A Fatal Inheritance bears all the hallmarks of a golden age mystery as Eve is swept into a glittering world that sees her rubbing shoulders with Hollywood film stars and famous authors ... When events threaten to take a deadly turn, she must race against the clock to uncover the truth.

—— The Herald

An exquisite and shimmering read. I completely lost myself in Rhys’s lovingly evoked 1940s French Riviera and was gripped by the slow-burn mystery. An essential summer read!

—— LISA JEWELL

The perfect literary beach-read; both gripping and dripping with glamour. Rachel Rhys is a natural successor to Patricia Highsmith.

—— Red Online

SUMMER READING PICK

—— Nina Pottell , PRIMA

JULY'S BEST NEW BOOKS: A dissatisfied wife receives a mysterious bequest, setting her off on a journey filled with excitement and danger

—— Stylist

Rachel Rhys really knows how to keep you guessing. As the mystery plays out she throws in a dash of romance to go along with the perfect evocation of the decadent time and place. You need this on your sun lounger this summer.

—— Sunday People

Amid the sun and glamour, there's skulduggery afoot in this perfect poolside book.

—— Red Magazine

With dreamlike descriptions of the Cote d'Azur and the dark underworld of those who live there, it is an addictive page-turner. The perfect summer holiday read.

—— The Lady

[A] high-octane, heart-pounding read.

—— Good Housekeeping

This is a fantastic book - glamorous and beautifully written.

—— Wendy Holden , Daily Mail

A transporting golden-age infused mystery caper

—— Sunday Times

This atmospheric page-turner is filled with intrigue, death-defying encounters, smooth talking charmers and even has a larger-than-life Hollywood movie star .. a fabulous summer read

—— Daily Express

This atmospheric page-turner is filled with intrigue... The colourful detail of heavenly scents, exotic flora, blazing blue skies and azure sear adds to the escapist fun... It should be enjoyed in the hot sun with a cool cocktail to hand.

—— Sunday Express

Beautiful, life-affirming stories that whisk you away and make you fall in love

—— Miranda Dickinson

Tender. A beautiful festive tale of a girl in search of a family for Christmas

—— My Weekly

A sweeping historical novel that opens in the waning days of the Ottoman Empire… The Parisian calls to mind a 19th-century novel.

—— New York Times

Complex, subtle and challenging… [The Parisian is] excelling––with a powerful ending that is moving in the way it knits together the themes of self-betrayal and social and political treachery.

—— Gareth Jenkins , Socialist Worker

Reconciling oneself with the pain and pleasure of the ties that bind one to certain people and places is something that lies at the heart of Hammad’s novel… the world Hammad paints is a rich one.

—— Lucy Scholes , i

Hammad… convincingly weaves the conversations and arguments around the Palestinian table, inviting the reader to join the friends and family who are full of complexity and humanity, and refuse to be defined by the tragedy that is befalling them… To read The Parisian is to gradually get to know a friend, like drinking tea with a favourite uncle and hearing about family stories, gossip and politics.

—— Tanushka Marah , Middle East Eye

Escapism in the form of adventure and sisterhood. This is a novel with real depth and feeling and touches on worker's rights, racism, environmentalism and education

—— i

This tribute to female friendship and the joy of books is a compelling read

—— Woman's Weekly

A captivating tale of love, friendship and self-actualisation

—— People

Escapism in the form of adventure and sisterhood. A novel with real depth and feeling. Empowering

—— Press Association

An exploration of people's cruelty and also their kindness

—— Ruth Junes , Good Housekeeping

The author of Me Before You pulls off a cracker with this stirring, exciting adventure story inspired by true events, in depression-era Kentucky, women find freedom and friendship by joining a brigade of horseback librarians

—— Best

Jojo Moyes is back with another page turner. Inspired by a remarkable true story, The Giver of Stars features five incredible women who will prove to be every bit as beloved as Lou Clark, the unforgettable heroine of Me Before You

—— Stellar

Joyous. Pucky female characters and wonderful writing. This is her best

—— Good Housekeeping

About five extraordinary women in 1920s Kentucky, who worked on horseback as travelling librarians

—— Woman & Home

An enthralling read based on a true story

—— My Weekly Special Series

One to get lost in. Escape with this book and follow the story of five women who are embarking on a powerful journey - and refuse to obey any man's commands!

—— No. 1 Magazine, Books to cosy up with this winter

A brand-new page-turner . . . based on a true story and tracks five feisty women living in America during the Great Depression

—— That's Life

Jojo Moyes is back with this tale based on the real-life horseback librarians of Kentucky

—— Hello!

Took me to the mountains of depression-era Kentucky where brave women librarians risked all to deliver books on horseback

—— Damian Barr, Big Issue Books of the Year

Celebrates the world of books . . . A fictional yarn about a quintet of extraordinary intrepid women from disparate backgrounds

—— RTE Guide

From the very first page, I was drawn into the world and the characters that Jojo Moyes has so carefully created

—— Health & Wellbeing

A fabulous adventure story

—— Best

Praise for Jojo Moyes

—— -

Moyes somehow manages to break your heart before restoring your faith in love

—— Sunday Express

Raw, funny, real and sad, this is storytelling at its best

—— Marie Claire

Immensely readable and enjoyable

—— Sunday Times

This truly beautiful story made us laugh, smile and sob like a baby - you simply have to read it

—— Closer

Wonderfully written and completely engrossing, with exquisitely drawn characters in a brilliantly plotted narrative

—— Daily Mail

A heart-stopping read. Destined to be the novel that friends press upon each other

—— Independent on Sunday

Britain's best contemporary female author

—— Sun on Sunday

The storytelling treads the delicate balance between heartbreak and hope perfectly

—— Good Housekeeping

A triumph

—— Heat

A tender, funny and hopeful look at love, grief and life. Bumper box of tissues required

—— Stylist

Joyful, with a pitch-perfect ending

—— Daily Express

Julia Whelan is perfect as Alice Wright

—— The Times, Pick of the Audiobooks

Concentrates on sisterhood and friendship

—— Scotsman, Best books to give this Christmas

A sweeping story of female friendship with a dash of romance, set in 1930s Kentucky

—— Daily Express

Her writing is beautiful and whimsical with unique storylines

—— Liv Arnold, author of Etched in Stone

This most recent book of Jojo's is her best . . . I loved this adventure story for girls for its plucky female characters and wonderful writing

—— Good Housekeeping
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