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The Painted Tent

The Smiler Trilogy, Book 3

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About this listen

Freckled fugitive Smiler is never far from trouble. After hitching a ride south, Smiler finds his way to North Devon and the estate of "The Duchess"–a former fairground fortune-teller who now runs a farm. Here, he stays and tends to circus animals housed for the winter. When a peregrine falcon, Fria, escapes, Smiler must search for ways of helping and recapturing the bird. In doing so, can he solve the problem that has kept him in hiding for so long? Or does more trouble await?

©1974 Victor Canning (P)2023 Duckworth Books Ltd Action & Adventure Animals Animals & Nature Fiction Literature & Fiction Survival Stories Survival
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This is the last of the Audible Victor Canning books, all wonderfully read by John Duggins. I came upon them by chance when very unwell, with the period of my recovery coinciding with this last book. I can’t imagine better companions to lift my spirits. I am so grateful.

There is no false sentimentality to the Victor Canning books but there is simplicity, humanity and a deep love of countryside and nature. The plots are wonderfully contrived and the characters grow as we listen. There is a humbling sense of decency throughout.

Although there is a feeling as we listen that the country has become a shadow of its former self since the books were written, yet somehow also there is also a feeling that, in spite of the people who misrule our country and inhabit our institutions, the good ordinary people can still see us right.

Magnificent, uplifting, irreplaceable tribute to the wonderful country we had but alas now gone

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