The Good Lord Bird

A Novel

By: James McBride

Narrated by: Michael Boatman

Length: 14 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

Winner of the National Book Award for Fiction

Soon to be a Showtime limited series starring Ethan Hawke and Daveed Diggs.

From the best-selling author of Deacon King Kong (an Oprah Book Club pick) and The Color of Water comes the story of a young boy born a slave who joins John Brown’s antislavery crusade - and who must pass as a girl to survive. Henry Shackleford is a young slave living in the Kansas Territory in 1856 - a battleground between anti - and pro-slavery forces - when legendary abolitionist John Brown arrives. When an argument between Brown and Henry's master turns violent, Henry is forced to leave town - along with Brown, who believes Henry to be a girl and his good luck charm. Over the ensuing months, Henry, whom Brown nicknames Little Onion, conceals his true identity to stay alive. Eventually Brown sweeps him into the historic raid on Harpers Ferry in 1859 - one of the great catalysts for the Civil War. An absorbing mixture of history and imagination, and told with McBride's meticulous eye for detail and character, The Good Lord Bird is both a rousing adventure and a moving exploration of identity and survival.

©2013 James McBride (P)2013 Penguin Audiobooks

a modern Mark Twain

A brilliant imagining of a major historical figure. The writing, and inventiveness, and the story telling are nearly beyond compare.

Compelling

The narrator made this story priceless. The writing is brilliant. I laughed, cried, and learned.

fantastic book

I loved this. It is one of my all-time favorite fiction audiobooks. The plot moves along and the book is both hilarious and moving. I look forward to listening to McBride's other books.

Excellent!

Rich in imagery from a masterful storyteller. Worth every penny, and worth your time. Thanks!

The reader was flipping hilarious.

the reader did this storey Justice. I found myself bursting out laughing so much. The only time I was mad was when Onion had the memory lapse which caused all the mayhem. great story tho...

Better than I expected.

It is interesting , funny, and very well preformed.
I enjoyed it from beginning to end.

Such an excellent book!

I love good historical fiction. The Good Lord Bird is full of history as well as creativity. Michael Boatman does an amazing job making the reader/listener feel as though he is really right there with John Brown’s group. I intend to read more of James McBride’s books and listen to more books narrated by Michael Boatman. I feel honored to have stumbled on to this.

A voice

I really struggled reading the hard copy but the audio gave the Onion a voice.

Very Entertaining Listen to a Well-Written Story

Would you listen to The Good Lord Bird again? Why?

Michael Boatman is a fantastic narrator, and James McBride wrote a very entertaining, touching book. I honestly did not listen to it for any historical fact, just listened for the pure pleasure of a well-written, well-told story.

Amazing

Catapulted right into my top ten. A beautifully crafted piece of historical fiction that lent me me insights on both John Brown and Frederick Douglass.