What do you think?
Rate this book
The Archers Unseen: A secret history of Ambridge
Blossom Hill Cottage – a secluded place with a dark past. It’s where Peggy discovered her husband Jack was an alcoholic, and it’s also where Helen stabbed her husband Rob, desperate in the face of his manipulation and control.
And on to stately pile Lower Loxley – the Pargetters are proud of their centuries-old heritage, but how did Elizabeth arrive there, after her own turbulent early years, at odds with her family?
This knowing excavation of Ambridge delights in the follies and everyday mischief of the inhabitants of England’s most famous village. Location by location, via the Bull and the occasional barn, the narrator takes us behind closed doors and picks up on all sorts of whispers around money, births, deaths and marriages, and romance and sex (often in inappropriate places …)
In this canny, in-world exploration of Britain’s best-loved soap, we see how every relationship, each personal triumph and disaster, and all the hopes and dreams of a community over the years are folded into the personal stories of the characters we know so well today.
And on to stately pile Lower Loxley – the Pargetters are proud of their centuries-old heritage, but how did Elizabeth arrive there, after her own turbulent early years, at odds with her family?
This knowing excavation of Ambridge delights in the follies and everyday mischief of the inhabitants of England’s most famous village. Location by location, via the Bull and the occasional barn, the narrator takes us behind closed doors and picks up on all sorts of whispers around money, births, deaths and marriages, and romance and sex (often in inappropriate places …)
In this canny, in-world exploration of Britain’s best-loved soap, we see how every relationship, each personal triumph and disaster, and all the hopes and dreams of a community over the years are folded into the personal stories of the characters we know so well today.
225 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 24, 2024
5 people are currently reading
12 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 29, 2024
I know I'm not the TA for this book because I've never listened to the Archers so if you have you're in for a treat and if you haven't hear me out:
- I could read anything Julie Beckett writes she captures voices so well!
- It's kinda like playing Stardew Valley but the villagers have some real drama to serve you, the perfect feel for a cosy winter read, recommend to anyone!
- I could read anything Julie Beckett writes she captures voices so well!
- It's kinda like playing Stardew Valley but the villagers have some real drama to serve you, the perfect feel for a cosy winter read, recommend to anyone!
June 22, 2025
Julie Beckett gets every single character voice so spot-on that you'll swear you are listening to an extra-long episode. A surprisingly good read, this, even if the twist I was expecting (the narrator turns out to be former resident of Ambridge) doesn't actually happen.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 20, 2025
Absolutely fine and a bit interesting to learn about previous characters and storylines.
December 27, 2024
An excellent read
This is a great read for someone like me that has only been listening to the Archers for 5 years. Really good to get the back stories that I missed. I could hear each character as they described their life
This is a great read for someone like me that has only been listening to the Archers for 5 years. Really good to get the back stories that I missed. I could hear each character as they described their life
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews