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The School of Mirrors
- A Novel
- Narrated by: Ell Potter
- Length: 16 hrs and 51 mins
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Publisher's summary
“A riveting epic, keenly observed and shining with lush historical detail. You’ll never forget this journey.”--Cara Black, New York Times bestselling author of Three Hours in Paris
“A sweeping tale of tumult and tragedy— intricate, absorbing, and impeccably depicted, The School of Mirrors will linger in your imagination long after you turn the last page.”--Ann Mah, bestselling author of Jacqueline in Paris
A scintillating, gorgeously written historical novel about a mother and a daughter in eighteenth-century France, beginning with decadence and palace intrigue at Versailles and ending in an explosive new era of revolution.
During the reign of Louis XV, impoverished but lovely teenage girls from all over France are sent to a discreet villa in the town of Versailles. Overseen by the King’s favorite mistress, Madame de Pompadour, they will be trained as potential courtesans for the King. When the time is right, each girl is smuggled into the palace of Versailles, with its legendary Hall of Mirrors. There they meet a mysterious but splendidly dressed man who they’re told is merely a Polish count, a cousin of the Queen. Living an indulgent life of silk gowns, delicious meals, and soft beds, the students at this “school of mirrors” rarely ask questions, and when Louis tires of them, they are married off to minor aristocrats or allowed to retire to one of the more luxurious nunneries.
Beautiful and canny Veronique arrives at the school of mirrors and quickly becomes a favorite of the King. But when she discovers her lover’s true identity, she is whisked away, sent to give birth to a daughter in secret, and then to marry a wealthy Breton merchant. There is no return to the School of Mirrors.
This is also the story of the King’s daughter by Veronique—Marie-Louise. Well-provided for in a comfortable home, Marie-Louise has never known her mother, let alone her father. Capable and intelligent, she discovers a passion for healing and science, and becomes an accredited midwife, one of the few reputable careers for women like her. But eventually Veronique comes back into her daughter’s life, bringing with her the secret of Marie-Louise’s birth. But the new King—Louis XVI—is teetering on his throne and it’s a volatile time in France…and those with royal relatives must mind their step very carefully.
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Jerusalem Maiden
- By: Talia Carner
- Narrated by: Lise Bruneau
- Length: 12 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
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In the waning days of the Ottoman Empire, a young Orthodox Jewish woman in the holy city of Jerusalem is expected to marry and produce many sons to help hasten the Messiah's arrival. While the feisty Esther Kaminsky understands her obligations, her artistic talent inspires her to secretly explore worlds outside her religion, to dream of studying in Paris - and to believe that God has a special destiny for her. When tragedy strikes her family, Esther views it as a warning from an angry God....
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No dreaming, No painting, No thinking . . .
- By Debbie on 04-18-15
By: Talia Carner
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Jack Maggs
- By: Peter Carey
- Narrated by: Steven Crossley
- Length: 13 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
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With scars on his back and silver in his pocket, the huge figure of Jack Maggs strides across the rich landscape of 19th century London. As this enigmatic man moves through its streets and houses, his single-minded quest to find his son will engender love, deceit, and vengeance in the lives around him.
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Jack Maggs
- By Kathleen on 04-04-05
By: Peter Carey
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The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock
- A Novel
- By: Imogen Hermes Gowar
- Narrated by: Juliet Stevenson
- Length: 17 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
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In 1780s London, a prosperous merchant finds his quiet life upended when he unexpectedly receives an unusual creature - and meets a most extraordinary woman - in this much-lauded, atmospheric debut that examines our capacity for wonder, obsession, and desire. One September evening in 1785, Jonah Hancock hears an urgent knocking on his front door near the docks of London. The captain of one of Jonah’s trading vessels is waiting eagerly on the front step, bearing shocking news. On a voyage to the Far East, he sold the Jonah’s ship for something rare and far more precious: a mermaid.
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Gave up
- By Isabella Piestrzynska on 10-27-18
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Wicked
- The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West
- By: Gregory Maguire
- Narrated by: John McDonough
- Length: 19 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
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Heralded as an instant classic of fantasy literature, Maguire has written a wonderfully imaginative retelling of The Wizard of Oz told from the Wicked Witch's point of view. More than just a fairy tale for adults, Wicked is a meditation on the nature of good and evil.
