The Secret History of Christmas
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The Secret History of Christmas
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Narrated by:
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Bill Bryson
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By:
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Bill Bryson
About this listen
A cornucopia of Christmas delights from the bestselling author of A Short History of Nearly Everything and Notes from a Small Island.
Christmas is the single biggest annual event on the planet, a time for merry-making, over-indulgence, peace, goodwill, and the occasional family row. It’s as comfortable and familiar as a pair of old shoes and yet still glittery and exciting. But what do you really know about it? It’s stuffed full of traditions and rituals that most of us have been observing all our lives without having the slightest idea of where they come from.
Why is it called Boxing Day, for example? Why do we sing about Good King Wenceslas – who wasn’t a king and possibly not even good? What’s the story behind Christmas crackers? Who would have guessed that one of our most popular Christmas carols began as a kind of semi-pornographic Welsh folksong? And how did St Nicholas, a bishop from the dawn of Christianity, turn into the plump and jolly figure of Santa Claus with a flying sleigh and a home at the North Pole?
Christmas, and how it got that way, is full of surprises. Join Bill Bryson to reach into this Christmas stocking and pull them out – along with the inevitable tangerine.
©2022 Bill Bryson (P)2022 Audible, LtdListeners also enjoyed...
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I have discovered a group of women who refuse to be exploited, are immune to manipulation, and who never settle in the name of love. These ladies know what they want and take what they want by beating men at their own game. Utilizing the secrets exposed in this book, these women gain power, money, and status. Men call them gold diggers, women call them hos, but they call themselves winners. This is the book that society doesn't want you to listen to….
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5 out of 5 stars
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I spent $24,000 in 4 months
- By B.M. on 10-06-18
By: G. L. Lambert
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The Mastery of Self
- A Toltec Guide to Personal Freedom
- By: Don Miguel Ruiz Jr.
- Narrated by: Charlie Varon
- Length: 3 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 4,434
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Performance5 out of 5 stars 3,677
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Story5 out of 5 stars 3,657
The ancient Toltecs believed that life, as we perceive it, is a dream. We each live in our own personal dream, and these come together to form the dream of the planet, or the world in which we live. Problems arise when our perception of the dream becomes clouded with negativity, drama, and judgment (of ourselves and others), because it's in these moments of suffering that we have forgotten that we are the architects of our own reality and we have the power to change our dream if we choose.
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5 out of 5 stars
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listen.. .then listen again
- By Casiano on 12-22-16
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The Parole Room
- By: Ben Austen
- Narrated by: Ben Austen
- Length: 4 hrs and 25 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 231
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 227
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 227
Will Johnnie Veal—convicted of the murder of two police officers in 1970—be granted parole after 50 years in prison? How can he convince the parole board he’s reformed when he insists he’s innocent? What is prison time even supposed to accomplish? These are the questions that propel The Parole Room forward as it builds toward Johnnie’s 20th parole hearing—after 19 rejections.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Enlightening story & a must read
- By Patsy on 10-07-24
By: Ben Austen
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The Last Days of Cabrini-Green
- By: Ben Austen, Harrison David Rivers
- Narrated by: Ben Austen, Patina Miller, Harry Lennix, and others
- Length: 3 hrs and 32 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 25
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 23
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 23
In 1992, the deadliest year in Chicago’s history, seven-year-old Dantrell Davis was shot and killed in front of his elementary school inside the public housing complex Cabrini-Green. What happened to Dantrell led to a truce among Chicago’s gangs, but it also ignited a national panic about poverty and violence in America’s cities. Dantrell’s name would soon be used to demolish all of Chicago’s high-rise public housing, displacing tens of thousands of low-income families.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Unknown American history
- By Sweetums on 11-22-24
By: Ben Austen, and others
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MOVE: The Untold Story of an American Tragedy
- By: Curtis Bryant, Kevin Arbouet
- Narrated by: Tariq Trotter
- Length: 5 hrs and 19 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 272
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 268
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 268
This searing audio documentary brings listeners deep inside the unforgettable story of MOVE, gaining unprecedented access to surviving MOVE members, elected officials from the era, eyewitnesses, and historians to create an indelible portrait of an American tragedy.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Balanced Examination of History
- By James Peacock on 08-14-24
By: Curtis Bryant, and others
-
The Autobiography of Malcolm X
- As Told to Alex Haley
- By: Malcolm X, Alex Haley
- Narrated by: Laurence Fishburne
- Length: 16 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 12,437
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 11,063
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 11,003
Experience a bold take on this classic autobiography as it’s performed by Oscar-nominated Laurence Fishburne. In this searing classic autobiography, originally published in 1965, Malcolm X, the Muslim leader, firebrand, and Black empowerment activist, tells the extraordinary story of his life and the growth of the Human Rights movement. His fascinating perspective on the lies and limitations of the American dream and the inherent racism in a society that denies its non-White citizens the opportunity to dream, gives extraordinary insight into the most urgent issues of our own time.
