The Merchant's Tale
Oxford Medieval Mysteries, Book 4
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Narrated by:
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Philip Battley
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By:
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Ann Swinfen
About this listen
Oxford, Autumn 1353
St. Frideswide's Fair is a great annual event in Oxford, bringing together merchants and buyers from all over England and Wales, and from as far away as Flanders and France. Yet the earnings from the fair, granted to the Priory of St. Frideswide centuries before, are resented by the town, and resentment can turn to violence.
Under the unscrupulous Prior de Hungerford, even more trouble is brewing. Nicholas Elyot is warned by intelligencer Alice Walsea that attendance at the fair may be used for something more sinister, and not all French merchants may be innocent.
When a merchant from Flanders is attacked and an English traitor is murdered, can Nicholas disentangle the crimes hidden under cover of the fair?
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Novice Dragoneer
- Dragoneer Academy, Book 1
- By: E. E. Knight
- Narrated by: Nicole Poole
- Length: 16 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
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Fourteen-year-old Ileth grew up in an orphanage, and thanks to her stutter was never thought to be destined for much beyond kitchen work and cleaning. But she's dreamed of serving with the dragons ever since a childhood meeting with a glittering silver dragon and its female dragoneer. For years she waits, and as soon as she is old enough to join, Ileth runs away to become a novice dragoneer at the ancient human-dragon fortress of the Serpentine.
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She’s 14yrs old
- By Alex D. on 10-23-21
By: E. E. Knight
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The Outlaws of Sherwood
- By: Robin McKinley
- Narrated by: Justine Eyre
- Length: 10 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
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Young Robin Longbow, subapprentice forester in the King's Forest of Nottingham, must contend with the dislike of the Chief Forester, who bullies Robin in memory of his popular father. But Robin does not want to leave Nottingham or lose the title to his father's small tenancy, because he is in love with a young lady named Marian - and keeps remembering that his mother too was gentry and married a common forester. Robin has been granted a rare holiday to go to the Nottingham Fair, where he will spend the day with his friends Much and Marian.
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A great story paired with the wrong narrator
- By Gail N. on 11-01-19
By: Robin McKinley
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Cathedral
- By: Ben Hopkins
- Narrated by: Malk Williams, Sophie Roberts
- Length: 19 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
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A sweeping story about obsession, mysticism, art and earthly desire. At the centre of this story is the Cathedral. Its design and construction in the 13th and 14th centuries in the fictional town of Hagenburg unites a vast array of unforgettable characters whose fortunes are inseparable from the shifting political factions and economic interests vying for supremacy. From the bishop to his treasurer, from local merchants to lowly stonecutters, the fate of everyone, both Gentile and Jew, is affected by the slow rise of Hagenburg’s cathedral.
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Interesting description of life in the Middle Ages
- By leongork on 06-30-21
By: Ben Hopkins
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My Name Is Resolute
- By: Nancy E. Turner
- Narrated by: Mhairi Morrison
- Length: 25 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
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The year is 1729, and Resolute Talbot and her siblings are captured by pirates, taken from their family in Jamaica and brought to the New World. Resolute and her sister are sold into slavery in colonial New England and taught the trade of spinning and weaving. When Resolute finds herself alone in Lexington, Massachusetts, she struggles to find her way in a society that is quick to judge a young woman without a family. As the seeds of rebellion against England grow, Resolute is torn between following the rules and breaking free.
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A life well lived!
- By Anonymous User on 06-20-23
By: Nancy E. Turner
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The Town House
- By: Norah Lofts
- Narrated by: Juliet Prague, Martyn Read
- Length: 17 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
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"It was in the first week of October in the year 1391 that I first came face to face with the man who owned me… the man whose lightest word was to us, his villeins, weightier than the King’s law or the edicts of our Holy Father…” So began the story of Martin Reed - a serf whose resentment of the automatic rule of his feudal lord finally flared into open defiance.
