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I Capture the Castle

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I Capture the Castle

By: Dodie Smith
Narrated by: Jenny Agutter
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About this listen

Exclusively from Audible

In this coming of age story, Dodie Smith introduces the visionary and eccentric character of seventeen-year-old Cassandra Mortmain. The youngest daughter in a family of impoverished artists, it is her imagination and writing that takes us away from the ramshackle old English castle where they live, and towards an intriguing tale of husband-hunting and light-hearted sibling rivalry.

With the arrival of their new landlords, the impossibly handsome and wealthy American brothers, Neil and Simon Cotton, the Mortmains are roused from their stupor and moved to action. Despite developing feelings for the younger of the two brothers, Cassandra's beautiful sister, Rose, plots to marry the eldest heir in a desperate attempt to escape the poverty which surrounds her.

When Cassandra finds herself falling in love for the very first time with the same man as her sister, she explores her mixed emotions through her writing, making this a story which revels in irony and ambiguity.

A deceptively complex and intelligent story, I Capture the Castle is Smith's first published work and one which will undoubtedly and simultaneously make listeners tut, laugh and reminisce.

Narrator Biography

Jenny Agutter is a celebrated English stage, film and TV actress who was first brought to the attention of British audiences as a child, starring in East of Sudan and The Railway Children. She made her Hollywood debut in the critically acclaimed film Walkabout, in 1971, followed by Logan's Run, An American Werewolf in London and Child's Play 2.

Her TV career includes appearances on Spooks, Call the Midwife and The Man in the Iron Mask. Alongside this, Jenny is also considered one of the best classical actors of her generation and has performed with both the Royal Shakespeare Company and The National Theatre. She is an Emmy and BAFTA award winner and was awarded an OBE on the 2012 Queen's Birthday Honours List for charitable services.

Jenny's other Audible audiobook narrations include Jane Austen's Emma, Anne Brontë's The Tenant of Wildfell Hall and E. Nesbit's The Railway Children.

©2000 Dodie Smith (P)2014 Audible, Inc.
Classics Romance Celebrity Heartfelt

Critic Reviews

"A good story, flourishing characters, and the most persuasive narrative voice." (Guardian [London])
"This book has one of the most charismatic narrators I've ever met." (J.K. Rowling)

What listeners say about I Capture the Castle

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Had never heard of this in the classics!

Had never heard of this in the classics!
Cast an eye on it at a library only to be told it wasn’t registered! This intrigued me so that I had to get a copy. I was very surprised I quite enjoyed it. Normally I’m English literature or non fiction books so this really made a change.

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This is my favourite book of all time

Topaz is the most beautifully crafted character ever written in any book, I love her,
This is well read in a lovely voice. Huge thumbs up from me.

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I enjoyed every minute

I’d have liked to have been more thoughtful in describing my listening experience of this book. Essentially because it deserves it. The book content and narration are both a joy!

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Such a lovely story, and so well read by Jenny

This book has everything I love. Great story line, wonderful text, and wonderfully read by by Jenny Agutter. I was so sorry when it ended.
Enjoy this great read.

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Perfect audiobook

I read this book awhile ago, but I think that it was even better as an audiobook. The narration was perfect.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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Gloriously twee

So terribly English. Enid Blyton meets Wyndham Lewis. The Famous Five Survive Thanks To Yanks. Delightfully read and quite nice.

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A beautiful evocation of a lost England

This classic story of the transition from childhood to adulthood in an England now lost is delightfully brought to life by Jenny Agutter.

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Well Captured

I thoroughly enjoyed revisiting this old favourite by listening to this excellent production. I highly recommend it.

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Funny and well performed

A sweet coming of age story hilariously narrated. The setting is marvellously individual and the characters oozing with personality. Very well performed.

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A fabulous story with fabulous narration

If Cassandra Mortmain published her journals in this fictional world, she certainly would’ve outsold Mr Mortmain’s “Jacob Wrestling”.

Wow, I Capture The Castle is perhaps my new favourite book. Its just delicious, in all elements. The storyline is so human with fantastic elements that are still actually plausible, which makes it so brilliant, the characters are so real and I feel like I know them personally because of how well they’ve been fleshed out, and I absolutely ADORE Cassandra. I feel like my inner monologue has been transformed into the way Cassandra writes her journals, and I love it. Its just a lovely story and an excellent piece of writing. I’ve always been someone who can never choose my favourite book; I believe I now have it.

I want to add that Jenny Agutter’s narration was absolutely perfect. I can hear her as Cassandra in my head all the time now, and I’m not mad about it.

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