The History of Love

By: Nicole Krauss

Narrated by: George Guidall, Barbara Caruso, Julia Gibson, Andy Paris

Length: 9 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's summary

Nicole Krauss' first novel, Man Walks Into a Room, was shortlisted for the Los Angeles Times Book Award and her short fiction has been collected in Best American Short Stories. Now The History of Love proves Krauss is among our finest and freshest literary voices.

It has been decades since Leo Gursky first surrendered his heart, then wrote a book about it, at the tender age of 10, and he's been in love with the same person ever since. Leo believes his book is lost to time, but what he doesn't know is, not only has it survived 60 years without him, it has also been an inspiration to others. Fourteen-year-old Alma was even named for a character from the book. When she realizes how deeply the story touched her lonely mother, she embarks on a search for answers.

The History of Love is an imaginative tale of love and loss that is at once funny, mysterious, and deeply passionate.

Don't miss Nicole Krauss and Salman Rushdie at The New Yorker Festival.

©2005 Nicole Krauss (P)2005 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"An intriguing books-within-a-book narrative....Venturing into Paul Auster territory in her graceful inquiry into the interplay between life and literature, Krauss is winsome, funny, and affecting." (Booklist)
"Writing with tenderness about eccentric characters, [Krauss] uses earthy humor to mask pain and to question the universe. Her distinctive voice is both plangent and wry, and her imagination encompasses many worlds." (Publishers Weekly)
"If for no other reason than the range of voices she has persuasively created, Ms. Krauss would stand out as a prodigious talent....Ms. Krauss's work is illuminated by the warmth and delicacy of her prose." (The New York Times)

I Cry Each Time I Read or Hear It

One of my favorite books, one I can return to time and time again. Beautifully produced.

Why Did it Take Me So Long to Find This?

I loved this book. It was written in 2005 and spans about 1930 to the new century. Starts in Poland when Nazi's are taking over. Two very young lovers get separated. The girl's father is able to send her to America. The boy survives the atrocities by hiding and living off the earth. Eventually he gets to America, too. Most of the book takes place in present time in NYC. It is about how writing keeps our memory alive, about how war impacts people generations later and, as another reviewer said, how and why we love. It is easy to give up on this book because of the four different voices and the connections aren't always clear. I was confused and thought I was missing things. I wasn't. You have to hang in there and things start to come together. Beautifully written. Perfect voices for audio. Five stars for me. (An aside - the author is married to Jonathan Safran Foer, the author of "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" with some similarities. I, also, loved that audiobook.)

a great American novel

What made the experience of listening to The History of Love the most enjoyable?

The book is told by several protagonists and each has its own narrator.

What did you like best about this story?

It is a combination of a cultural novel, a human interest story, and a mystery story.

Which character – as performed by the narrators – was your favorite?

No particular favorite. The book is written so beautifully that you can identify with each protagonist.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I would have, but it was too long. But I did feel compelled to listen to it over and over to get to the end.

Great story, fabulous narration

George Guidall's characterization of Leo Gursky is the heart and soul of this novel. The writing is beautiful, the characters real-even in their eccentricity. You'll keep thinking about this book long after you've finished it - and I agree it would be well worth listening to a second or even third time.

the best story ever

I was so in love with this character Leo all I wanted for him was something happy in his life. It made me happy and sad all at once. It was so funny and so true at the same time. Most highly recommended.

New favorite

This is now my new favorite book. I loved all the characters. The story was beautiful. I laughed. I cried. I was intrigued amid mesmerized. I have recommended it to so many people.

Hooked me on Audible

This is the book that got me hooked on Audible. I bought it more or less on a whim, having heard the buzz surrounding Krauss's work from friends and in the NYtimes. I purchased it when starting a running routine that involved long-run training and was trying to find an alternative to music, which tends to mess with my pacing. It worked like a dream. Listening to this fascinating story made those two-hour-plus runs even more pleasurable. The readers are fantastic, particulary the voice of Gursky, and thist story will suck you in fast. The one downside of listening rather than reading is that I didn't get to linger over Krauss's beautifully turned phrases the way one might when reading the book. Though I've since found other good audio books, few have compared to this one.

Artfully woven and masterfully read

I confess that I wasn't riveted after I started listening, and set THOL aside for two years. Something pulled me back and I was again drawn into Leo Gursky's world, magnificently depicted by George Guidall. The various segments of the story can be confusing--connections aren't always clear--but are brilliantly tied together leading to a startling conclusion. Fabulous writing and colorful characters make this a beauty and a joy forever.

Love love

Some parts were slow and some parts I had to play over and over again. It's a sweet story that intertwines all forms of love. My grandmothers name is Alma, so this one is closer to my heart.

Gorgeous

Beautifully written and performed. Lovely story very put together in a striking arrangement. Hearwrenchingly beautiful.