Four Hundred and Forty Steps to the Sea

By: Sara Alexander

Narrated by: Sara Alexander

Length: 13 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's summary

In a richly romantic novel set in stunning Positano, Italy, Sara Alexander weaves a story of love, family loyalty, and sacrifice spanning five decades....

Nestled into the cliffs in southern Italy's Amalfi coast, Positano is an artist's vision, with rows of brightly hued houses perched above the sea and picturesque staircases meandering up and down the hillside. Santina, still a striking woman despite old age and the illness that saps her last strength, is spending her final days at her home, Villa San Vito. The magnificent 18th-century palazzo is very different from the tiny house in which she grew up. And as she decides its fate, she must confront the choices that led her here so long ago.

In 1949, Positano is as yet undiscovered by tourists, a beautiful, secluded village shaking off the dust of war. Hoping to escape poverty, young Santina takes domestic work in London, ultimately becoming a housekeeper to a distinguished British major and his creative, impulsive wife, Adeline. When they move to Positano, Santina returns with them, raising their daughter as Adeline's mental health declines. With each passing year, Santina becomes more deeply enmeshed within the family, trying to navigate her complicated feelings for a man who is much more than an employer - while hiding secrets that could shatter the only home she knows.

©2018 Sara Alexander (P)2018 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

I’m shook!

I just finished this beautiful book and I was stunned that the best female narrator I have ever heard was also the AUTHOR of this gorgeous sunlit tale! I’m not sure why I hadn’t noticed that from the beginning, maybe because it was a free book for me? This young woman had such a talent for accents and emotion and bringing the words to life… She amazed me! The book was in itself a beautiful story about romantic love, physical love, family ties and love of place. Italy and its food is as much a character in this novel as Santina and Henry are.
It was a gorgeous way to pass the time, and I’m straight away looking for more of her books!

Beautiful Story & Best Narration!

I was constantly amazed with the narrator, who is also the author. The character development is excellent! Her words took me through a beautiful culinary journey of magical areas of Italy. The exquisite love story is for of all times.

outstanding book

I loved the author's voice, the story, the romance, the near poetry of the book...I look forward to reading more by this author

Lovely

This story does a marvelous job following the life of the beautiful Santini as she grows from a frightened young girl into a woman in full control of her life and the love she feels for those around her. Ms Alexander captured the beauty of Italy and its vistas, people, culture, and food.
I highly recommend this book for its language, its love story, and the breathlessness it leaves with its readers. Thank you for sharing your talents with your audience, Ms Alexander.

Wonderful

Wonderful story of love, loyalty, sacrifice and coming home in your heart. I hope the journey continues where it left off. The author was a fantastic narrator!

Amazing and Beautiful

The author is the narrator and she has created a work of art. The beauty of Italy and complexity of human nature…. What a great book.

Dreamy and Intelligent

I loved this book. A wonderful companion through my days, the narration so skillful and the writing intelligent and dreamy. Beautiful. This story will hang on to me for years.

Unexpected delight!

This book is reads like a melody. It reads like a love poem. The lilting voice of the reader draws you into the story! One of my favorite audible books!

If you like books about food and love this a great book to listen to.

The Narration…Wow!

The narrator of this book, which I later learned was the author, absolutely captivated my attention with her first sentence! Her inflection and emotion while reading this book absolutely brought this story to life. The evolution of the characters, the deeply felt fear, love, dedication of each of the players tugged at my heart, made me smile, left me almost in a stupor after the final sentence. I cannot stop thinking about how their lives were, and how fleeting life is. Thank you for filling my daily commutes with your beautifully woven passage through the Italian culture. Your voice was made for the telling of this tale.

could have been shorter

This book was good but it could have been edited. Just too many descriptions, descriptions of how to fix food all the thought processes. I stilll enjoyed it but boy it was hard to get through the whole thing