Great Circle

A Novel

By: Maggie Shipstead

Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell, Alex McKenna

Length: 25 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's Summary

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A TODAY SHOW #ReadWithJenna BOOK CLUB PICK • WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION NOMINEE • The unforgettable story of a daredevil female aviator determined to chart her own course in life, at any cost: an “epic trip—through Prohibition and World War II, from Montana to London to present-day Hollywood—and you’ll relish every minute” (People).

After being rescued as infants from a sinking ocean liner in 1914, Marian and Jamie Graves are raised by their dissolute uncle in Missoula, Montana. There--after encountering a pair of barnstorming pilots passing through town in beat-up biplanes--Marian commences her lifelong love affair with flight. At fourteen she drops out of school and finds an unexpected and dangerous patron in a wealthy bootlegger who provides a plane and subsidizes her lessons, an arrangement that will haunt her for the rest of her life, even as it allows her to fulfill her destiny: circumnavigating the globe by flying over the North and South Poles.

A century later, Hadley Baxter is cast to play Marian in a film that centers on Marian's disappearance in Antarctica. Vibrant, canny, disgusted with the claustrophobia of Hollywood, Hadley is eager to redefine herself after a romantic film franchise has imprisoned her in the grip of cult celebrity. Her immersion into the character of Marian unfolds, thrillingly, alongside Marian's own story, as the two women's fates--and their hunger for self-determination in vastly different geographies and times--collide. Epic and emotional, meticulously researched and gloriously told, Great Circle is a monumental work of art, and a tremendous leap forward for the prodigiously gifted Maggie Shipstead.

©2020 Maggie Shipstead (P)2020 Random House Audio

Critic Reviews

2021, Booker Prize

2022, Women's Prize for Fiction

 “A soaring work of historical fiction . . . So convincingly does Shipstead stitch her fictional heroine into the daring flight paths of early aviators that you’ll be convinced that you remember the tragic day her plane disappeared. Great Circle is a relentlessly exciting story about a woman maneuvering her way between tradition and prejudice to get what she wants. It’s also a culturally rich story that takes full advantage of its extended length to explore the changing landscape of the 20th century. My top recommendation for this summer.” —Ron Charles, The Washington Post

“Shipstead's writing soars and dips with dizzying flair . . . With detailed brilliance, she lavishes heart and empathy on every character (save one villain), no matter how small their role. Many authors attempting to create an epic falter at the end, but Shipstead never wavers, pulls out a twist or two that feel fully earned, and then sticks the landing. An expansive story that covers more than a century and seems to encapsulate the whole wide world. ”
—Boston Globe 

“Thrilling . . . Great Circle starts high and maintains altitude. One might say it soars. An action-packed book rich with character . . . Great Circle grasps for and ultimately reaches something extraordinary. It pulls off this feat through individual sentences and sensations—by getting each secondary and tertiary character right . . . What’s so impressive is how deeply we come to care about each of these people, and how the shape and texture of each of their stories collide to build a story all its own. It’s at the level of the sentence and the scene, the small but unforgettable salient detail, that books finally succeed or fail. In that, Great Circle is consistently, often breathtakingly, sound.” —Lynn Steger Strong, The New York Times Book Review

“Bestselling novelist Maggie Shipstead was struggling to depict a female adventurer. So she became one. Shipstead’s debut, Seating Arrangements, [sealed] her reputation as an impeccable craftswoman of upmarket beach reads . . . But the stakes of Great Circle are higher—for its heroine, literally life or death. Though Shipstead never learned to fly herself, she aligned with her main character Marian Graves in more important ways . . . She is interested in testing her limits.” —Los Angeles Times 

So glad I was drawn to this book.

It’s odd to say that I’m grateful I read this book, but I am. I found it a little confusing in the beginning, but I hung in there’s and am glad I did. The book doesn’t leave you wanting more or wondering what then (I hate that) but brings the story full circle. It lifted me up, opened my eyes and quickened my thoughts. It’s a great read.

Absolutely beautiful writing

I have just looked at the other reviews and no one has mentioned how beautiful Shipstead's writing is. Wonderful metaphors!
I enjoyed the story, too, but what really makes me love this book is how beautifully it is written. I also liked the narration. A woman is not going to sound like a man, so get over it. Too many voices would confuse the story. The narrator has a soothing low key voice and when she is doing the dialogue, it was spot on.

The historical perspective on the women pilots is pretty accurate. They did an important service for the war effort and were left without the benefits the men received. Only recently have they been recognized for their contributions.

Wonderful story. Recommend highly.

Not So Great Circle

Great Circle I found to be depressing and, far too much about unrelenting depression, the abuse and emotional maiming of children, the resultant grinding dysfunction...In reading the synopsis of this book and a number of the reviews, before buying, I really thought that perhaps, negative reviews were off-the-mark or at least too harsh. Nope. It only took me a few dark chapters to realize that this book was not at all for me. Too bad, as I am a daughter of a beloved pilot (sometimes called a pilot's brat, in flying circles), adore planes, have been taught to fly and know a good bit of first hand flight lore and legend. The problem is I also love life, people, children and favor a much more positive outlook on life than this very long, morose book could offer. Returning -- and glad to be shed of it.

Great Writing, Story and Characters

I adored this unforgettable story of a daredevil female aviator. The characters and the writing were amazing. Marian Graves was the fictional female pilot who disappeared in 1950 while attempting an unprecedented north-south circumnavigation of the earth. On the final leg, she vanished in the South Pacific, Earhart-style.
Sixty years later, Hollywood casts a troubled starlet, Hadley Baxter, in a film that centers on Marian’s disappearance.
My criticism of the book is the Hadley/Hollywood story. The book was fantastic without it, and I felt it detracted from the story’s greatness. Fortunately, that part was minimal in the 25 hour audiobook. Cassandra Campbell’s excellent narration made up for the Hadley portion. I will definitely listen to this again!

A most unbelievable believable novel.

The story hooked me and kept me on the line until the final pages. What a twist... the heroine is not a sinker.

Well researched and interesting human drama

The story held my interest and was well crafted. Many life situations were painful. Narration was very good. Mature subject matter.

Mixed Review; uneven performances

Author should/could have ditched the Hollywood story and producers should have ditched the actress narrator.

A wonderful story

This is a terrific book that I recommend highly. The story of the women who ferried aircraft in Europe during World War Ii, interwoven with other themes of a changing society and adventure, make this a first-year listen.

Amazing Book

I enjoyed the story, the interesting characters and the unique mix of drama, aviation and sex.

Intriguing characters/great performance

Loved the characters and the voice of Hadley.
One correction, though, the name Kalani is pronounced incorrectly. It is “kulahnee” not “kaylahnee.”
Otherwise, amazing.