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4 out of 5 stars
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it's Nearly perfect
- By Kerry on 09-16-20
By: Malcolm X, and others
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I Thought It Was Just Me (but it isn’t)
- Telling the Truth about Perfectionism, Inadequacy, and Power
- By: Brené Brown
- Narrated by: Lauren Fortgang
- Length: 10 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 5,915
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 5,031
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 4,974
Based on seven years of ground-breaking research and hundreds of interviews, I Thought It Was Just Me shines a long-overdue light on an important truth: Our imperfections are what connect us to each other and to our humanity. Our vulnerabilities are not weaknesses; they are powerful reminders to keep our hearts and minds open to the reality that we're all in this together.
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3 out of 5 stars
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I'm sure its great if you are a mother ....
- By Leslie A Hill on 08-09-11
By: Brené Brown
-
Caffeine
- How Caffeine Created the Modern World
- By: Michael Pollan
- Narrated by: Michael Pollan
- Length: 2 hrs and 2 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 42,507
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 36,621
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 36,453
Michael Pollan, known for his best-selling nonfiction audio, including The Omnivores Dilemma and How to Change Your Mind, conceived and wrote Caffeine: How Caffeine Created the Modern World as an Audible Original. In this controversial and exciting listen, Pollan explores caffeine’s power as the most-used drug in the world - and the only one we give to children (in soda pop) as a treat.
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2 out of 5 stars
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Leaves much to be desired
- By Melody H on 02-02-20
By: Michael Pollan
-
Mythology: Mega Collection
- Classic Stories from the Greek, Celtic, Norse, Japanese, Hindu, Chinese, Mesopotamian and Egyptian Mythology
- By: Scott Lewis
- Narrated by: Madison Niederhauser, Oliver Hunt
- Length: 31 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 699
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 613
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 613
Do you know how many wives Zeus had? Or how the famous Trojan War was caused by one beautiful lady? Or how Thor got his hammer? Give your imagination a real treat. This Mega Mythology Collection of eight audiobooks is for you....
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4 out of 5 stars
-
An interesting set of introductions.
- By Kevin Potter on 05-30-19
By: Scott Lewis
-
The Strange Death of Europe
- Immigration, Identity, Islam
- By: Douglas Murray
- Narrated by: Robert Davies
- Length: 12 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 3,426
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 3,037
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 3,012
The Strange Death of Europe is a highly personal account of a continent and culture caught in the act of suicide. Declining birth rates, mass immigration, and cultivated self-distrust and self-hatred have come together to make Europeans unable to argue for themselves and incapable of resisting their own comprehensive alteration as a society and an eventual end.
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1 out of 5 stars
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Fear-mongering
- By Kat Cat on 01-22-19
By: Douglas Murray
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- By: Bill Bryson
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- Length: 7 hrs and 59 mins
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 24
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 18
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Story4 out of 5 stars 18
Bill Bryson is the world's funniest travel writer, and a master of comic observation. His hugely popular books, spanning topics from linguistics to Shakespeare to the human body, have sold over 16 million copies and been translated into 30 languages, and his 2003 science book A Short History of Nearly Everything won the prestigious Aventis and Descartes prizes.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Another great Bryson
- By Dirk P. on 05-08-23
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Made in America
- By: Bill Bryson
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- Length: 18 hrs and 10 mins
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,542
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,275
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,274
In Made in America, Bryson de-mythologizes his native land, explaining how a dusty hamlet with neither woods nor holly became Hollywood, how the Wild West wasn't won, why Americans say 'lootenant' and 'Toosday', how Americans were eating junk food long before the word itself was cooked up, as well as exposing the true origins of the G-string, the original $64,000 question, and Dr Kellogg of cornflakes fame.
