Sweet Agony
This Novel Won an Arthur Koestler Literary Award
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Sweet Agony
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Narrated by:
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Craig Hannaway
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By:
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Paul Sykes
About this listen
Not heard of Paul Sykes?
Mentioned in the book Legends by Charles Bronson, an A to Z guide of the men Bronson had regarded to be the toughest in Britain. Referring to "Sykesy", Bronson describes him as "a Legend, Born and Bred" and writing: "I first met Sykes in Liverpool in the early 70s and at that time he was probably the fittest Con in Britain. A notorious hard man from Yorkshire, a fighting man in every sense. A lot of people never liked him, perhaps they even feared him but I respected the man for what he stood for." Bronson goes on to relate an incident said to have taken place in HMP Liverpool, where Sykes "allegedly" killed the prison's cat and fashioned it into a "Davey Crocket" style hat, I think you get the gist!
Sykes had also been billed to fight Lenny Mclean at London's Rainbow Theatre on November 20, 1979, but this fight never materialized. Lenny Mclean, in his autobiography The Guv'nor, later explained: "A week before the off, Sykes went into a club in Wakefield where he lives, got well p-ssed and had a ruck with four doormen. He did them all but one of them got lucky and put a cut above his eye that took eight stitches to pull together" and the fight was off.
Sykes, Paul; b. May 23, 1946, only son of Walter Sykes and Betty Barlow, market and shop retailers, Wakefield, Yorkshire. Represented England and County at every amateur boxing level. Contested the British and Commonwealth Heavyweight title as a professional. Holder of Distinction and bar, Royal Life-Saving Society. Qualified football referee. Holder of the British amateur weightlifting record, deep knee bend 5001/2lb. Much travelled in the UK Prison System: 25 transfers in 20 years to three prison regions, 11 prisons and three special wings. Educ: Snapethorpe Secondary Modern, Wakefield Technical College. City and Guilds Bricklaying 1966 and 1975. BA (physical sciences) OPen University (1982). His novel Sweet Agony won an Arthur Koestler Literary Award in 1988.
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Sweet Sorrow
- The Long-Awaited New Novel from the Best-Selling Author of One Day
- By: David Nicholls
- Narrated by: Rory Kinnear
- Length: 12 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 78
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 68
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 68
From the best-selling author of One Day comes a bittersweet and brilliantly funny coming-of-age tale about the heart-stopping thrill of first love - and how just one summer can forever change a life.
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5 out of 5 stars
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A delight in every way!
- By Jennifer on 04-24-22
By: David Nicholls
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Tressa
- The 12-Year-Old Mum
- By: Tressa Middleton
- Narrated by: Ruth Urquhart
- Length: 6 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 264
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 237
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 236
Tressa Middleton made UK history when she became Britain's youngest mum in 2006 aged just 12 years and eight months. Her case provoked shock and outrage - but the truth behind the headlines was far sadder than anyone could ever have imagined. Born into a life of poverty and neglect, Tressa was forced to grow up fast when was she taken into care at just four years old. She was returned to her mother's chaotic world, but by the age of seven, she was being abused by her own brother and at 11 years old she fell pregnant with his child. For years she kept his dark secret in an attempt to hold her family together until the truth threatened to destroy her completely.
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5 out of 5 stars
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truly amazing such a beautiful n strong Young wome
- By kelly on 12-22-18
By: Tressa Middleton
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A Thousand Roads Home
- By: Carmel Harrington
- Narrated by: Jill Crawford, Frank Grimes
- Length: 10 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 181
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 166
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 166
Meet Tom. Or Dr O’Grady, as he used to be called. When you pass him on the street, most people don’t even give him a second glance. You see, Tom isn’t living his best life. Burdened by grief, he’s only got his loyal dog, Bette Davis, for company and a rucksack containing his whole world. Then there’s Ruth and her son, DJ, who no longer have a place to call home. But Ruth believes that you can change the world by helping one person at a time - and Tom needs her help. There are a thousand ways to find your home - you just need to be brave enough to look for them.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Couldn't put it down
- By Allison Swart on 09-22-19
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The Bermondsey Bookshop
- By: Mary Gibson
- Narrated by: Anne Dover
- Length: 13 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 179
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 163
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 160
Set in 1920s London, this is the inspiring story of Kate Goss' struggle against poverty, hunger and cruel family secrets. Her mother died in a fall, her father has vanished without trace, and now her aunt and cousins treat her viciously. In a freezing, vermin-infested garret, factory girl Kate has only her own brave spirit and dreams of finding her father to keep her going. She has barely enough money to feed herself, or to pay the rent. The factory where she works begins to lay off people and it isn't long before she has fallen into the hands of the violent local money-lender.
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5 out of 5 stars
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A glimpse into the past
- By Luci-Lu on 10-27-21
By: Mary Gibson
What listeners say about Sweet Agony
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- GW
- 02-25-21
Outsider art with real punch
Strong regional working class dialects, witty turn of phrase, sports training, sex, and moments of poignant and brutal honesty. More than just a prisoner's manifesto or self congratulatory bluster. Sweet Agony is an entertaining account, a slice of life with airs of those kitchen sink dramas. For those familiar with Paul Sykes from the documentary made and it’s cult following,this book is further insight into this fascinating personage. Who famously had an intensely active brain as well as body. Whether the reader views him as an unaware villain or a tragic flawed hero trying to do the right thing, the agenda is never pushed. It holds up as unique novel in it’s own right.
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