The Book of Longings

Named a Most Anticipated Book of 2020 by O, the Oprah Magazine, Good Morning America/ABC-TV, Good Housekeeping (US) and Marie Claire (US)

An extraordinary story set in the first century about a woman who finds her voice and her destiny, from the celebrated number one New York Times bestselling author of The Secret Life of Bees and The Invention of Wings

'I am Ana. I was the wife of Jesus.'

In her mesmerizing fourth work of fiction, Sue Monk Kidd brings her acclaimed narrative gifts to imagine the story of a young woman called Ana.

Ana is a rebellious young woman, a gifted writer with a curious, brilliant mind, who writes secret narratives about the neglected and silenced women around her. Raised in a wealthy family in Galilee, she is sheltered from the brutality of Rome's occupation of Israel. Ana is expected to marry an elderly widower to further her father's ambitions, a prospect that horrifies her. A chance encounter with the eighteen-year-old Jesus changes everything: his ideas and his passion are intoxicating.

Taking Ana on a journey she could never have imagined, The Book of Longings is a glorious evocation of a time and a place where astounding events unfolded, and of one woman's fate when she fights to make her voice heard.

Over 10 million readers have devoured Sue Monk Kidd's novels. Here's why:

'A wonderful book . . . funny, sad and full of incident' Daily Telegraph

'Wonderfully written, poignant and humorous' Joanna Trollope

'Masterly . . . a story about empowering women to change the world . . . a remarkable novel' Chicago Tribune

“'Wonderful - well-written, moving and engaging by turns, and always compelling'”

'The stunning metaphors and realistic characters are so poignant they will bring tears to your eyes' Library Journal 'A remarkable novel that heightened my sense of what it meant to be a woman - slave or free . . . a conversation changer' - Oprah Winfrey, O, The Oprah Magazine Oprah Winfrey, O, The Oprah Magazine This year's The Help - but even better Fabulous 'A resonant, illuminating novel' Observer Daily Mail 'The tale of one motherless daughter's discovery of what family really means - and of the strange and wondrous places we love' Washington Post 'Moving, original, and accomplished . . . It is wonderfully written, powerful, poignant, and humorous' Joanna Trollope 'Exhilarating. . . powerful' Washington Post Praise for Sue Monk Kidd's earlier novels 'The message about the importance of kindness and the power of women's voices should resonate strongly with today's readers' Booklist Ana's ambition and strong sense of justice make her a sympathetic character for modern readers ... A vibrant portrait of a woman striving to preserve and celebrate women's stories - her own and countless others Publishers Weekly 'A testament to the author's talent for creating both compelling characters and intriguing story lines ... The intensity, bravery, and strength of character of Ana ... will inspire readers ... to live authentically and remain true to oneself' Library Journal Superlative . . . from a writer at the top of her game . . . A practically perfect historical novel New York Journal of Books An inspiring story of a strong woman living in a society bent on her silence Good Housekeeping (US)

Sue Monk Kidd's first novel, THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES, spent 2.5 years on the New York Times bestseller list, and has sold over 8 million copies worldwide. THE MERMAID CHAIR and THE INVENTION OF WINGS each went to No. 1 on the New York Times bestseller list, and stayed on the list for many months. THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES was long-listed for the Orange Prize (now the Women's Prize for Fiction), and was turned into an award-winning film.

Sue is also the author of several acclaimed non-fiction books including the New York Times bestseller TRAVELLING WITH POMEGRANATES, co-written with her daughter Ann Kidd Taylor. Sue lives in North Carolina with her husband Sandy.

'Unleashes the reader's imagination with glorious evocations of extraordinary times and places, allowing our minds to roam... Original, challenging, beautiful' Adele Parks, Platinum From the number one New York Times bestselling author of The Secret Life of Bees and The Invention of Wings 'I am Ana. I was the wife of Jesus.' In her mesmerizing new novel, Sue Monk Kidd brings her acclaimed narrative gifts to imagine the story of a young woman called Ana. Ana is a rebellious young woman, a gifted writer with a curious, brilliant mind, who writes secret narratives about the neglected and silenced women around her. Raised in a wealthy family in Galilee, she is sheltered from the brutality of Rome's occupation of Israel. Ana is expected to marry an elderly widower to further her father's ambitions, a prospect that horrifies her. A chance encounter with the eighteen-year-old Jesus changes everything: his ideas and his passion are intoxicating. Taking Ana on a journey she could never have imagined, The Book of Longings is a glorious evocation of a time and a place where astounding events unfolded, and of one woman's fate when she fights to make her voice heard. 'Compelling ... Ana is a truly wonderful character, strong and inspiring, and her life story so captivating that it swept me along' Good Housekeeping Over 10 million readers have devoured Sue Monk Kidd's novels. Here's why: 'A wonderful book . . . funny, sad and full of incident' Daily Telegraph 'Wonderfully written, poignant and humorous' Joanna Trollope 'Masterly . . . a story about empowering women to change the world . . . a remarkable novel' Chicago Tribune

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