The provided source material offers information about a novel titled An Almond for a Parrot by Wray Delaney, published as an audiobook by HarperAudio US. The data describes the plot, characters, and genre of this work of historical fiction and magical realism. There is no information in the provided sources regarding free samples, promotional offers, no-cost product trials, brand freebies, or mail-in sample programmes. Consequently, it is not possible to write a detailed article on those consumer topics using only the given source material.
The novel is set in 18th-century London and follows the life of Tully Truegood, a young woman who begins writing her life story while imprisoned in Newgate, accused of murder. Her narrative traces her journey from a skivvy in the backstreets to a celebrated courtesan at her stepmother Queenie’s "Fairy House," a place of decadent excess. During this journey, she is trained by Queenie to become a courtesan and by a magician named Mr. Crease, who recognises that Tully possesses special powers similar to his own. As she becomes the talk of the town and undergoes a sexual awakening, she falls in love with a client, and the pleasure turns to pain. Her estranged husband, whom she was forced to marry, seeks her out, and she awaits a trial where she expects to be executed. Her only chance of survival is to get her story to the one person who might be able to help her avoid the gallows.
The genre is described as a compelling mix of bawdy romp and magical realism, with comparisons drawn to the works of Sarah Waters. The audiobook is performed by Rachel Atkins and was published on 31st January 2017.
As the source material is entirely about a fictional narrative and contains no information on consumer offers, samples, or trials, a comprehensive article on the requested topic cannot be produced. The following is a factual summary based solely on the available data.
Summary of An Almond for a Parrot
An Almond for a Parrot is a novel by Wray Delaney, categorised as historical fiction and magical realism. The story is narrated by the protagonist, Tully Truegood, who is in Newgate prison in London in the year 1756, awaiting trial for murder. She recounts her life story in an attempt to save herself from execution.
Plot Overview
Tully’s story begins in the backstreets of 18th-century London, where she was a young girl and a skivvy. Her life changes when she is sent to her stepmother Queenie’s establishment, referred to as the Fairy House, which is described as a place of "decadent excess" and is a notorious house of ill-repute. At the Fairy House, Tully is trained by Queenie to become a courtesan.
She also encounters Mr. Crease, a magician who identifies that Tully possesses special powers akin to his own. Under his guidance, she becomes a magician’s apprentice. Her combination of courtesan skills and magical abilities makes her "the talk of the town."
As part of her journey, Tully experiences a sexual awakening and falls in love with one of her clients. This relationship, however, turns from pleasure to pain. Complicating her situation further, her estranged husband, whom she was forced to marry by her father, seeks her out.
The narrative culminates with Tully in prison, accused of murder. She believes her execution is imminent, with seats at Newgate already sold in anticipation. Her sole hope for survival is to get her story to a specific person who may be able to help her avoid the gallows.
Characters
- Tully Truegood: The protagonist and narrator. She is an orphan, a courtesan, a magician’s apprentice, and is accused of murder.
- Queenie: Tully’s stepmother, who runs the Fairy House and trains Tully to become a courtesan.
- Mr. Crease: A magician who becomes Tully’s mentor, recognising her magical abilities.
- Estranged Husband: A character who was forced upon Tully by her father and later seeks her out.
Genre and Style
The novel is described as a "compelling mix of bawdy romp and magical realism." It is also referred to as a "juicy, jaw-dropping story" that is "shocking, haunting and evocative." Comparisons have been made to the works of author Sarah Waters, and it is characterised as "irresistible" by The Guardian.
Publication Details
The source material specifically references the audiobook version of the novel, published by HarperAudio US. The audiobook is performed by Rachel Atkins and was released on 31st January 2017. The narrative is presented as an audiobook, and the provided links point to audio platforms such as SoundCloud, OverDrive, and Nextory.
Conclusion
The provided source material exclusively details the plot, characters, and publication information for the historical fiction and magical realism novel An Almond for a Parrot by Wray Delaney. The information describes a fictional narrative set in 18th-century London, focusing on the life of Tully Truegood. There is no data contained within the sources about real-world free samples, promotional offers, no-cost product trials, brand freebies, or mail-in sample programmes. Therefore, an article on consumer offers cannot be generated from this information. The summary above accurately reflects all facts presented in the provided chunks.