This Original multicast drama blends history with fiction to tell the story of Jonah, a young apprentice from London who raises himself from poverty by wit and luck to become one of the most powerful merchants of the age.
A rags-to-riches tale, Jonah's journey spans the breadth of human experience, from the intricacies of Edward III's political intrigues to the cutthroat world of international trade, from the triumphs of war to the agonies of personal loss - love, friendship, joy, heartbreak and glory. Set largely in London, the Scarlet City, the centre of medieval England, the Scarlet City trilogy is a thrilling portrait of the age and the people who made it so rich, colourful and extraordinary.
London, 1330. Jonah Durham grows up in the household of his tyrannical cousin Rupert, and only his grandmother, the calculating Cecilia Hillock, recognizes his talent and intelligence. After her death he inherits a handsome fortune, bestowing him with both wealth and independence but also the wrath of his increasingly dangerous cousin. However, a fateful encounter with the young King Edward III is set to radically change Jonah's life and the future of English cloth production.
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(Audible Audio, 5 December 2017, audiobook, 10 hours 3 minutes, various narrators, Audible)
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Apprentice was a joy to listen to, I loved it. I got completely absorbed in this audio drama. The original book is in German so I won't be able to read it unless they release an English translation. Apprentice is much more than just a word to word translation; it's a big cast audio drama. I enjoyed listening to it. The narration is spot on. I was engrossed throughout and am looking forward to listening to part 2, Rise. Apprentice is not always easy to listen to. The drama is very dark at times. There's a lot of violence, both physical and sexual. You could argue this may not always be necessary but I never felt like it didn't belong as part of the story. What I liked about Apprentice is that is defied my expectations. Jonah is not your typical protagonist that you automatically feel sorry for. At times he's a brute but I felt great empathy for him nevertheless.