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Alone on a Wide Wide Sea cover art

Alone on a Wide Wide Sea

By: Michael Morpurgo
Narrated by: Emilia Fox,Tim Pigott-Smith
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Summary

How far would you go to find yourself? The lyrical, life-affirming novel from the bestselling author of Private Peaceful.

There were dozens of us on the ship, all ages, boys and girls, and we were all up on deck for the leaving of Liverpool, gulls wheeling and crying over our heads, calling good-bye, I thought they were waving good-bye. None of us spoke. It was a grey day with drizzle in the air, the great sad cranes bowing to the ship from the docks as we steamed past. That is all I remember of England…

When orphaned Arthur Hobhouse is shipped to Australia after WWII he loses his sister, his country and everything he knows. The coming years will test him to his limits, as he endures mistreatment, neglect and forced labour in the Australian outback. But Arthur is also saved, again and again, by his love of the sea. And when he meets a nurse whose father owns a boat-building business, all the pieces of his broken life come together.

Now, at the end of his life, Arthur has built a special boat for his daughter Allie, whose love of the sea is as strong and as vital as her father's. Now Allie has a boat that will take her to England solo, across the world's roughest seas, in search of her father's long-lost sister… Will the threads of Arthur's life finally come together?

©2011 HarperCollins Publishers Limited (P)2011 HarperCollins Publishers Limited

What listeners say about Alone on a Wide Wide Sea

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Marvellous tale for young and old


After listening to Michael Murpurgo s War horse and Private peaceful which I greatly enjoyed. I decided to seek out what else he had to offer and was drawn to this book.

It was simply marvellous story that had my smiling laughing and crying. The story is of a world war 2 orphan sent to Australia for a new life with many other children on a huge ship. It tells of his voyage to Australia and his new life there.

The story is told from Arthur Hobhouse the orphan and then his daughter Ally takes up the mantle later in the book as she returns to the U.K.

I had not réaliséd that over 7000 orphans were sent to the colonies after the war loosing family and friends and not all were lucky as to where they ended up.

Narration was good and easy on the ear.

Thoroughly recommend this book and I will be back for more Michael Murpurgo although a children's author, his work is not just for a young audience.

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The Poor Wee Boy...

If you could sum up Alone on a Wide Wide Sea in three words, what would they be?

Enchanting... sad.. Wonderful ....

What did you like best about this story?

The last few chapters they broke my heart....

What does Emilia Fox and Tim Pigott-Smith bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

Couldn't get better they were fantastic...

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No it was too good I had to make it last.

Any additional comments?

Please listen to this story it's very well written, story is powerful ,dark in places, and keeps you wanting to listen right up to the end. Worth a credit any day of the week...🌞⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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3 people found this helpful

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A heartwarming tale

I love Michael Morpurgo's books despite them being written for children: although following the screen and stage adaptations of War Horse, perhaps more adults appreciate his work now. This tale draws you in from Part 1 which is the life story of a young orphan boy, sent to Australia, followed by Part. II which recounts the lone sailing voyage his daughter embarks on, to fulfil a promise to her dad before he died, in the hope of finding his long lost sister Kitty. At times heartbreaking (his time at the orphanage) but also heartwarming with a feel good factor especially at the end.
A great listen for older children and adults.

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Brilliant

I went through every emotion whilst listening to this book. It is a wonderful story and one I will revisit again.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Alone on a Wide wide sea

I've read this book so many times, and the people reading this book have such nice voices I would definitely recommended it!

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I heard this 1st on the radio

excellent story. well read and atmospheric. you can actually imagine yourself in the story itself

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Gripping

Superb story written and read so well you could visualise every part. Gripping from start to finish for the whole family.

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A brilliant story

Michael Morpurgo packs so much into his writing and it is brought alive by equally good narrators. A must read/listen.

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Wide wide sea

Fantastic excellent micheal morpurgo has and done it again I have loved his books and read most of them at least once my favourite being ' long way home ' I am 35 I have 2 young kids and one day I will read them books I have loved.

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Such an amazing creator of stories !!

Would you listen to Alone on a Wide Wide Sea again? Why?

Absolutely loved the story, could listen to this audio book over & over again. Very moving story, loveable characters and wonderful description of the sea.

What other book might you compare Alone on a Wide Wide Sea to, and why?

Moby dick, due to the description of the sea.

What does Emilia Fox and Tim Pigott-Smith bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

Somehow they bring the characters to life.

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