The Clan of the Cave Bear

Earth's Children, Book 1

By: Jean M. Auel

Narrated by: Sandra Burr

Length: 22 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

This novel of awesome beauty and power is a moving saga about people, relationships, and the boundaries of love.

Nominated as one of America’s best-loved novels by PBS’s The Great American Read

Through Jean M. Auel’s magnificent storytelling we are taken back to the dawn of modern humans, and with a girl named Ayla we are swept up in the harsh and beautiful Ice Age world they shared with the ones who called themselves The Clan of the Cave Bear. A natural disaster leaves the young girl wandering alone in an unfamiliar and dangerous land until she is found by a woman of the Clan, people very different from her own kind.

To them, blond, blue-eyed Ayla looks peculiar and ugly - she is one of the Others, those who have moved into their ancient homeland; but Iza cannot leave the girl to die and takes her with them. Iza and Creb, the old Mog-ur, grow to love her, and as Ayla learns the ways of the Clan and Iza’s way of healing, most come to accept her. But the brutal and proud youth who is destined to become their next leader sees her differences as a threat to his authority. He develops a deep and abiding hatred for the strange girl of the Others who lives in their midst, and is determined to get his revenge.

Listen to more in the Earth's Children series.

©1980 by Jean M. Auel. (P)1986 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

"Imaginative, exciting." (The New York Times Book Review)

"Jean Auel has performed a minor miracle." (San Francisco Chronicle)

Clan of the cave bear

I loved this book Ms Burr did a wonderful job. I can't wait to hear the next in the series .

Great, again!

I read this series back in the 80s. Loved it then. Really enjoyed the narrator's version of the voices and reading. I would recommend this to a friend.

I love that this book

I really enjoyed this book it was different than anything I've ever listened to and I enjoyed it it seemed based on fact and it was very entertaining I am currently moving on to the next one

A Wonderful Book

I love this book, and have from the firrst time I read it. It was certainly worth a repeat. I recommend it to all my friends and to anyone thinking about reading it.

Very interesting.. but I think I'm good...

I have always wanted to read this book. I think it was very interesting and the story kept me interested throughout..but.. I will say I don't think I am going to continue with the series. Towards the end.. I was looking forward to it being over and starting a new audio book. However, it was interesting and I learned a lot about how people lived during this time.

Worth a listen.

Compelling and progressive for its time. The story is moving, and the level of detail is fun.

Fantastic Series

Excellent book, moderate narration. Narrator read the book alright, but lacked ant true artistry in retelling the story. Temperate modulation dominated her narrative style, as she neglected any true passion in the moment.

Revisit a fantasy classic

I first read this when I was 12 or 13, in the early 80s. It stuck with me and I wondered if I would like it as an adult. I loved it! Aul really does transport you into another time. The anthropological aspects are really great and the drama of the narrative keeps you engaged as well. The strong female protagonist, Ayla, is another reason this series resonated with me and still does. Read it if you want to know more about cave people times and for a good story, too.

great story

I have followed this series since the 80s. Jean Auel tells a wonderful story. Sandra Burr does a great job of telling this story-which can be difficult with the culture of the people. This is a fantastic start to a great series.

loved it

i appreciate the effort and research the author made to assure such accuracy in this book.