The Old Jest cover art

The Old Jest

A Novel

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The Old Jest

By: Jennifer Johnston
Narrated by: Heather O'Neill
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About this listen

Late summer near Dublin, 1920, and up at the great house there are still cucumber sandwiches for tea. Slipping away from Aunt Mary and dotty Grandfather, 18-year-old Nancy has escaped down to the shore to dream in the beach hut - longing for her life to begin.

©1979 Jennifer Johnston (P)2014 Audible Inc. Coming of Age Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction

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All stars
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Reminds me of why I fell in love with storytellers. Written so beautifully - I felt like an observer and became invested in the characters’ lives.

Perfect

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Engrossing story of 1920’s Ireland. Characters so well drawn. Thought provoking and evocative. Makes me want to know more about the period in Anglo- Irish history.

Extraordinary Novel.

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Jennifer Johnston, scandalously less well-known than she should be, like many of the excellent Irish women writers of the 20th century, delivers a stunning piece of work set in 1920, during Ireland’s “Troubles”. Written from the point of view of a young Irish woman brought up in the classic ”big house” and a member of the gentry, It shows the complexity of the Irish situation, and the idealogical conflicts that affected all Irish citizens as a result of the colonial old order. An unusual and delightful read, without sentimentality or compromise.

A dark tale of Irish life skilfully captured

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An engaging personal narrative about growing up & making choices with great characters and lovely period details & sense of place, while also telling the wider story of Irelands troubled politics through the cast of characters but without hammering it home. Told through the voice of a young woman on the brink of adulthood. Funny & tender. Great narration by Heather O’Neill - lots of voices which she manages really well. Highly recommend.

Subtle & clever

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Beautifully written and narrated understated book about a naive young woman on the brink of adulthood and all it brings, amongst the political backdrop of Ireland in the 20's.

The Old Jest

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This is a marvelous book. One of her best. Highly recommended, this one.

One of her best

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