A Thread of Grace

A Novel

By: Mary Doria Russell

Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “A powerfully imagined novel . . . [a] profoundly moving book that engages the heights and depths of human experience.”—Los Angeles Times

It is September 8, 1943, and fourteen-year-old Claudette Blum and her father are among the thousands of Jewish refugees scrambling over the Alps toward Italy, where they hope to find safety now that the Italians have broken from Germany and made a separate peace with the Allies. The Blums will soon discover that Italy is anything but peaceful, as it quickly becomes an open battleground for the Nazis, the Allies, Resistance fighters, Jews in hiding, and ordinary Italian civilians trying to survive.

Tracing the lives of a handful of fascinating characters—a charismatic Italian Resistance leader, a priest, an Italian rabbi’s family, a disillusioned German doctor—Mary Doria Russell tells the little-known story of the vast underground effort by Italian citizens who saved the lives of 43,000 Jews during the final phase of World War II. A Thread of Grace puts a human face on history.

Praise for A Thread of Grace

“An addictive page-turner . . . [Mary Doria] Russell has an astonishing story to tell—full of action, paced like a rapid-fire thriller, in tense, vivid scenes that move with cinematic verve.”—The Washington Post Book World

“Hauntingly beautiful, utterly unforgettable.”—San Francisco Chronicle

“Rich . . . Based on the heroism of ordinary people, [A Thread of Grace] packs an emotional punch.”—People

“[A] deeply felt and compellingly written book . . . The progress of each character’s life is marked or measured by acts of grace. . . . Russell is a smart, passionate and imaginative writer.”—Cleveland Plain Dealer

“A feat of storytelling . . . an important book [that] needs to be widely read.”—Portland Oregonian

“Mary Doria Russell’s fans (and aren’t we all?) will rejoice to see her new novel on the shelves. A Thread of Grace is as ambitious, beautiful, tense, and transforming as any of us could have hoped.”—Karen Joy Fowler, author of The Jane Austen Book Club

“A story of love and war, A Thread of Grace speaks to the resilience and beauty of the human spirit in the midst of unimaginable horror. It is, unquestionably, a literary triumph.”—David Morrell, author of The Brotherhood of the Rose and First Blood©2005 Mary Doria Russell; (P)2005 Books on Tape, Inc.

Critic reviews

“A powerfully imagined novel . . . [a] profoundly moving book that engages the heights and depths of human experience.”—Los Angeles Times

“An addictive page-turner . . . [Mary Doria] Russell has an astonishing story to tell—full of action, paced like a rapid-fire thriller, in tense, vivid scenes that move with cinematic verve.”—The Washington Post Book World

“Hauntingly beautiful, utterly unforgettable.”—San Francisco Chronicle

“Rich . . . Based on the heroism of ordinary people, [A Thread of Grace] packs an emotional punch.”—People

“[A] deeply felt and compellingly written book . . . The progress of each character’s life is marked or measured by acts of grace. . . . Russell is a smart, passionate and imaginative writer.”—Cleveland Plain Dealer

“A feat of storytelling . . . an important book [that] needs to be widely read.”—Portland Oregonian

“Mary Doria Russell’s fans (and aren’t we all?) will rejoice to see her new novel on the shelves. A Thread of Grace is as ambitious, beautiful, tense, and transforming as any of us could have hoped.”—Karen Joy Fowler, author of The Jane Austen Book Club

“Fans of Mary Doria Russell’s The Sparrow and Children of God will be thrilled by her masterful new novel. A Thread of Grace is a rich, multi-layered narrative that offers fresh insight into a devastating time in world affairs. A story of love and war, it speaks to the resilience and beauty of the human spirit in the midst of unimaginable horror. It is, unquestionably, a literary triumph.”—David Morrell, author of The Brotherhood of the Rose and First Blood

“Essential reading for people who love Italy. You will lose yourself completely in this ecumenical epic of Italians working together to save Jewish refugees during the German Occupation of 1943-1944. Russell has a deep empathy for her characters and writes with genius about the horrors of guerrilla war. This wholly absorbing historical novel ends with perhaps the most moving coda in fictional history.”—Susan Cahill, author/editor of Desiring Italy and The Smiles of Rome

Heart wrenching, but well done

Cassandra Campbell did a great job bringing a very heavy story to life! This was hard to read, but a good story.

I couldn't wait to listen to more.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

The story is sad and wonderful and the author brings these characters to life. I could see them as I listened to this story. As an Italian-American, I am proud to know that so many Italians put themselves at risk to save strangers.

What was one of the most memorable moments of A Thread of Grace?

There are too many to recount, and I wouldn't want to ruin the story for anyone else. But that there were so many acts of kindness and generosity during such a violent and difficult time gives hope.

What does Cassandra Campbell bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I know that others have commented that her accents were distracting, but I quickly found that it helped me to keep the many characters straight as she read the story. I would definitely listen to any other book that she narrated, as long as the book interested me.

If you could rename A Thread of Grace, what would you call it?

That is a perfect name.

Important. Never forget!

Well written. Well narrated. And an important piece of WWIi. At least a partial triumph of the human spirit. A wonderful book.

Another great one from MDRussell

This woman can write! Two great sci-fi volumes, two wonderful stories of Doc Holiday and the Earp brothers, and now this epic of the end of WW2 in northern Italy. All fabulously read, too. Looking forward to two more.

Hard to Follow Story

I enjoyed Mary Doria Russell's "The Women of Copper Country", so I downloaded A Thread of Grace. While I think the writing is colorful and masterfully descriptive, I had difficulty following the story. There are too many characters, many of which are not developed enough to engage me. Then, all the jumping around in place and time from unrelated scene to unrelated scene was challenging. The transitions were not deliberate enough in terms of threading a story. I do enjoy Cassandra Campbell's narration. Her pace, accents, and inflection are exceptional.