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3 out of 5 stars
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Bryson Not Reading Makes For a Rare Fail
- By John on 02-28-14
By: Bill Bryson
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Bill Bryson Collector's Edition
- Notes from a Small Island, Neither Here Nor There, and I'm a Stranger Here Myself
- By: Bill Bryson
- Narrated by: Bill Bryson
- Length: 17 hrs and 11 mins
- Abridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 2,338
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,828
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,809
In the first of three essays included in this audiobook, Bill Bryson decides to move his wife and kids back to his homeland, the United States, after nearly two decades in Britain. But not before taking one last trip around Britain, a sort of valedictory tour of the green and kindly island that had so long been his home. The result is a hilarious social commentary.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Bryson's best with Google
- By Shawn on 03-31-08
By: Bill Bryson
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The Old Magic of Christmas
- Yuletide Traditions for the Darkest Days of the Year
- By: Linda Raedisch
- Narrated by: Chloe Cannon
- Length: 6 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 58
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 55
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 55
Not so very long ago, Yuletide was as much a chilling season of ghosts and witches as it was a festival of goodwill. In The Old Magic of Christmas, you'll rub elbows with veiled spirits, learn the true perils of elves, and discover a bestiary of enchanted creatures. Rife with the more frightful characters from folklore and the season's most petulant ghosts, this book takes you on a spooky sleigh ride from the silvered firs of a winter forest to the mirrored halls of the Snow Queen.
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5 out of 5 stars
-
An interesting listen.
- By Streetsamurai on 12-18-22
By: Linda Raedisch
-
Icons of England
- By: Bill Bryson
- Narrated by: David Rintoul, Barnaby Edwards, Ben Eagle, and others
- Length: 6 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 37
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 29
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 28
This celebration of the English countryside does not only focus on the rolling green landscapes and magnificent monuments that set England apart from the rest of the world. Many of the contributors bring their own special touch, presenting a refreshingly eclectic variety of personal icons, from pub signs to seaside piers, from cattle grids to canal boats, and from village cricket to nimbies.
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1 out of 5 stars
-
Think twice if you're expecting a Bryson book...
- By Aaron J. Harris on 12-14-20
By: Bill Bryson
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Shakespeare
- The World as Stage
- By: Bill Bryson
- Narrated by: Bill Bryson
- Length: 5 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,857
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,284
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,272
William Shakespeare, the most celebrated poet in the English language, left behind nearly a million words of text, but his biography has long been a thicket of wild supposition arranged around scant facts. With a steady hand and his trademark wit, Bill Bryson sorts through this colorful muddle to reveal the man himself.
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4 out of 5 stars
-
Too Little, Too Short
- By Charles L. Burkins on 11-30-07
By: Bill Bryson
-
The Bill Bryson BBC Radio Collection
- Divided by a Common Language, Journeys in English and More
- By: Bill Bryson
- Narrated by: Bill Bryson
- Length: 7 hrs and 59 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 24
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 18
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 18
Bill Bryson is the world's funniest travel writer, and a master of comic observation. His hugely popular books, spanning topics from linguistics to Shakespeare to the human body, have sold over 16 million copies and been translated into 30 languages, and his 2003 science book A Short History of Nearly Everything won the prestigious Aventis and Descartes prizes.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Another great Bryson
- By Dirk P. on 05-08-23
By: Bill Bryson
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Made in America
- By: Bill Bryson
- Narrated by: William Roberts
- Length: 18 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,542
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,275
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,274
In Made in America, Bryson de-mythologizes his native land, explaining how a dusty hamlet with neither woods nor holly became Hollywood, how the Wild West wasn't won, why Americans say 'lootenant' and 'Toosday', how Americans were eating junk food long before the word itself was cooked up, as well as exposing the true origins of the G-string, the original $64,000 question, and Dr Kellogg of cornflakes fame.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Bryson Not Reading Makes For a Rare Fail
- By John on 02-28-14
By: Bill Bryson
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Bill Bryson Collector's Edition
- Notes from a Small Island, Neither Here Nor There, and I'm a Stranger Here Myself
- By: Bill Bryson
- Narrated by: Bill Bryson
- Length: 17 hrs and 11 mins
- Abridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 2,338
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,828
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,809
In the first of three essays included in this audiobook, Bill Bryson decides to move his wife and kids back to his homeland, the United States, after nearly two decades in Britain. But not before taking one last trip around Britain, a sort of valedictory tour of the green and kindly island that had so long been his home. The result is a hilarious social commentary.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Bryson's best with Google
- By Shawn on 03-31-08
By: Bill Bryson
-
The Old Magic of Christmas
- Yuletide Traditions for the Darkest Days of the Year
- By: Linda Raedisch
- Narrated by: Chloe Cannon
- Length: 6 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 58
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 55
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 55
Not so very long ago, Yuletide was as much a chilling season of ghosts and witches as it was a festival of goodwill. In The Old Magic of Christmas, you'll rub elbows with veiled spirits, learn the true perils of elves, and discover a bestiary of enchanted creatures. Rife with the more frightful characters from folklore and the season's most petulant ghosts, this book takes you on a spooky sleigh ride from the silvered firs of a winter forest to the mirrored halls of the Snow Queen.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
An interesting listen.
