A review by salreads
The Smallest Man by Frances Quinn

5.0

I would never have read this book had I not stumbled across a review which praised the brilliance of the writing and the narration of this audiobook. I love absorbing stories which breathe life into history. This is absolutely glorious- a rich seam of 17th Century history (English Civil War) uniquely blended with incredible storytelling. This is the story of the life of a small man named Nat Davy living through turbulent times as Charles I and his court become increasingly unpopular. Nat’s size prevents him from being any use to his family so his father sells him to a local Duke who gifts Nat to the Queen. The character of Nat was inspired by a true story but Quinn has made him her own. I listened to this on audiobook. From the first words I was utterly engrossed. Alex Wingfield was the perfect narrator. He utterly embodied the character of Nat Davy so that I felt he was telling his own story, drawing out the comedy, the fear, the humanity as he witnesses unique historical events. Wingfield is also able to conjure up all the other personalities in the novel as he voices foreign accents, regional dialects and brings a whole cast of characters to life. This was an audiobook which kept me completely enraptured. The story of a small man is a big story, a wonderful story. It also fired up my fascination for history. I found myself searching out historical accounts of this period in order to understand the period better. It has greatly increased my fascination for this genre. Quinn’s writing is brilliant, bringing life to this period of history, weaving in descriptions and facts which add historical texture. I loved her choice of writing style - using contemporary terms where appropriate but not overloading the writing. I greatly hope this is the first of many such works from Quinn. Absolutely five stars! This would make a wonderful film. With thanks to Netgalley and Simon and Shuster U.K. Audio for a digital copy of this amazing audiobook .