Cherrywood by Jock Serong — Unabridged Audiobook
Cherrywood by Jock Serong is an unabridged English audiobook that interweaves a 1916 scheme to build a paddlesteamer in Melbourne with a lawyer’s discovery of a mysterious pub in 1993. Its two-period premise suits listeners drawn to historical fiction with a speculative or magical-realist edge.
At a glance
- The story moves between Edinburgh and Melbourne in 1916 and Melbourne in 1993, connecting a paddlesteamer-building venture with a lawyer’s encounter with a strange pub.
- The listing describes themes of legacy, community, love and reinvention, with magical and historical elements.
- Shortlisted for the Indie Book Awards for Fiction 2025 and the ABIA Literary Fiction Book of the Year 2025.
Reference price: £12.92
Price checked: 12 Nov 2026
View offerAhead of Black FridayExplore the selectionPros and cons
Pros
- The unabridged running time and named narrator help buyers judge the listening commitment and narration credit before choosing.
- The linked historical and contemporary storylines offer a premise beyond a single-period historical novel.
Technical specifications
8 specifications| Format | Audiobook |
|---|---|
| Edition | Unabridged |
| Listening length | 12 hours and 16 minutes |
| Language | English |
| Publication date | 19 Jan. 2026 |
| Author | Jock Serong |
|---|---|
| Narrator | Elisa Armstrong, see all |
| Publisher | HarperAudio |
Who is it for?
A good fit for
- Listeners interested in Australian settings, layered timelines and historical fiction with magical-realism elements.
- Listeners looking for a complete, unabridged audiobook with a stated running time.
Less suited to
- Listeners seeking a concise listen or a straightforward, single-period plot.
Customer reviews on Amazon
- 5 stars
39% 39% - 4 stars
36% 36% - 3 stars
16% 16% - 2 stars
6% 6% - 1 star
3% 3%
Aggregate ratings are favourable overall, with more ratings in the four- and five-star categories than in the lower categories, but a notable middle range and some lower ratings remain. Without customer comments, these figures cannot show what listeners liked or disliked, or whether experiences relate to the narrator, writing or layered historical and magical-realist premise.
Frequently asked questions
What is Cherrywood about?
The story follows a Scottish industrialist’s attempt to build a paddlesteamer in Melbourne in 1916 and, in 1993, a lawyer drawn into the mystery of a pub called The Cherrywood.
Who narrates the audiobook, and how long is it?
The listing names Elisa Armstrong as narrator and gives a listening length of 12 hours and 16 minutes.
Is this an abridged edition?
No. The listing identifies the audiobook version as unabridged.
What kind of fiction is Cherrywood?
The listing presents it as historical fiction with magical or magical-realist elements, spanning different periods and places.
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The Commitments
The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter
John Dies at the End
