One Enchanted Evening cover art

One Enchanted Evening

The uplifting and charming Sunday Times Bestselling Debut by Anton Du Beke

 Preview
LIMITED TIME OFFER

3 Months Free

£5.99/mo after 3 months. Cancel monthly.
Get this deal
Offer ends on 15 July 2026 at 11:59 BST.
More purchase options

One Enchanted Evening

By: Anton Du Beke
Narrated by: Julian Ovenden
Get this deal

£5.99/mo after 3 months. Cancel monthly.

Buy Now for £13.83

Buy Now for £13.83

London, 1936.
Inside the spectacular Grand Ballroom of the exclusive Buckingham Hotel the rich and powerful, politicians, film stars, even royalty, rub shoulders with Raymond de Guise and his troupe of talented dancers from all around the world, who must enchant them, captivate them, and sweep away their cares. Accustomed to waltzing with the highest of society, Raymond knows a secret from his past could threaten all he holds dear.

Nancy Nettleton, new chambermaid at the Buckingham, finds hotel life a struggle after leaving her small home town. She dreams of joining the dancers on the ballroom floor as she watches, unseen, from behind plush curtains and discreet doors. She soon discovers everyone at the Buckingham - guests and staff alike - has something to hide . . .

The storm clouds of war are gathering, and beneath the glitz and glamour of the ballroom lurks an irresistible world of scandal and secrets.

Let's dance . . .

Perfect for fans of Downton Abbey, Mr Selfridge, The Halcyon and Belgravia. The master entertainer brings us his fabulous debut novel. Prepare to be swept off your feet . . .

Narrated by Julian Ovenden (Downton Abbey, The Crown, Person of Interest, Smash and Knightfall). 20th Century Entertainment & Performing Arts Fiction Historical Historical Fiction Feel-Good
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1

Audible Sessions with Anton Du Beke

Meet the author of One Enchanted Evening
0:00
All stars
Most relevant
I am usually a crime/thriller kind of person but just every so often I feel like a break. I am not into romances and I thought this book would be more of a romance because of the title. It was not a romance novel as such just a nice gentle book that I really enjoyed. You really got a sense of what hotels were like in the late 1930’s. The narration was excellent and the story line good. The characters in the book were realistic according to the times. There was poverty, wealth, drugs, skulduggery and class distinction. Would make a good holiday read. A really enjoyable book.

Nice and Gentle

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I chose this as one of my trial books - I love Anton Du Beke on Strictly and was intrigued by the notion of him writing a novel. It is not the sort of storyline I usually go for (mainly thrillers) and I am so glad. There is an introduction by Anton Du Beke who 'sets the scene' for the novel and the narrator is excellent - he sounds very much like Nigel Havers and is perfect for the book. It is set in the few years just before WW2 in a large, swanky hotel in London. The main charachter Raymond de Guise is the principle dancer at the hotel and the story is about the lives and loves of him and the other members of staff at the hotel. There is lots of dancing - of course - but there are also lots of twists and turns for the charachters that you do not expect. If you are a Downton Abbey fan I am sure you will love this book. But if you are not, why not try it - I think you will be pleasantly surprised. It is an easy going, lighthearted read and you really want the charachters hopes and dreams to come true. I hope Anton goes onto to write more novels as I will definately listen to them.

An Enchanting Read!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Really really enjoyed this was hooked right to the end
I look forward to Antons next book

Great book

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Really enjoyed the overarching storyline of a boy from the humblest of beginnings making his own mark in the world, and particularly liked the way it was set within the interwar period, feeling the momentum build up towards the Second World War, with the violent outrages of the Blackshirt brigade and the toll on the Jewish communities. A well-handled narrative, told from different perspectives to build up a truer portrait of the many facets of London society at that time. My only issue, very sadly, was the narration - I often enjoy Julian Ovenden on screen and on stage, he has a captivating and commanding presence, but his reading here was pretty dire, sorry to say! If I didn't have to hear every pause, every baited breath, every lip-smacking, mouth-chomping intake, it would've been fine - I could've excused the woeful american and northern accents - but I found it all too grating. My advice would be to read the book yourself, because it's a worthwhile investment.

Roughhouse Ballroom

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I loved this book. The characters were so real you either loved or hated them. The story was engaging and believable. I’ve already recommended it to friends. An excellent first book can’t wait for the next Well done Anton.

Brilliant

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews