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The Girl Behind the Gates

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The Girl Behind the Gates

By: Brenda Davies
Narrated by: Charlotte Strevens
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About this listen

A raw, heart-breaking yet ultimately uplifting novel about a young woman cut down in her prime, and of the woman who brings her back to life.

Top 10 Kindle best seller

1939. Seventeen-year-old Nora Jennings has spent her life secure in the certainty of a bright, happy future - until one night of passion has more catastrophic consequences than she ever could have anticipated. Labelled a moral defective and sectioned under the Mental Deficiency Act, she is forced to endure years of unspeakable cruelty at the hands of those who are supposed to care for her.

1981. When psychiatrist Janet Humphreys comes across Nora, heavily institutionalised and still living in the hospital more than 40 years after her incarceration, she knows that she must be the one to help Nora rediscover what it is to live. But as she works to help Nora overcome her past, Janet realises she must finally face her own.

Based on a true story, The Girl Behind the Gates is the raw, heart-breaking yet ultimately uplifting tale of a young woman cut down in her prime, and of the woman who finally brings her back to life, perfect for fans of The Girl in the Letter and Philomena.

©2020 Brenda Davies (P)2020 Hodder & Stoughton Limited 20th Century Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Medical Women's Fiction Feel-Good Tear-jerking

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Critic reviews

"Compelling. Poignant. Haunting. Heart wrenching. Just beautiful. Everyone needs to read this wonderful book." (Renita D'Silva, best-selling author of The Forgotten Daughter)

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this touched my soul. the story the true story of how so many were treated. I had to stop listening for a week at a time in some parts. Not to lack of interest but due to the pain and anonymity of life of Nora. I made myself finish it and glad I did. wonderful heart breaking thought provoking book.

touching

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Liked very much and would love more from this author tears sadness and love all in one book

The girl behind the gates

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Narrators accents were nearly all well done. Kit's (the stereotypical fat older Caribbean woman) accent was awful.

But great story.

Addicting listen

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I don’t even know where to begin but if there’s only one book you read it must be this one so so heartbreaking and horrific but a story that had to be told and it was so brilliantly I could not stop listening even though at times it was so hard to listen but this is in my top 5 favourite books of all time such an education and so inspiring what an amazing woman Nora was and Janet too I loved it

Wow a must read

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this had me gripped the whole way through. It was so powerful and intense. I loved it albeit very mixed emotions.

powerful listening

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This story is one of resilience and strength of character… Norah is inspirational. Her ability to overcome is something I have great respect for

Brilliant

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Excellent listen, beautiful read. so sad at times and yet completely uplifting, the end was inspiring. Highly recommended.

totally absorbing

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Horrendous to think people suffered under such cruel conditions and were treated like this for sex out of wedlock. When men were not taking responsibility and letting women suffer. Absolutely worth the read.

Distressing to think women were actually treated like this

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This book heals a broken soul . This is an unbelievable option from the doctors prescriptions

Unbelievable

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Beautifully written book, both heartbreaking and heartwarming. Highly recommend . A book of loss and gain

A must read

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