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)

Loved it!!

Wow. Super engrossing story. Nature- and anthropology-lovers prob will be intrigued. I def was. Ayla is one amazing woman. It was exciting, frustrating, sad, happy, so many things. A rich listening experience. I am looking forward to hearing more of her story in the next book.

So emotional and fascinating!

This book is told so vividly for the point of veiw of a young girl I started having dreams from Aylas point of view! The incredible ups and downs of her life are amazing, I recommend this book to everyone!

It never gets old.

I’ve read this whole series at least 7 times. This is the first time listening and it never gets old. It’s one of the best written and most thought provoking series I’ve ever read, having read thousands of books in my 41 years on this Earth. Excellent narration and what an amazing tale. Can’t wait to listen to the rest!

Great book.

Good book to share with my young teenager, opened the door to many conversations. Yay!

This was one of my favorite books

I read this in high school and was intrigued. It was one of my favorite books. The narrator is wonderful.

in the beginning I had my doubts, by the end.....

At first, I was like I might of made a mistake. but in the end I sat in car for 2 hours to finish it. it's been a while since read book I liked this much before. I hope the rest are as good as this.

Couldn't stop listening to this book!

Such a good book! I couldn't stop listening to it. I never wanted it to end and am so happy it's a series! Ayla is such an interesting character

Very different

This book got my attention from the first few "pages" and held my attention throughout. It was interesting and I believe very well told. However, I didn't like to hear about all the killing of animals (even though I know this was going on). The killings were so detailed. It was just gruesome, especially one very late in the book. Horrible. And the whole story is based on the spirit of this and the spirit of that and the spirits control everything ... no logic in the minds of these ancient "humans" ... and the ending was not what I was hoping for. I won't ruin it for you, but oh my goodness, it could have so easily been written another way.

Sooo Good

So many life lessons. This was a powerful book. It is filled with wisdom of the ages.

Couldn't put it down!❤️

Great book. Great narration. I loved the narrator's animation and visual arts. Very informative. Very glad a friend suggested this Read