A Respectable Trade

Historical Novels

By: Philippa Gregory

Narrated by: Adjoa Andoh

From the author of The Other Boleyn Girl - a book about the devastating consequences of the slave trade in 19th century England.

Bristol in 1787 is booming, a city where power beckons those who dare to take risks. Josiah Cole, a small dockside trader, is prepared to gamble everything to join the big players of the city. But he needs capital and a well-connected wife.

Marriage to Frances Scott is a mutually convenient solution. Trading her social contacts for Josiah's protection, Frances finds her life and fortune dependent on the respectable trade of sugar, rum, and slaves.

Into her new world comes Mehuru, once a priest in the ancient African kingdom of Yoruba, now a slave in England. From opposite ends of the earth, despite the difference in status, Mehuru and Frances confront each other and their need for love and liberty.

©2019 Philippa Gregory (P)2019 Simon & Schuster Audio

All around a wonderful listen

This book was hands down one of the best listens I've ever experienced. The narrator was amazingly talented. While the writing being simultaneously excellent. You won't be sorry in choosing this book. So well done.

Heart Wrenching

It's been a long time since I have wept from reading. I really loved it.

Absolutely gripping

I adored this amazing book from the first line. Run to get it now. Fantastic story , wonderful narration, it is all a good book should be!

characters were believable

intense the whole way thru. the reader made the characters more believable. thank you Phillipa.

Such a beautiful book!

This book is hard to listen to at times. Clearly the fiction is based on brutal truths from our history. It also inspires empathy and encourages awareness of the cost of how we have lived and how we live today. Also, it is hopeful. A beautiful story.

Great storytelling

Like most of her books, this is great storytelling, the story itself is difficult to read. Some scenes are so heartbreaking that they made me weep and even worse knowing that these things really happened. Some of it is a gut punch.
The reader is magnificent. She brings the characters to life.

An exquisite, sad, incredible book!!!

NO SPOILERS! We have all heard true accounts of the awful, cruel, unbearable stories of how our African brothers, sisters, wives, husbands were treated. Maybe some of us have witnessed the cruelty and injustice of racism. What Phillipa Gregory has been able to do, is wake up all of our senses to comprehend the feelings, thoughts, actions and experiences of the slaves. She puts us in the villages of Africa, the terror of capture, the pain, sorrow, mistreatment of the long ocean voyages. You definitely get a lesson on the true thoughts and feelings of each individual slave. The narrator, Adjoa Andoh is so extremely talented!!! She is able to go from a Sierra Leone accent to a Scottish scullery maid accent in an instant. There are several main characters in this book, and she tackled every one spot on!! I really don't know if this audiobook would have worked without Adjoa Andoh! I feel this book is a must read, must listen. Not just for historians....but to get the history of a very, very long, destructing, wretched period.. A period that went on for more than half of a millennium.

Beautifully written and read!

This book takes history and weaves it in a very personal story that takes the listener on a journey that shows the beautiful profound struggle that is life. The narrator gave many different voices to each character adding depth to an already deeply woven story of a tragic time in history. Embodying the will of the human spirit, the power of love,and how people can find hidden blessings in their sorrows and triumph. These over arching human truths along with Philippa Gregory vast knowledge of history create a thought provoking and vivid world. I can’t wait to listen to more of her books!

TEN STARS!

To give this audiobook ten stars would not be enough! Philippa Gregory never disappoints. However, for this particular book, the real praise must go to Adjoa Andoh, the narrator. If there was a
“perfection” category, she just won the award. For me, the narration is everything. Her command of language and dialects is awe inspiring.
There is so much about the slave trade in Europe, America, and many other parts of the world that our history books have never told us. In today’s climate of bigotry and increasing racism, it would be prudent for us pause and educate ourselves in the hope that history will never be allowed to repeat itself in this regard. A Respectable Trade is a perfect way to begin.

Its Complicated...

Narrator was superb. The story is not one of her best. I struggle because the author is an excellent writer. The main characters were well developed, the story flowed... but... it was too sappy, there were too many exceptional circumstances to make the story work. I liked how the story was conveyed, just not in love with the story. I do want to add that Ms. McGuire did give you a lot to think about in terms of mindset during the time. Everyone was a victim in some way.