People of the Book

A Novel

By: Geraldine Brooks

Narrated by: Edwina Wren

Length: 13 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's summary

DUBLIN Literary Award winner

Short-listed, Harold U. Ribalow Prize

Indies Choice Book Award nominee

Library of Vermont Literary Award Finalist

Mary Shelly Award winner

Winner of the New England Book Award for Fiction

School Library Journal Best Book of the Year

From the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of March, the journey of a rare illuminated prayer book through centuries of war, destruction, theft, loss, and love.

Inspired by a true story, People of the Book is a novel of sweeping historical grandeur and intimate emotional intensity by an acclaimed and beloved author. Called "a tour de force"by the San Francisco Chronicle, this ambitious, electrifying work traces the harrowing journey of the famed Sarajevo Haggadah, a beautifully illuminated Hebrew manuscript created in 15th-century Spain.

When it falls to Hanna Heath, an Australian rare-book expert, to conserve this priceless work, the series of tiny artifacts she discovers in its ancient binding—an insect wing fragment, wine stains, salt crystals, a white hair—only begin to unlock its deep mysteries and unexpectedly plunges Hanna into the intrigues of fine art forgers and ultra-nationalist fanatics.

©2008 Geraldine Brooks (P)2008 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“There’s romance between Brooks and the world, and her writing is as full of heart and curiosity as it is intelligence and judgement.”—The Boston Globe

“Intelligent, thoughtful, gracefully written, and original . . . Brooks tells a believable and engaging story.”—The Washington Post

“Intense, gripping . . . People of the Book, like her Pulitzer Prize-winning previous novel March, is a tour de force that delivers a reverberating lesson gleaned from history. . . . It’s a brilliant, innately suspenseful structure, and one that allows Brooks to show off her remarkable aptitude for assimilating research and conveying a wide range of settings. Also on full display is her keen sense of dramatic pacing.”—San Francisco Chronicle

Liked it

Some of the narrator “voices” grated on my nerves but it is a beautiful story.

the narrator almost killed the story!

Would you consider the audio edition of People of the Book to be better than the print version?

No! the narrator was terrible.

What was one of the most memorable moments of People of the Book?

the story is intriguing.

How could the performance have been better?

the attempt at accents failed miserably

Who was the most memorable character of People of the Book and why?

the protagonist

Any additional comments?

yes, someone should have told the narrator to simply read the book

wonderful performance, great historical context.

and a sweet love story. moved at a good pace. characters were believable perhaps not the maternal

Fabulous weaving of history

Loved the stories woven throughout history & technical info about book production and preservation. Incredible narrator & oh so many accents.

the people of the Book by Geraldine Brooks

The best written book I have read of how the Nazis tried but were unable to destroy a book that brings all religions and people together in their common humanity.

Its ok.

If this is your first book in the historic novel genre, then you will enjoy it. For me, it didn't contain anything new. I'm also at a point in my life where I don't want to listen to detailed and graphic torture/violent scenes and this book has a couple of these scenes--which is hard to skip over in an audio format. I wish someone had mentioned that, I wouldn't have listened to the book. Depressing overall but beautifully written.

Loved It!

There are so many stories within this book it got a little confusing at times, but so worth the listen. I too disagree with the bad reviews on the narrator. I thought she did a fantastic job depicting the different characters. What a task she undertook and I think pulled it off wonderfully.

Absolutely fascinating!

I love this book. It's intriguing, engaging, sometimes painful, literate and always engrossing. The narrator is excellent. Wonderful.

Great Narrator

I loved the Aussie narrator! Fascinating book! A wonderful read/listen. I heartily recommend this book to others.

Complex and Fascinating

The author weaves voices from many centuries and many religions in a mystery where the detective is an expert in ancient manuscripts. the characters feel and sound real. Edwina Wren’s narration is amazing.