- By Streetsamurai on 12-18-22
By: Linda Raedisch
-
Icons of England
- By: Bill Bryson
- Narrated by: David Rintoul, Barnaby Edwards, Ben Eagle, and others
- Length: 6 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 37
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 29
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Story4 out of 5 stars 28
This celebration of the English countryside does not only focus on the rolling green landscapes and magnificent monuments that set England apart from the rest of the world. Many of the contributors bring their own special touch, presenting a refreshingly eclectic variety of personal icons, from pub signs to seaside piers, from cattle grids to canal boats, and from village cricket to nimbies.
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1 out of 5 stars
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Think twice if you're expecting a Bryson book...
- By Aaron J. Harris on 12-14-20
By: Bill Bryson
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Shakespeare
- The World as Stage
- By: Bill Bryson
- Narrated by: Bill Bryson
- Length: 5 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,857
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,284
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,272
William Shakespeare, the most celebrated poet in the English language, left behind nearly a million words of text, but his biography has long been a thicket of wild supposition arranged around scant facts. With a steady hand and his trademark wit, Bill Bryson sorts through this colorful muddle to reveal the man himself.
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4 out of 5 stars
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Too Little, Too Short
- By Charles L. Burkins on 11-30-07
By: Bill Bryson
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The Best Worst Christmas
- An Audible Original Novella
- By: Kate Forster
- Narrated by: Rachael Tidd
- Length: 4 hrs and 29 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 6,102
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 5,651
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 5,642
Lily is back from Australia for the first time in seven years to spend Christmas at her mum’s house in a small, gossipy English village. To her surprise, she returns to find that her mother is dating the man next door, who also happens to be the father of her ex-boyfriend Tom. Tom, who broke Lily’s heart all those years ago. Tom, the real reason Lily fled to the other side of the world and stayed there. Tom, who is also home for Christmas and right there, next door.
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2 out of 5 stars
-
Grouchy
- By Cheryl on 12-12-21
By: Kate Forster
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The Christmas Star
- An Audible Original
- By: Kate Forster
- Narrated by: Rachael Tidd
- Length: 3 hrs and 49 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 2,506
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 2,454
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 2,454
It's nearly Christmas, Julia Devine's favourite time of the year. She's just programmed a wonderful lead into the holidays at Sunny Street Cinema, which leaves her plenty of time to worry about going home to Cumbria for Christmas. Her mum and stepdad are fine, but the thought of spending another holiday with her awful stepsister Becca is enough to make a Scrooge out of anyone. When Becca calls to let her know about the dreamy pilot she's bringing to Christmas lunch, Julia finally snaps and does something very silly.
