I Capture the Castle

By: Dodie Smith

Narrated by: Jenny Agutter

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.

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)

An English Lost Domain

Anglophiles around the world will be transported back to England in the 1930s in this delicious, bitter sweet story of an eccentric family living in a house built into an ancient castle. It is easy to forget that the diary entries of the main character, teenager Cassandra, are ficticious. Dodie Smith writes such achingly beautiful observations of the countryside in all seasons equally well as she describes the endearing faults of her main characters. The Mortmain's lives are suspended in time for a while until a pair of American brothers arrive to claim their inheritance and the hearts of Cassandra and her sister Rose. Change is also in the air for their author father and "son of the house" Stephen. The story is not wound up too tightly at the end and we are left room to imagine where war, fortune and love will lead the characters. Jenny Agutter's reading beautifully captures the passion and "wiser than her years" poise of Cassandra.

Charm, Charm, Charm

This book was recommended by a friend, but I started it reluctantly. I usually don't read books with teenage narrators. On top of that, a diary format can feel artificial. And it's true, sections of the novel feel episodic. But after about half an hour of listening, I was completely hooked. The main character is so charming, so endearing, so smart and funny, I fell in love. This eccentric family and their nutty house, their Austen-like neighbors, even their pets became utterly real to me. Dodie Smith makes surprising choices throughout and writes descriptive passages of great beauty,

The performance by Jenny Agutter is flawless. She makes every character distinct and vivid. There's not a false note.

A thoroughly bohemian romance

I read this for book club without knowing anything about it. I was determined not to look ahead or be tempted to know anything in advance & I must admit, the story is beautiful in the classic sense of Romanticism. The tortured artist, desperation of poverty, the worship of art & creation, innocence, and unrequited love. The examination of love- what it means, the many forms it takes, and its elusiveness are drawn out in the various characters storylines from the perspective of a young girl, just beginning to understand the sacrifice and pains of love- in family, friendships, and marriage. It's surprisingly well crafted and beautifully woven without drowning in sentimentality or stooping. The surprises are natural and unpredictable and startlingly realistic. Strongly recommend.

Bought on sale, no regrets.

What did you love best about I Capture the Castle?

A nice escape from the crazy modern world we live in. Narration was speedy and took a bit to get used to, then enjoyed how it kept the book moving at a good pace. Never got bored.

Was interesting comparing how lonely we sometimes feel surrounded by people...and then here is this girl...often alone in actuality or at least emotionally in an isolated castle...just living...writing...not sitting around wishing she had someone to chat with all day.

Build-up for a disappointment

Disappointed by the ending. People are wrong to compare this to Jane Austen. Austen gave good people desired happy endings, and punished bad people.

Relay well read but a very slow story

I liked the story and the characters very well but I found the middle part to dragg on for hours. For me this book was too long. But a good story with well rounded characters made it worth while in the end. But had I not needed to read this for my bookgroup Inprobably would have quit half way. So I’m happy I made it to the end.

a lovely read

Captivating and warm, this title is everything I'd hoped for in a novel written in journal format. Dodie Smith's words are sentimental, endearing, and sweet. A story about a family leasing a castle, a love story, a capturing of life around the castle ruins, and an embrace of nature. I have read this four times now and will always return to Godsend Castle, Belmont Tower, and Scoatney Hall when I need a refreshing escape to England to breathe.

Loved!

Love, love, loved this book! Such a classic. Great story, humorous, witty and interesting. Hated for it to end!

My absolute favorite Audiobook

I am not quite sure how I stumbled across this audiobook but it is one I have listened to several times. The story and narrator are brilliant.

Excellent story

The characters development was intriguing and the plot was gripping. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.