The Signature of All Things

A Novel

By: Elizabeth Gilbert

Narrated by: Juliet Stevenson

Length: 21 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's summary

A glorious, sweeping novel of desire, ambition, and the thirst for knowledge, from the number-one New York Times best-selling author of Eat, Pray, Love and Committed

In The Signature of All Things, Elizabeth Gilbert returns to fiction, inserting her inimitable voice into an enthralling story of love, adventure, and discovery. Spanning much of the 18th and 19th centuries, the novel follows the fortunes of the extraordinary Whittaker family as led by the enterprising Henry Whittaker - a poor-born Englishman who makes a great fortune in the South American quinine trade, eventually becoming the richest man in Philadelphia.

Born in 1800, Henry's brilliant daughter, Alma (who inherits both her father's money and his mind), ultimately becomes a botanist of considerable gifts herself. As Alma's research takes her deeper into the mysteries of evolution, she falls in love with a man named Ambrose Pike who makes incomparable paintings of orchids and who draws her in the exact opposite direction - into the realm of the spiritual, the divine, and the magical. Alma is a clear-minded scientist; Ambrose a utopian artist - but what unites this unlikely couple is a desperate need to understand the workings of this world and the mechanisms behind all life.

Exquisitely researched and told at a galloping pace, The Signature of All Things soars across the globe - from London to Peru to Philadelphia to Tahiti to Amsterdam, and beyond. Along the way, the story is peopled with unforgettable characters: missionaries, abolitionists, adventurers, astronomers, sea captains, geniuses, and the quite mad. But most memorable of all, it is the story of Alma Whittaker, who - born in the Age of Enlightenment, but living well into the Industrial Revolution - bears witness to that extraordinary moment in human history when all the old assumptions about science, religion, commerce, and class were exploding into dangerous new ideas. Written in the bold, questing spirit of that singular time, Gilbert's wise, deep, and spellbinding tale is certain to capture the hearts and minds of listeners.

©2013 Elizabeth Gilbert (P)2013 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“Gilbert's triumphant return to fiction is matched by Juliet Stevenson's lyrical reading. Both author and narrator capture the listener from the novel's opening words.” (AudioFile)

"A rip-roaring tale...unlike anything Gilbert has ever written.... Its prose has the elegant sheen of a nineteenth-century epic, but its concerns...are essentially modern." (The New York Times Magazine)

"With this novel about a young, nineteenth-century Philadelphia woman who becomes a world-renowned botanist, Gilbert shows herself to be a writer at the height of her powers." (O, The Oprah Magazine, "Our Favorite Reads of the Year")

"The most ambitious and purely imaginative work in Gilbert’s 20-year career: a deeply researched and vividly rendered historical novel about a 19th century female botanist.” (The Wall Street Journal)

Exotic historical fiction

This book is very unusual and creative ( as one would expect from the author of "eat, pray, love"). Definitely exotic and a bit esoteric. I have to say, however, that I enjoyed it more while I was reading it than now in retrospect. I enjoyed the exotic forays -- both emotional and locational --?more than the central premise. So, I give this one 4 stars.

Love!

First of all, completely ignore that this is by the same author as Eat, Pray, Love. While EPL was a wonderful book, this is completely different. I was constantly thinking about how much research must have gone into this book about botany and science at the turn of the 19th century. It was very impressive. Science aside, the epic story of Alma Whittaker's life whisks you along on a beautiful journey. I loved it so much I also bought the kindle edition so I could read it in bed before sleep.

Entertainment, Romance and Some Damn Good Thinking

As a child in the 50s I was led to believe that there were no great women scientists or writers or artists. Elizabeth Gilbert is a consummate storyteller and whether it is true or fiction, this story about a unique and brilliant woman answers that question meticulously and with great compassion.
I found it endlessly fascinating to weave through the ins and outs of this generational story, and of the great loves of an extraordinarily ordinary- looking woman.
I am grateful for the opportunity to have read a book that combines entertainment, romance and some damn good thinking.
Juliet Stevenson's remarkably versatile voice was the perfect accompaniment to this tale.

I love this book

I love the narrator's voice... gentle, British and feminine. The book itself is similar. Let it gently take u back into the details of the biological world, the ebb and flow of dramatic events, the live and kisses of life. Definitely a book to b read more than once.

Wonderful story, great narrator

A sweeping novel for our time, trying to reconcile science and the divine and pondering eternal questions about what constitutes a successful life.
Even though, as a Dutch person, I could find fault with the Dutch pronunciation and Dutch accents of the narrator, I loved her voices and intonation and enjoyed the book as a meditation through her voice.

Thought Provoking

Where does The Signature of All Things rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

A sophisticated, well-researched story that invites personal introspection. I loved the book. The only thing that could have been better is a little tighter editing.

What about Juliet Stevenson’s performance did you like?

Perfect performance.

Unexpected Delight

I was late coming to this, but I remembered the good reviews from when it first came out. Never thought I would find botany such an interesting subject. I liked the first half of the book - the story of Alma's father and her childhood and youth - better than the second half. It did seem to tail away at the end as other reviewers have remarked. But still, it kept me fully engaged for all 22 hours! The narration was good, except for the aggressively English pronunciations: TARheti, and TARo! I do wish readers would check foreign name and place pronunciations before they start, or the editors would call them on it.

fantastically engrossing story!♡♡♡

engaging from beginning til the end. wonderful story, beautifully written and fantastic performance. I enjoyed eat pray love and big magic and Gilbert shows her versatility and ability for research and lovely storytelling with this book.

One of the best books I've read (or listened to)

Where does The Signature of All Things rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I would put this book in my top three.

What did you like best about this story?

The story was interesting with unexpected turns, thought-provoking ideas, and unusual (but not unlikeable) characters. The historical setting added more depth to the story for me.

Which character – as performed by Juliet Stevenson – was your favorite?

The main character, Alma Whittaker, has a brilliant scientific mind and a passion for botany. She has had what could be called a hard life, but all the while she was searching for answers and trying to understand the natural and spiritual world around her and the people in her life (while balancing what she contemplates with her rational mind).

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

There were several but I don't want to give away any plot twists.

Any additional comments?

This was a beautifully written book and I was sorry when it ended.

usually I don't like long novels

this historical novel provides entertaining insight into the period, the characters, science, and every time I thought the novel was over the author took me in a new exciting Direction. I highly recommend this fascinating story of a woman's Journey in personal Discovery and science in the 1800's. it was so well written and performed I didn't have time to think about how long it was.