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Miss Purdy's Class cover art

Miss Purdy's Class

By: Annie Murray
Narrated by: Annie Aldington
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Summary

In the New Year of 1936, Gwen Purdy, aged 21, leaves her home to become a schoolteacher in a poor area of Birmingham. Her parents are horrified, but she has the support of her fiance, a recently ordained clergyman.

Her early weeks in Birmingham are an eye-opener: at the school she faces a class of '52 children, some of whose homes are among Birmingham's very poorest. One of the teachers, the elderly Miss Drysdale, proves an inspiration, and Gwen begins to understand the appalling hardships endured by the children as she is drawn into their lives.

Little Lucy Fernandez is a 'cripple' and an epileptic. Through her, Gwen meets Daniel Fernandez, the elder brother in a fatherless household. The family has roots in a Wales' small Spanish community, and Daniel is a young man as fierce and passionate in his emotions as in his social concerns. Gwen falls in love, and is quickly engaged in his battle to win rights for the working classes. As the Brigades are mobilized to fight the Spanish Civil War, Gwen has to face the fact that Daniel has secrets in his past which she would rather not face up to...

©2005 Annie Murray (P)2014 Pan Macmillan Publishers Ltd.

What listeners say about Miss Purdy's Class

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Too long

Interesting story well told but much too strung out. The reading had spirit and good intonation but the accents were dreadful

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

disappointed

usually a really good read. had potential for really good story line but way to much politics. found myself skipping through those parts. not what I want to settle down and read about when relaxing between work and children. as always Annie Addington an excellent narrator.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

heart wrenching

Great story, kept us thinking and hoping. absolutely loved every single bit. would thoroughly recommend

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