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5 out of 5 stars
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All the best holiday eyerolls
- By 🔥 Phx17 🔥 on 11-16-23
By: Kate Forster
-
The Upside Down Christmas
- An Audible Original Novella
- By: Kate Forster
- Narrated by: Rachael Tidd
- Length: 3 hrs and 28 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,993
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,878
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,871
When Marlo is unceremoniously ghosted by her part-time lover, she decides she’ll need to avoid the whole Christmas season. That is actually pretty easy in this country, because it’s so hot and so far away from anything that means Christmas to her. But Marlo’s flatmate Alex is determined to lift her out of her grinch slump and convince her that Christmas Down Under may be unfamiliar, but exactly what she needs to start her life on a new course.
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5 out of 5 stars
-
Sweet Christmas novella
- By susie on 12-11-22
By: Kate Forster
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Dear Bill Bryson
- Footnotes from a Small Island
- By: Ben Aitken
- Narrated by: Ben Aitken
- Length: 8 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall3.5 out of 5 stars 17
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Performance3.5 out of 5 stars 16
-
Story3.5 out of 5 stars 16
In 2013, travel writer Ben Aitken decided to follow in the footsteps of his hero - literally - and started a journey around the UK, tracing the trip taken by Bill Bryon in his classic tribute to the British Isles, Notes from a Small Island. Staying at the same hotels, ordering the same food and even spending the same amount of time in the bath, Aitken's homage - updated and with a new preface for 2022 - is filled with wit, insight and humour.
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5 out of 5 stars
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A Grand Triumph
- By Barbara Richards on 08-22-24
By: Ben Aitken
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Neither Here nor There
- By: Bill Bryson
- Narrated by: William Roberts
- Length: 9 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 343
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 290
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 289
In Neither Here nor There Bill Bryson brings his unique brand of humour to bear on Europe as he shoulders his backpack, keeps a tight hold on his wallet, and journeys from Hammerfest, the northernmost town on the continent, to Istanbul on the cusp of Asia.
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3 out of 5 stars
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Authentic Bryson, but that might be the problem
- By M. Craft on 08-12-14
By: Bill Bryson
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The Lost Continent
- Travels In Small Town America
- By: Bill Bryson
- Narrated by: William Roberts
- Length: 10 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 955
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Performance4 out of 5 stars 797
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Story4 out of 5 stars 793
Hardly anyone ever leaves Des Moines, Iowa. But Bill Bryson did, and after 10 years in England he decided to go home, to a foreign country. In an ageing Chevrolet Chevette, he drove nearly 14,000 miles through 38 states to compile this hilarious and perceptive state-of-the-nation report on small-town America.
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1 out of 5 stars
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Written by Bryson's evil twin
- By M. S. Cohen on 08-11-14
By: Bill Bryson
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The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid
- A Memoir
- By: Bill Bryson
- Narrated by: Bill Bryson
- Length: 7 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 2,563
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,630
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,639
Bill Bryson was born in the middle of the American century, 1951, in the middle of the United States, Des Moines, Iowa, in the middle of the largest generation in American history, the baby boomers. As one of the best and funniest writers alive, his is perfectly positioned to mine his memories of a totally all-American childhood for 24-carat memoir gold. Like millions of his generational peers, Bill Bryson grew up with a rich fantasy life as a superhero.
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4 out of 5 stars
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Fun, but not for squeamish
- By David on 11-30-06
By: Bill Bryson
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A Christmas Blizzard
- By: Garrison Keillor
- Narrated by: Garrison Keillor
- Length: 4 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall3.5 out of 5 stars 86
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Performance4 out of 5 stars 69
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Story3.5 out of 5 stars 69
A wealthy and depressed man (thanks to the economy, he's not quite rich enough to expand his cache of paintings by Vincent Van Guy, the famed Dutch realist) bound for Christmas in the tropics is abruptly summoned home to North Dakota to visit an ailing aunt. He arrives just in time to be trapped there by a blizzard. The electricity goes out, and when it does, figures from his childhood appear, and historical figures too, for a festive candlelit holiday.