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Another winner by Norah Lofts
- By Bird Lady 147 on 10-03-17
By: Norah Lofts
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The Hills Have Spies
- Valdemar: Family Spies, Book 1
- By: Mercedes Lackey
- Narrated by: Nick Podehl
- Length: 10 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
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In this new series, set in the bestselling world of Valdemar, Heralds Mags and Amily must continue to protect the realm of Valdemar while raising their children and preparing them to follow in their footsteps.
Mags, Herald Spy of Valdemar, and his wife, Amily, the King’s Own Herald, are happily married with three kids. The oldest, Peregrine, has the Gift of Animal Mindspeech—he can talk to animals and persuade them to act as he wishes. Perry's dream is to follow in his father's footsteps as a Herald Spy, but he has yet to be Chosen by a Companion.
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Great continuation of the series!
- By Peter on 06-28-18
By: Mercedes Lackey
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Veil of Lies
- A Crispin Guest Medieval Mystery, Book 1
- By: Jeri Westerson
- Narrated by: Noah James Butler
- Length: 7 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
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Accused of treason and stripped of his knighthood, Crispin Guest has survived on the gritty streets of London by reinventing himself as The Tracker, an investigator for hire who can locate lost objects and uncover secrets. When the merchant Nicholas Walcote hires Guest to investigate his young wife Philippa for adultery, he discovers an underground world of danger and dirty dealings. Philippa is indeed hiding something—but she's not the only one. Walcote himself is rumored to possess a holy relic so powerful that some would even kill for it.
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Character insight and I am satisfied with my short answers and don’t want to count out 15 words!
- By frances anne bramhall on 05-06-24
By: Jeri Westerson
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Suldrun’s Garden
- Lyonesse: Book 1
- By: Jack Vance
- Narrated by: Kevin T. Collins
- Length: 18 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
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The Elder Isles, located in what is now the Bay of Biscay off the coast of Old Gaul, are made up of 10 contending kingdoms, all vying with each other for control. At the centre of much of the intrigue is Casmir, the ruthless and ambitious king of Lyonnesse. His beautiful but otherworldly daughter, Suldrun, is part of his plans. He intends to cement an alliance or two by marrying her well. But Suldrun is as determined as he and defies him.
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Not my cup of tea
- By Ann on 01-10-11
By: Jack Vance
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The King's Return
- By: Andrew Swanston
- Narrated by: David Thorpe
- Length: 11 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
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The king's coronation brings hope. Until a murderer strikes. Spring 1661: After years of civil war followed by Oliver Cromwell's joyless rule as Lord Protector, England awaits the coronation of King Charles II. The mood in London is one of relief and hope for a better future. But when two respectable gentlemen are found in a foul lane with their throats cut, it becomes apparent that England's enemies are using the newly re-established post office for their own ends.
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More please
- By tara souther on 12-22-22
By: Andrew Swanston
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Closer to Home
- Valdemar: The Herald Spy, Book 1
- By: Mercedes Lackey
- Narrated by: Nick Podehl
- Length: 11 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
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Mags was once an enslaved orphan living a harsh life in the mines, until the King's Own Herald discovered his talent and trained him as a spy. Now a Herald in his own right, at the newly established Heralds' Collegium, Mags has found a supportive family, including his Companion Dallen.Although normally a Herald in his first year of Whites would be sent off on circuit, Mags is needed close to home for his abilities as a spy and his powerful Mindspeech gift.
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Great story !!
- By T on 10-19-14
By: Mercedes Lackey
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The Darwin Affair
- A Novel
- By: Tim Mason
- Narrated by: Derek Perkins
- Length: 11 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
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London, June 1860: When an assassination attempt is made on Queen Victoria, and a petty thief is gruesomely murdered moments later - and only a block away - Chief Detective Inspector Charles Field quickly surmises that these crimes are connected to an even more sinister plot. Was Victoria really the assassin's target? Are those closest to the Crown hiding something? Soon, Field's investigation exposes a shocking conspiracy in which the publication of Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species sets off a string of murders, arson, kidnapping, and the pursuit of a diabolical madman.
