March

By: Geraldine Brooks

Narrated by: Richard Easton

Length: 10 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's summary

Winner of the Pulitzer Prize—a powerful love story set against the backdrop of the Civil War, from the author of The Secret Chord.

From Louisa May Alcott's beloved classic Little Women, Geraldine Brooks has animated the character of the absent father, March, and crafted a story "filled with the ache of love and marriage and with the power of war upon the mind and heart of one unforgettable man" (Sue Monk Kidd). With "pitch-perfect writing" (USA Today), Brooks follows March as he leaves behind his family to aid the Union cause in the Civil War. His experiences will utterly change his marriage and challenge his most ardently held beliefs. A lushly written, wholly original tale steeped in the details of another time, March secures Geraldine Brooks' place as a renowned author of historical fiction.

Don't miss Louisa May Alcott's classic Little Women.

©2005 Geraldine Brooks (P)2005 Penguin Audio and BBC Audiobooks America

Critic reviews

"Brilliant...Geraldine Brooks' new novel, March, is a very great book.... Brooks has magnificently wielded the novelist's license." (Beth Kephart, Chicago Tribune)

"A beautifully wrought story.... Gripping.... A taut plot, vivid characters and provocative issues." (Heller McAlpin, Los Angeles Times Book Review)

"Honorable, elegant and true." (John Freeman, The Wall Street Journal)

So Much to Consider

This well-written story brought up so much to think about. I had never heard of contraband in this context and learned much about the treatment of slaves in the transitional period of the first part of the Civil War. The author's background as a war correspondent is very evident in the very bloody descriptions of the battles and the atrocities committed during raids.

Very strong women were prominent in this story about an idealistic and very naive man. Each of them has to deal with the consequences of his impetuous actions. It is interesting that this is exactly the tendency that he is continually trying to squelch in his wife.

This sequel also kept very true to the original book in its treatment of the characters.

Great story, well written, narrator just OK

This was a truly wonderful story. I read People of the Book, and loved it so much I was afraid of being let down by this story. I was not let down - this is a well-written narration of a great story.

The narrator did a good job. However, his voice was just not an appropriate voice for this particular story. A British accent? Really? For an American Civil War story? While I was able to get around this incongruity most of the time, I was often baffled that the publisher didn't invest the energy to find someone who could lend more authenticity to the voices in this great story. I've now looked ahead to Caleb's Crossing, and see that the narrator got generally panned in that story, so I'll be switching away from audio books from now on for books Ms Brooks writes. Why do publishers shoot themselves in the feet like this?

As to this story, I found myself absorbed deeply into the feelings and experiences of the main character. The author did a great job of depicting many sides of issues, and letting the good, bad, and ugly show through in all the characters.

I highly recommend this book, most especially to lovers of historical fiction. Brooks is rapidly becoming an all-time favorite author for me.

Fascinating portrayal of Civil War times

This book is another look at the Civil War, from the point of view of the father of "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott. She did not write "March", and the author has taken some liberties in telling his story. A lot happened "between the lines!"

Engaging and submerging story

Cleverly written, with rich characters and well composed personalities. Fantastic language draws vivid images in mind.

Brilliant

There r many great writers in our log history of the English language , Geraldine Brooks is one & I hope audible listeners will enrich their literary lives by experiencing this and her other masterpieces

A Worthy Read

I am not sure that I would have gotten through the first third of the book if it had not won a Pulitzer Prize but once I settled in I enjoyed it and learned a lot on the side.

observer

The story is alive and I felt it as an observer the heart aches and the happiness

March

Keen insight and clarity about a troubled time in our nation's
...the fight goes on.

Superb

Wonderful dialogue and prose.
The story and heroism of the characters brings the listener through the horror of slavery and the war to the ultimate triumph.

Wonderful storytelling!

This is a true gem! Geraldine Brooks’ novel about the March family’s father is a fascinating story that resonates on many universal themes. The lessons one can learn from the hero’s & heroine’s’ experiences during this time period of our country’s history are lessons we can still apply to our country’s current time period.