A Wrinkle in Time Audiobook By Madeleine L'Engle cover art

A Wrinkle in Time

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A Wrinkle in Time

By: Madeleine L'Engle
Narrated by: Hope Davis, Ava DuVernay, Madeleine L'Engle, Charlotte Jones Voiklis
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As seen on Stranger Things, discover the ground-breaking, bestselling science fiction and fantasy classic that has delighted readers for over 60 years!

NEWBERY MEDAL WINNER • TIME MAGAZINE’S 100 BEST FANTASY BOOKS OF ALL TIME • NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE FROM DISNEY

"A Wrinkle in Time is one of my favorite books of all time. I've read it so often, I know it by heart." —Meg Cabot

This audiobook includes an introduction read by the film director Ava DuVernay, a foreword read by the author, and an afterword read by Madeleine L’Engle’s granddaughter Charlotte Jones Voiklis.

Late one night, three otherworldly creatures appear and sweep Meg Murry, her brother Charles Wallace, and their friend Calvin O'Keefe away on a mission to save Mr. Murry, who has gone missing while doing top-secret work for the government. They travel via tesseract--a wrinkle that transports one across space and time--to the planet Camazotz, where Mr. Murry is being held captive. There they discover a dark force that threatens not only Mr. Murry but the safety of the whole universe.

A Wrinkle in Time is the first book in Madeleine L’Engle’s Time Quintet, followed by A Wind in the Door, A Swiftly Tilting Planet, Many Waters, and An Acceptable Time.

Cover art © 2007 by Taeeun Yoo. Used with permission of Pippin Properties, Inc. Fantasy Essentials Newbery Medal Science Fiction & Fantasy Time Travel Classics Science Fiction Fantasy & Magic Witty Literature & Fiction Fiction Fantasy Young Adult Classics

Editorial review


By Seth Hartman, Audible Editor

A WRINKLE IN TIME IS A BONA FIDE SPECULATIVE FICTION CLASSIC

Like many kids growing up in the Northeast suburbs, I spent my summers at a sleepaway camp in the forests of Maine. Whenever anyone in my bunk would get homesick, our counselor, Claire, would pick a book from the small camp library. One night she came back with A Wrinkle in Time, an innocent looking little paperback. Little did I know, I was in for a much more substantive experience than I could ever have expected.

Our story opens with Meg Murry, an intelligent but shy girl who is becoming increasingly worried about her father, a brilliant astrophysicist who mysteriously disappeared a year ago. Before long, she is visited by Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, and Mrs. Which, a gaggle of extradimensional beings determined to help Meg find her father. These so called "cherubim" provide our call to adventure, sending Meg on a psychedelic odyssey along with her precocious little brother Charles Wallace and her good friend, Calvin O’Keefe.

Before the end of the first chapter, my 10-year-old mind was sufficiently blown, filled with foreign concepts like tesseracts, cherubim, and the fifth dimension. Despite the lofty terminology and subject matter, author Madeleine L’Engle dared me to continue on (or, at least, have my counselor continue reading to me). While revisiting this book as an adult, it became clear that this story was something much deeper and larger than a fairy tale. L’Engle was a true student of the world, drawing terms and imagery from a number of sources, from theoretical physics to religious mysticism straight out of the Kabbalah, and deftly melding themes of family, duty, freedom, friendship, and faith into this strange brew of influences.

The unique imagery and thematic layout of this book is not its only defining feature, however. A Wrinkle in Time was released in 1962, during a pretty iconic era of fantasy and science fiction. As one of the few women in the field at the time, L’Engle and her female protagonist Meg made a striking impact on the literary world. Looking back at my introduction to A Wrinkle in Time, I’m glad it was read to me in a female voice. Experiencing the audiobook as an adult was even more exciting, as a cast of narrators fully flesh out L’Engle’s assortment of characters.

While my deeply impressionable young mind worked hard to make sense of this exceptionally trippy novel, I can confidently say that this book has something for everyone. Not only a classic children's book, A Wrinkle in Time remains an essential entry among science fiction’s greatest works.

Continue reading Seth's review >

Critic reviews

1998 marks is the 35th anniversary of A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle. To celebrate, Bantam Doubleday Dell is publishing two wonderful new editions of L'Engle's Time Quartet, including A Wrinkle in Time; A Wind in The Door; A Swiftly Tilting Planet; and Many Waters.

In both the new digest and the mass market editions, each title includes a new introduction by the author. Covers of the digest editions are illustrated by Caldecott Honor illustrator Peter SÝs, and the mass market edition covers are illustrated by renowned science fiction and fantasy illustrator Cliff Nielsen.

Featured Article: The top 100 fantasy listens of all time


When compiling our list of the best fantasy listening out there, we immediately came up against the age-old question: Is this fantasy or science fiction? The distinction is not as clear as you may think. Dragons, elves, and wizards are definitely fantasy, but what about wizards that also fly space ships? (Looking at you, Star Wars.) For the sake of fantasy purity, the top 100 fantasy listens include the best audio works in all manner of fantasy subgenres.

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Imaginative Adventure • Philosophical Undertones • Distinct Character Voices • Timeless Themes • Dimensional Travel

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This is a fresh take on life and the universe - especially being written back in the early 60's. I guess I was expecting better writing -- but as a children's book it can stand fine.
Kind of zany and good for kids. I had to see what all the hoopla was about, not having read the book in my childhood. I guess I am too old now - I thought the writing was mediocre and the main character of Meg a nervous, whining, emotional mess.

Not what I expected

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Inspiring and thought provoking as well as entertaining. I love the way the story goes to the Truth about the battle between darkness and light. This has been the story from the beginning of time and is still going on today.

Great book

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A wonder of a story that has revelance still today. this book is difficult to box in, but yet has a familiarity that anyone can understand.

classic book that is anything but

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Wonderful characters fascinating plot. Story moved & keeps you interested. The book is like no other I have read.

Wonderful

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I have enjoyed every Madeleine L'Engle book I've ever read but I couldn't stand the narration on this one. When the narrator is using her normal voice it's very pleasant and I wish instead of performing the book she had just read it. The voices she does for the characters drove me crazy (specifically Meg, Calvin, and Mrs. (I think) Whatsit.

Great story, not a fan of the narration

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