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Dickensian “Jack the Ripper”
- By Kate on 07-14-19
By: Tim Mason
What listeners say about The Merchant's Tale
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- P. Brown
- 02-27-21
Consistent
If you have read and enjoyed Ann Swinfen, she does not disappoint. She consistently brings quality books to the table. I would recommend
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- Holly
- 05-25-22
Great episodes, a most admirable historical series
Book shopkeeper Nicolas Elyott is a most appealing, thoughtful, wise and interesting main character. Nothing wrong with really loving the protagonist in these books, makes for an excellent change. In this volume, nothing disappoints, superior character-driven story, good plot, and wonderful, authentic ambiance. Overall the series would get five stars from me, but the novels are on the short side and feel like episodes in a bigger story. So, perhaps at the end of this journey I shall award five stars.
Superlative narration.
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- TINA R
- 04-23-21
Ann Swinfen
What beautiful stories.
I grieve the lost of such talent.
I will be sad when I complete the last volume.
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2 people found this helpful
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- prc
- 06-07-19
Great series.
A very well written book. excellent narration. nice historic background material and very well researched.
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- bigdjunta
- 07-03-22
Yes! 5 huge stars!
I love this series! Even my husband loves it commenting, "This is one of the best series we've ever listened to. I mean, all the characters come out of tragedy and yet they are intertwining, creating beautiful lives built on love and friendship with one another."
You feel that sincerity. It just leaps off the page and the narrator perfectly conveys the author's thoughts and feelings. I truly enjoy this narrator. He's one of the best I've ever listened to.
Start this series. You won't regret it.
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- itrainonpulse
- 01-29-24
One is sucked into this educational series because of its human interest
This is my 4th book in this series. I’m reading them in sequence because I don’t want to know the ending before the middle. Although I have a graduate degree in history,
I’m constantly learning “new” historical facts, and this series is an A+ example. So much of our course work focuses on historical “Movers and Shakers,” but it’s the day to day lives of the ordinary folks which really teach us about each time period. Be it farming, inventions, etiquette, child rearing, ad infinitum.… this is the best way to learn IMO because of the human interest factor. There is nothing vulgar in this series, and I will make it optional reading for extra credit. Sometimes fact to fact to fact just isn’t easy recall, but incorporate all our amazing history with human interest stories and watch your students’ inquisitiveness grow. A+
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- Lee M
- 02-10-18
4th in remarkable hist. fiction mystery series
I am fast becoming a fan of Ann Swinfin's. The novels have a humanity and comfort that for me is reminiscent of Ellis Peters' Brother Cadfael mysteries. The mysteries are well-crafted, well-researched, and don't generally exceed the technology of the day. They are also believable.
I also enjoy that, while the story is complete in itself, there is also an over-arching "history" that is consistent from book to book. We see children growing and relationships develop.
A lovely series that I would recommend to most people.
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7 people found this helpful
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- italoromano
- 08-07-24
Duh! When you know the answer to the mystery almost immediately!
I love this series , its great narration and characters. However, a mystery shouldn’t be solved so readily by the reader while the characters act so clueless to the obvious
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- sslarigo
- 02-03-18
Excellent Read - love this series!
Interesting and engaging characters with a real flavor of Medieval life. I've read each book in the series and they each just got better and better. The narrator was especially good, too.
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6 people found this helpful
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- Suzy-Q
- 05-11-19
Round About Reading!
These Medieval Mysteries never move in a straight line towards solving the crime! There is often too much information, additional characters that are hard to keep straight, peripheral narratives that take attention away from the central action. However, the extra work required is well worth the effort. Boy, can you learn a lot about late medieval society and how people lived and worked. So, interesting. The deviations from the main story are like an added gift - more than you paid for and well worth the cost! You will get to know the characters and really care what happens to them. Great historical fun! And as an added bonus the narrator is fantastic! Takes on the voice of time and place and makes it sound perfectly natural! Can't wait for my next credit to order immediately the next book in the series.
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