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It's not easy being green
- By PangaeaReads on 07-30-08
By: Gregory Maguire
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Tess of the Road
- By: Rachel Hartman
- Narrated by: Katharine Lee McEwan
- Length: 16 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
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In the medieval kingdom of Goredd, women are expected to be ladies, men are their protectors, and dragons can be whomever they choose. Tess is none of these things. Tess is...different. She speaks out of turn, has wild ideas, and can't seem to keep out of trouble. Then Tess goes too far. Tess's family decide the only path for her is a nunnery. But on the day she is to join the nuns, Tess chooses a different path for herself. She cuts her hair, pulls on her boots, and sets out on a journey. She's not running away, she's running towards something.
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Beautiful and Boring, Both.
- By Ryan on 04-05-19
By: Rachel Hartman
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The Taker
- By: Alma Katsu
- Narrated by: Laurel Lefkow
- Length: 14 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
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On the midnight shift at a hospital in rural Maine, Dr. Luke Findley is expecting another quiet evening of frostbite and the occasional domestic dispute. But the minute Lanore McIlvrae—Lanny—walks into his ER, she changes his life forever. A mysterious woman with a past and plenty of dark secrets, Lanny is unlike anyone Luke has ever met. He is inexplicably drawn to her...despite the fact that she is a murder suspect with a police escort.
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Too dark for my taste
- By Margaret on 05-04-14
By: Alma Katsu
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The Lioness of Morocco
- By: Julia Drosten, Christiane Galvani - translator
- Narrated by: Henrietta Meire
- Length: 12 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
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Independent-minded Sibylla Spencer feels trapped in 19th-century London, where her strong will and progressive views have rendered her unmarriageable. Still single at 23, she is treated like a child and feels stifled in her controlling father's house. When Benjamin Hopkins, an ambitious employee of her father's trading company, shows an interest in her, she realizes marriage is her only chance to escape.
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The Lioness o Morocco
- By MM on 06-23-17
By: Julia Drosten, and others
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Gone with the Wind
- By: Margaret Mitchell
- Narrated by: Linda Stephens
- Length: 49 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
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Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Literature, Margaret Mitchell's great novel of the South is one of the most popular books ever written. Within six months of its publication in 1936, Gone With the Wind had sold a million copies. To date, it has been translated into 25 languages, and more than 28 million copies have been sold. Here are the characters that have become symbols of passion and desire....
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not to miss audible experience
- By dallas on 12-08-09
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Reign of Madness
- By: Lynn Cullen
- Narrated by: Susan Lyons
- Length: 13 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
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Juana of Castile, third child of the Spanish monarchs Isabel and Fernando, grows up with no hope of inheriting her parents' crowns, but as a princess knows her duty: to further her family's ambitions through marriage. Yet stories of courtly love, and of her parents' own legendary romance, surround her. When she weds the Duke of Burgundy, a young man so beautiful that he is known as Philippe the Handsome, she dares to hope that she might have both love and crowns.
By: Lynn Cullen
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The Irish Healer
- A Novel
- By: Nancy Herriman
- Narrated by: Amanda McKnight
- Length: 8 hrs
- Unabridged
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1830s London is rich with promise ... and fraught with peril. Rachel Dunne and James Edmunds are about to discover that love is too. Rachel Dunne has always been a healer ... until she’s accused of causing the death of a child under her care. Acquitted but shunned, she flees Ireland in search of a new life, convinced that she’ll be fine so long as no one in London learns of her disgrace - or forces her to ever sit at another sickbed.
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should have a Christian/Religion tag
- By Wendy on 07-06-12
By: Nancy Herriman
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Merivel
- A Man of His Time
- By: Rose Tremain
- Narrated by: Sean Barrett
- Length: 12 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
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In search of answers, Merivel sets off for the French court. But Versailles leaves him in despair, until a chance encounter with a seductive Swiss botanist allows him to dream of an honorable future. But back home, his loyalty and medical skill are about to be tested to the limit, while the captive bear he has brought back from France begins to cause havoc.
