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  • Troubles

  • By: J. G. Farrell
  • Narrated by: Kevin Hely
  • Length: 15 hrs and 44 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (90 ratings)
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Troubles cover art

Troubles

By: J. G. Farrell
Narrated by: Kevin Hely
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Summary

Winner of the 1970 Lost Man Booker prize in 2010. 

Major Brendan Archer travels to Ireland - to the Majestic Hotel and to the fiancée he acquired on a rash afternoon's leave three years ago. Despite her many letters, the lady herself proves elusive, and the Major's engagement is short-lived. But he is unable to detach himself from the alluring discomforts of the crumbling hotel. 

Ensconced in the dim and shabby splendour of the Palm Court, surrounded by gently decaying old ladies and proliferating cats, the Major passes the summer. So hypnotic are the faded charms of the Majestic, the Major is almost unaware of the gathering storm. But this is Ireland in 1919 - and the struggle for independence is about to explode with brutal force. 

©1993 J. G. Farrell (P)2018 Orion Publishing Group

What listeners say about Troubles

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

Extraordinary

Farrell is an astonishing writer and his trilogy of empire in India Ireland and Singapore... The Siege of Krishnapur, Troubles and The Singapore Grip... is breathtaking. I think that Troubles and Singapore Grip are superior to Krishnapur. The most devastatingly brilliant read is Singapore Grip. They will grab you entertain you make you laugh out loud and leave you shaken. Read all three and tell others.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Like a river

The book babbles on with no clear start and no clear end, enjoyable, but at the same time leaving no big impression. If you will ask me two years from now what the book was all about, I am pretty sure I cannot tell you.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

OK

I got the allegory, but the story did not hold my interest so much.
.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

my experience

More than excellent narration
But enjoyment of novel requires knowledge of British Irish conflict

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Wrong Reader!

The reader is from the wrong nation and social class so that all the comedy in this novel falls flat.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

a meandering tale

This story is a beautifully written historical snapshot of the end of British rule in Ireland. It's rather slow and meandering with a number of minor characters, but it has a pleasant feel to it. the Irish narrator is good. Obviously his Irish accents are excellent, his upper class English ones not quite so good. But he does a good job overall

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

Wonderful

I loved this story and narration. Just wonderful - every page made me smile but not the context within which it was set.

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