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4 out of 5 stars
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I laughed and I cried
- By Amy on 01-02-13
By: Garrison Keillor
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Christmas Past
- The Fascinating Stories Behind Our Favorite Holiday's Traditions
- By: Brian Earl
- Narrated by: Brian Earl
- Length: 4 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 26
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 23
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 23
Christmas Past: The Fascinating Stories Behind Our Favorite Holiday’s Traditions reveals the surprising, quirky, mysterious, and sometimes horrifying stories behind the most wonderful time of the year.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Pop-culture Christmas History
- By Harley Easton on 01-23-23
By: Brian Earl
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A Christmas Gift of Grace
- An Amish Holiday Romance
- By: Sylvia Price
- Narrated by: Virtual Voice
- Length: 5 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 1
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Performance4 out of 5 stars 1
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 1
*** From Best-Selling Author Sylvia Price, the Award-Winning Writer of The Christmas Cards, comes a new heartwarming Amish Christmas romance *** In the serene Amish community of Willowvale, Isaac and Mary Fisher are grappling with the profound loss of their young daughter, Grace. The grief weighs heavily on their hearts, straining their marriage and casting a shadow over their once-vibrant home. As Christmas approaches, the Fishers are unable to find solace in the warmth of holiday traditions. Amidst their struggles, a ray of hope emerges with the arrival of Levi Miller, a young man seeking...
By: Sylvia Price
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Spruce Crossing Christmas
- A Sweet Christmas Romance Collection
- By: Ruby Hill
- Narrated by: Virtual Voice
- Length: 21 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 1
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 1
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 1
A sweet Christmas romance collection set in the charming small town of Spruce Crossing. Stories in this collection: Christmas Memories A holiday romance to help these strangers discover what really matters in life. Second Chance Holiday A second chance Christmas romance. Fake Relationship for Christmas A fake engagement could change their lives forever. Three Hearts for Christmas A single mom finds true love. Christmas Performance Saving a cherished small-town business, while also finding her heart. Decorating for Christmas A holiday fixer-upper to warm your heart. Christmas Heartstrings An...
By: Ruby Hill
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The Christmas Surprise
- By: Jenny Colgan
- Narrated by: Pearl Hewitt
- Length: 8 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 175
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Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 160
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Story4.5 out of 5 stars 160
Rosie Hopkins, newly engaged, is looking forward to an exciting year in the little English sweetshop she owns. But when fate deals Rosie and her boyfriend Stephen a terrible blow, threatening everything they hold dear, it's going to take all their strength and the support of their families and their friends to hold them together. After all, don't they say it takes a village to raise a child?
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4 out of 5 stars
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Delightful Respite
- By Nancy C. Wolfe on 11-28-21
By: Jenny Colgan
What listeners say about The Secret History of Christmas
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Rufus T. Firefly
- 01-30-23
Oh Come All Ye Faithful Bryson Fans
Only Bill Bryson could come up with and weave together so well so many fascinating yet little-known facts about something we thought we knew so well: Christmas.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Alex
- 11-28-22
Classic Bill Bryson
Enjoyable classic bill Bryson with his quintessential British humor mixed with lots of Christmas trivia
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Lindsey Finchum
- 12-12-22
So interesting
This was a great quick listen. Learned so much about the different Christmas traditions I had never heard of.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Dana A Dovitch PHD
- 12-19-22
Sweet
Sweet. Chatty. Funny. Filled with historical details. A well spent listen for those who love trivia.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Anisha Hopkinson
- 12-30-22
Good over all
I learnt some new things about Christmas traditions and where they came from. I enjoyed hearing his perspective as an American married to a British wife and the experiences that that brings. As I am in the same situation.
The author made it pretty clear his thoughts on Christianity at the beginning and how it related to Christmas. It seems his research into that only confirmed his own personal anti Christian beliefs.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jeffrey Greif
- 12-15-22
I loved it!
Bill Bryson’s books are always very informative and highly entertaining! Thank you, Bill, for another wonderful book!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- JOSEPH RYAN
- 12-07-22
Reality appreciated
Interesting insights into how Christmas has evolved over time and worldwide. Curious as to what the holidays will look like in the future!
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- She'sAlive!
- 01-07-23
Fun
An interesting, if somewhat circuitous, picture of the many paths that let us to our current Christmas holiday.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Diane M. Raymond
- 01-24-24
Excellent book by beloved author
Everything about this book was fabulous. Interesting handling of a popular subject. This book was written for a British not American audience. That made it all the more interesting. Perfect length for half a day’s drive.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- clvrgrrl
- 04-02-24
I love Christmas even more now
Bill’s voice and expression, his depth of research with wit and humour that keeps you interested in every word. I love Christmas even more now 💕 thank you Bill!
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