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On Foolishness and Mortality
- By Ilana on 12-27-14
By: Rose Tremain
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Fever 1793
- By: Laurie Halse Anderson
- Narrated by: Bailey Carr
- Length: 6 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
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During the summer of 1793, Mattie Cook lives above the family coffee shop with her widowed mother and grandfather. Mattie spends her days avoiding chores and making plans to turn the family business into the finest Philadelphia has ever seen. But then the fever breaks out. Disease sweeps the streets, destroying everything in its path and turning Mattie's world upside down. At her feverish mother's insistence, Mattie flees the city with her grandfather. But she soon discovers that the sickness is everywhere, and Mattie must learn quickly how to survive in a city frantic with disease.
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Good book, unbearable narration
- By Maura on 07-29-18
What listeners say about The School of Mirrors
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Barbara W.
- 05-10-22
Fascinating but pedophilia nonetheless.
The first section of the book is about Louis XV’s practice of having sex with children. I found that very hard to take. The remainder of the book is unrelentingly sad. I didn’t know much about this era but this book falls in line with what I did know so it all seems plausible,
I was not emotionally engaged with the characters as they seemed concocted rather than relatable or sympathetic. I did, however, appreciate the view of what the French Revolution must have been like for those unfortunate enough to live in France during the Reign of Terror.
I wish I liked at least a couple of the characters; I found the historical aspects of the novel to be much better than the subjects.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 06-20-23
Fun story
This was a fun glimpse into life at Versailles and events during the French Revolution.
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- Lauren
- 03-26-24
A well-researched novel with beautiful prose
Eva Stachniak’s School of Mirrors is another heart-breakingly beautiful account of the lives of “ordinary women” and their perseverance in a male-dominated world. With illuminating prose, and flawless narration, this audiobook is a must listen.
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- Julia
- 11-25-22
Enthralling
Just beautifully written and masterfully performed. Oh the joy when a “salacious” historical fiction book is actually a gorgeous novel. This book is about oppression (the starving of France, the sexual exploitation of young girls), generational trauma and healing, and perseverance. Would 1000% recommend to any French Revolution history buff looking for something from the perspective of the “lower” classes while still including some decadent Versailles stuff. Here I go to listen to all her books now…
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1 person found this helpful
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- Melissa
- 11-24-22
Interesting Drama
It took a while for me to really be interested son the book. It got better and better as it went on. Interesting story and I enjoyed the history at the end. Overall very good
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- Janet Schreiber
- 02-27-23
I found the book very interesting and entertaining
I learned a lot about the French Revolution and the development of midwifery as a profession. It is a wonderful historical novel. Well done!
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- Lucy L.
- 03-02-22
language barrier much
I found it hard to keep up with the characters simply due to the French pronunciation of every name sounding similar. It took me at least 4hours to figure out that 1 character was a woman, & that 2 were really 1-- author flips between just the 1st name or just the last name randomly it seems for a few characters.
never-ending & title-less chapters also made it hard to follow the timeliness initially.
Aside from my personal struggle, that had me rewinding whole chapters due to sudden disoriented feelings of being entirely lost in the story line, I found the story to be captivating. I just had to know what happened & so I listened till the end & I'm glad I did.
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2 people found this helpful
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- HistoryNerd
- 08-21-22
Fascinating and Heartbreaking
Well crafted (and researched) story that is in turns both fascinating and heartbreaking, with a bittersweet ending. I also enjoyed the era (late 18th century) as it seems that historical fiction is dominated by WWII at the moment, and that’s not my cup of tea. The characters are all well drawn and distinct, which is also something that a lot of historical fiction novelists struggle with. I appreciate that the author included the sad and debauched chapter of Louis XV’s life where he went from being a hero amongst his people to being a middle aged roué and predator, even though young girls matured faster and often married sooner than they do now. Madame Pompadour’s culpability in the scheme is also disturbing—it’s sad to behold what people will do in order to maintain power.
Despite the weighty subject matter, there is triumph over adversity and while the ending is bittersweet, it is fitting and satisfying. I look forward to reading more of Ms. Stachniak’s work.
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- BlanchedeCourtnay
- 04-04-23
Intriguing and revealing
Well researched. A story you will not find in history books. Happy someone took interest.
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- Victor
- 08-30-23
Very well written, educational and emotional in many places
It is difficult to craft a story when the facts are few. This book not only teaches but also shows the complexity of human characters no matter the class. Kings, slaves, or anyone in between, have their own good and bad sides. The author did a great job at building such characters and showing us the complexity of human feelings.
Absolutelyrecommend to anyone who likes a well told story, wants to learn about the past and just enjoys a good narration!
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