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My Father’s Fortune: A Life Audiobook

My Father’s Fortune: A Life Audiobook, by Michael Frayn Play Audiobook Sample
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Read By: Martin Jarvis Publisher: Blackstone Publishing Listen Time: at 1.0x Speed 6.67 hours at 1.5x Speed 5.00 hours at 2.0x Speed Release Date: February 2011 Format: Unabridged Audiobook ISBN: 9781609982218

Quick Stats About this Audiobook

Total Audiobook Chapters:

15

Longest Chapter Length:

55:09 minutes

Shortest Chapter Length:

10:30 minutes

Average Chapter Length:

40:31 minutes

Audiobooks by this Author:

6

Other Audiobooks Written by Michael Frayn: > View All...

Publisher Description

In this memoir, Frayn reveals the original exemplar of the extraordinary-ordinary life: his father, Tom Frayn. A clever lad, a roofing salesman with a winning smile and a racetrack vocabulary, Tom Frayn emerged undaunted from a childhood spent in two rooms with six other people, all of them deaf. And undaunted he stayed, even through the shockingly sudden tragedy that darkened his life. Tom Frayn left his son little more than three watches and two ink-and-wash prints. But the true fortune he passed on was the great humor and spirit revealed in this beguiling memoir.

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"A bit slow to get going - the pre-history, reassembled from family memories, didn't work terribly well for me. But once Frayn reaches the war years, and his own vivid memories of his youth, and his relationship with his family, especially his father, I was gripped and moved. Beautiful writing!"

— Sarah (4 out of 5 stars)

Awards

  • Winner of the PEN/Ackerley Prize

My Father’s Fortune Listener Reviews

Overall Performance: 4.425531914893617 out of 54.425531914893617 out of 54.425531914893617 out of 54.425531914893617 out of 54.425531914893617 out of 5 (4.43)
5 Stars: 32
4 Stars: 7
3 Stars: 6
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1 Stars: 2
Narration: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
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Story: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
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  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " A charming, self-effacing, understated and deeply moving memoir/biography by one of my favorite novelists. Also a fascinating social history of lower middle class life in early-mid 20th century England. Beautifully written, just as you would expect from Michael Frayn. "

    — Laura, 10/28/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " A charming, self-effacing, understated and deeply moving memoir/biography by one of my favorite novelists. Also a fascinating social history of lower middle class life in early-mid 20th century England. Beautifully written, just as you would expect from Michael Frayn. "

    — Laura, 10/28/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Excellent book! Frayn's evocation of his father during his last illness was hard to read, in part because it was much like my own father's death. "

    — Rebecca, 10/11/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Excellent book! Frayn's evocation of his father during his last illness was hard to read, in part because it was much like my own father's death. "

    — Rebecca, 10/11/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " What a nice change to read a memoir where the author is not whining or blaming his parents for his rotten life. Without being sentimental, Frayn tells a touching tale that paints a rounded and deeply compassionate portrait of his father. "

    — Jenny, 10/10/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " What a nice change to read a memoir where the author is not whining or blaming his parents for his rotten life. Without being sentimental, Frayn tells a touching tale that paints a rounded and deeply compassionate portrait of his father. "

    — Jenny, 10/10/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " An endearing portrait of Frayn's father, but also about his whole family, living in England after the war. I love Frayn, so I loved this book. "

    — Bonnie, 6/13/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " An endearing portrait of Frayn's father, but also about his whole family, living in England after the war. I love Frayn, so I loved this book. "

    — Bonnie, 6/13/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Just finished this book last night ( May 4). Oustanding, a beautiful, tender memoir of a father, and many other relatives. Inspires you to get writing about your family before the memories fade or your loved ones are no longer around to tell you their stories. "

    — Siobhan, 6/7/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Just finished this book last night ( May 4). Oustanding, a beautiful, tender memoir of a father, and many other relatives. Inspires you to get writing about your family before the memories fade or your loved ones are no longer around to tell you their stories. "

    — Siobhan, 6/7/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " It's always interesting to read about other peoples families. This is a lovely book. His affection for his father comes shining through. Very funny in parts and moving in others. Highly recommended. "

    — Tracey, 5/24/2013

About Michael Frayn

Michael Frayn is the author of thirteen plays, including the classic comedy Noises Off, and Copenhagen, which was named Play of the Year by the Evening Standard and won the Drama Critics Circle award. Frayn has also written seven novels and three screenplays, as well as being a journalist, documentary filmmaker, and translator of Chekhov. Headlong is his first novel to appear in the United States since 1993. He lives in London.

About Martin Jarvis

Martin Jarvis, OBE, has recorded more than 150 Just William stories for the BBC. These have become international audio bestsellers. He won the Theatre World Award for his starring role on Broadway in By Jeeves; his West End appearances include works by Ayckbourn, Frayn, Pinter, and Wilde. Screen successes include everything from Stargate Atlantis, Doctor Who, and Numb3rs to The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and the Oscar-winning Titanic.