The Road to Grantchester

By: James Runcie

Narrated by: Joe Jameson

Bloomsbury presents The Road to Grantchester by James Runcie, read by Joe Jameson.

The captivating prequel to the treasured Grantchester series follows the life, loves, and losses of young Sidney Chambers in postwar London.

It is 1938, and eighteen-year-old Sidney Chambers is dancing the quickstep with Amanda Kendall at her brother Robert’s birthday party at the Caledonian Club. No one can believe, on this golden evening, that there could ever be another war.

Returning to London seven years later, Sidney has gained a Military Cross and lost his best friend on the battlefields of Italy. The carefree youth that he and his friends were promised has been blown apart, just like the rest of the world—and Sidney, carrying a terrible, secret guilt, must decide what to do with the rest of his life. But he has heard a call: constant, though quiet, and growing ever more persistent. To the incredulity of his family and the derision of his friends—the irrepressible actor Freddie and the beautiful, vivacious Amanda—Sidney must now negotiate his path to God: the course of which, much like true love, never runs smooth.

The Road to Grantchester will delight new and old fans alike and finally tell the touching, engaging, and surprising origin story of the Grantchester Mysteries’ beloved archdeacon.©2019 James Runcie (P)2024 Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

a fine prequel and introduction to Grantchester

My spouse and I are among the many residents of N. America who only became aware of this fine series through the television adaptation. I've really enjoyed this prequel- it gives solid context and overviews of the tv characters: their influences, backgrounds, and motivations are presented and clarified with clear and compelling writing. I found myself with quite a backlog of credits, so will be grabbing the rest of the available installments. The *only* ding against perfect 5-stars is a 4 for narration, and it's admittedly for the most pedantic of reasons - while the narrator clearly deliniates characters and muchrapid narrative back-and- forth, his accent for the 'southern' Irish characters (eg those from the Republic, not the North/Ulster) were a bit 'rumpateetoo yerrah begorrah' stage-Orrish, if you get me. Yes, a pedantic complaint that few outside Ireland would notice or care about, but I'm just like that, onvs. Overall THOROUGHLY enjoyable, and essential to Grantchester tv fans, would absolutely recommend.

The art gallery scene…

…with Seurat’s bathers, that whole moment made me cry. Deftly done and very beautiful. Earnest characters trying so hard to do and be good in a mad world is not an easy thing to write successfully.

Sydney and Amanda forever

Having been heartbroken and sorely disappointed in the TV show Grantchester for the way, they ended Sydney and Amanda’s relationship, this was a refreshing and much needed story that helped me mend and send them on their way in a manner that I felt was true to their relationship.