Dunia

A Garden in the Gulag

De: Gillian Caldwell

Narrado por: Gillian Wiggin

An evocative debut novel of historical fiction, set in the heart of Ukraine, and ultimately spanning to the frozen reaches of Siberia.

Our story begins 1904 with Dunia, a nine year old girl growing up in the idyllic village of Kobeliaky, Ukraine, where her family lives off the land, cultivating crops, raising sheep, and weaving exquisite carpets. Life flows in harmony with the seasons, offering a sense of peace and purpose. Dunia marries and starts her own family, but the tides of history bring devastating change. When Stalin rises to power, the regime’s collective farming policies seize the land and uproot the people. Dunia’s unwavering religious beliefs lead to her arrest and exile to the Siberian gulags.

In the face of unthinkable loss and relentless hardship, Dunia’s faith becomes her anchor. Transforming through her experiences, she discovers unexpected grace and strength in the bleakest circumstances. Her journey is one of resilience and survival, but also of spiritual evolution, as she learns to let go and embrace the unexpected in her path to survival and renewal.

Dunia: A Garden in the Gulag is a heartfelt tribute to the power of faith, the endurance of the human spirit, and the legacy of family history. It invites listeners into a world shaped by love, loss, and the unyielding determination to thrive against all odds.

©2025 Gillian Caldwell (P)2025 Gillian Caldwell

Finding Light in a Harsh Place

Listening to Dunia: A Garden in the Gulag felt oddly grounding. Caldwell paints this bleak Soviet prison world but threads in these small acts of resilience, like tending a garden, that make the whole thing surprisingly hopeful. The narration is calm and steady, which matches the heavy material without dragging it down. It’s not a quick, light listen, but it’s the kind of book that lingers with you. I liked how it made me slow down and think about what really keeps people going. Recommend.

Heartfelt and powerful

I could not stop listening to this book! It is a beautifully written and profoundly moving novel. Gillian Caldwell brings early 20th-century Ukraine to life with rich detail, showing the warmth of family, faith, and tradition before history shatters it. Dunia’s journey—from a peaceful village life to the harsh Siberian gulags—is heartbreaking yet inspiring, reminding me of the incredible resilience of the human spirit.
What touched me most was how Dunia’s faith carried her through unimaginable hardship. The story blends tragedy with moments of grace, showing that even in the darkest times, hope and renewal can take root. This book is both a powerful history lesson and a tribute to the strength of love, faith, and endurance.

A Testament to the Human Spirit

This book is about more than survival, it’s about dignity, memory, and the human need for beauty. Dunia’s garden becomes a metaphor for resistance and for holding onto one’s humanity when the world tries to strip it away. The story is painful yet incredibly inspiring, and it sheds light on a part of history that should never be forgotten.

Devastating and beautiful listen

Having read Red Famine and learned of the previous devastation of Ukraine, I was incredibly interested in Dunia. It was impossible to stop listening. The narrator, ironically also named Gillian, fills the characters with such empathy and beauty. It is definitely tough to listen sometimes because the subject matter is so upsetting--I found myself crying more than once. However, it is a story filled with hope, resilience and perseverance. Gorgeously written, elegantly narrated, this is a 5 star for me.

Blooming in Darkness

Dunia: A Garden in the Gulag is a poignant and unforgettable story of survival, courage, and the search for beauty amid despair. Gillian Caldwell paints a vivid portrait of resilience, where a garden becomes more than soil and seed—it becomes a lifeline, a symbol of hope, and proof that the human spirit can endure even in the most brutal of conditions.

Love it!

I’ve always loved listening to stories from the past, especially about times before we were even part of this world. I truly enjoyed Dunai’s life adventure and the twists and turns in her journey. I appreciated the balance of hardship and resilience, and the way the vivid details brought her experiences to life. The narrator’s delivery made the story even more captivating and immersive.

Faith and Strength in Every Chapter

I wasn’t expecting to be this moved. Listening to Dunia’s story—her faith, her family, and her unimaginable trials—hit me in a way I didn’t see coming. The narration brought everything to life, from her peaceful village to the cold harshness of Siberia. What really stayed with me was her resilience—how she never let go of hope or belief even in the darkest moments. It’s not just historical fiction—it’s deeply personal, inspiring, and beautifully written.

Powerful, Poignant, and Unforgettable

This debut novel drew me in from the first chapter and never let go. Dunia’s journey from her peaceful Ukrainian village to the brutal Siberian gulags is heartbreaking yet inspiring. The story beautifully captures resilience, faith, and the strength of the human spirit. A moving listen that lingers long after it ends.

A fam legacy rooted in courage and hope

This is more than a story of history! it’s a story of endurance, faith, and how the human spirit can bloom even in frozen, desolate places. I was struck by how her unwavering belief carried her through unimaginable suffering, reminding me that strength often comes not from control but from surrendering to grace. The way it ties family, faith, and survival together makes it both heartbreaking and inspiring, leaving me reflecting on the legacies we choose to pass on.

A Powerful Story of Faith and Resilience

This audiobook is moving and inspiring. It tells a powerful story of faith, family, and resilience in the face of hardship. The narration brings deep emotion to the journey, making it a heartfelt tribute to strength, love, and the enduring human spirit.