The Potato Factory

The Australian Trilogy, Book 1

By: Bryce Courtenay

Narrated by: Humphrey Bower

Ikey Solomon is very successful indeed, in the art of thieving. Ikey's partner in crime is his mistress, the forthright Mary Abacus, until misfortune befalls them. They are parted and each must make the harsh journey from 19th century London to Van Diemens Land.

In the backstreets and dives of Hobart Town, Mary learns the art of brewing and builds The Potato Factory, where she plans a new future. But her ambitions are threatened by Ikey's wife, Hannah, her old enemy. The two women raise their separate families. As each woman sets out to destroy the other, the families are brought to the edge of disaster.

©2013 Bryce Courtenay.By arrangement with Penguin Group (Australia). Copyright Christine Courtenay (P)2014 Bolinda Publishing

Critic reviews

"In the tradition of Charles Dickens, Courtenay creates a unique cast of characters from the outset of this epic novel....Humphrey Bower's performance is a marvel...making this one of those rare books with a sweep of characters the readers come to care about deeply." ( AudioFile Magazine)

One fabulous series

I was too snooty to read these books for a long time. Then I started to listen to them and fell into the spell. Yes, there are better books. But, for entertainment, great characters and a world-class narrator, these are at the top of the heap. And, as a terrific bonus, I always learn something from this author. I just listened to this series over a two-week period and was completely swept into the world of Mary Abacus. Terrific summer books!

Well Mr Courtenay

This is the first Bryce C I have read, have avoided him in the past cause I perceived him to be a bit of a fast food restaurant type author.... well I loved this book, and the whole trilogy... Was it because I am a New Zealander living in Australia?, as the book took place in both places.. No, this book would grab you no matter where you live... a great insight into early ship travel and whaling and life in the 1800's in England and the colonies... Great...

Disappointing

I am certainly happy that I had the pleasure of reading the Power of One and then Tandia. The Potato Factory was highly recommended by many Audible reviewer's and by a close friend who also is a lover of books by Bruce Courtenay. My biggest problem was the fact that except for one character, for the most part the main characters were horrible people for whom you could not have much sympathy. Try as I might I simply could not give myself any reason to care about what was happening to them. I admit that the last quarter of the book was somewhat better in that regard. Also, the storyline and different significant events were so completely implausible that it was difficult to get involved. The minor stories and little anecdotes or sometimes quite interesting, but a number of them had nothing to do with the central storyline . This was certainly not the case with the earlier books. just as in the earlier books, the narrator was incredibly good.

I Love It When A Book Is Surprisingly Good!

I downloaded this several months ago, just because the reviews were so great. But it didn't seem like something I would enjoy, so I sort of ignored it. Once I started listening I finished it in less then 3 days! I agree with one reviewer, in the beginning it does remind one of a Dickens novel, but as the story unwinds, it gets better and better. Mr. Courtenay actually created a character in Ikey that I loved to hate in the beginning, and then just loved... The twists and turns of the scams had me in stitches! Thank you Mr. Courtenay for starting another career at age 55!

Great story

fascinating story with a narrator that is amazing. couldn't stop listening.