The Four Winds

By: Kristin Hannah

Narrated by: Julia Whelan

Length: 15 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

The Four Winds, an instant New York Times bestseller and Richard and Judy Book Club Pick, is a deeply moving story about the strength and resilience of women and the bond between mother and daughter, by the bestselling author of The Nightingale, Kristin Hannah.

She will discover the best of herself in the worst of times . . .

Texas, 1934. Elsa Martinelli had finally found the life she’d yearned for. A family, a home and a livelihood on a farm on the Great Plains. But when drought threatens all she and her community hold dear, Elsa’s world is shattered to the winds.

Fearful of the future, when Elsa wakes to find her husband has fled, she is forced to make the most agonizing decision of her life. Fight for the land she loves or take her beloved children, Loreda and Ant, west to California in search of a better life. Will it be the land of milk and honey? Or will their experience challenge every ounce of strength they possess?

From the overriding love of a mother for her child, the value of female friendship and the ability to love again – against all odds, Elsa’s incredible journey is a story of survival, hope and what we do for the ones we love.

©2021 Kristin Hannah (P)2021 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

"Powerful and compelling." (Delia Owens, number one international best-selling author of Where the Crawdads Sing)

"A rich, compelling novel of love, sacrifice and survival." (Kate Morton)

"A masterclass." (Karen Swan)

So depressing

Absolute torture for the storyline to the narrator - couldn’t wait for the end of this book I did t like it at all

it's great

a story of love, heartbreak, survival, true beauty, courage and hope. it's exhausting but worth it.

Beautiful but depressing

Good heavens the first half of this book is depressing beyond all reason. The main characters just can't seem to catch a break. However it developes well and the history is very fascinating.

Brilliant story and narration

I loved this book from start to finish. It did make me feel guilty about my lovely life though. Women today are so lucky that women like Elsa came before us.

Beautiful story

A really beautiful story in a time in America that I know very little about. A real eye opener. Such strong people just striving to make a living and earn a decent wage. Many emotions throughout the story. Well done to Kristin Hannah for her approach and characters she used. Incredible narration by Julia Whelan. I loved the book.

Amazing Read

I LOVED THIS BOOK...Í know its early in the year but I really feel this may be a Book of the Year nominee. It actually brought tears to my eyes, which honestly is very rare, and was a roller coaster ride. It an amazing mother/daughter story as well as a great story about a woman finding her own self & strength. A must read this year!

Perfect

Great story indeed. A one story which touched my heart in a long time. Love it.

An amazing and super important book!

The book is an amazing piece of art. After the first 5 minutes of the book I paused it and debated with myself whether I want to continue or not. I didn't really like the voice of Julia, by the end of the book I loved it and I think she is so gifted. This book had taught me so much!!!

not too bad

the story line was okay and easy to listen to. ending was sudden, I was expecting more for the main character.

A great deep read that will leave you appreciative

This was an excellent book, deep with chapters that you could just feel the constant struggle faced by Elsa. But press on, it makes the end so much more worthwhile. Another stunner by Kristin Hannah.

Excellent in all aspects

Both the author and narrator did not fail to deliver a much awaited story. As for the plot.. all I could say is that never will I complain about quarantines, wearing masks or lockdowns ever again 😅

Another winner for Kristin

This story is an amazing journey for the main characters personally and physically. The scene setting is brilliant I feel as though I’ve lived through drought dust storms long treks and encampments by fetid streams. A great story will miss these characters in my life.

The Pandemic of today does not look so bad...

I stayed up all night finishing the last half of this book. As usual Kristin's characters and storytelling are beautiful. The story made me realize what we are going through today with the pandemic is nothing compared to what happened during the Great Depression and Dust Bowl times. The incites into capitalism in America and the attitudes to social injustice are very relevant to what is happening today. Julia does such an excellent job of narrating the book too... I just could not put this book down or stop listening to it I should say!

Gripped from start to finish....

An excellent book, graphically depicting the appalling consequences of the drought and depression of America in the 30s. I feel I have lived through it with them. The narration was also among the best I've heard.

Swimming against the tide... i found this dull

The book is long and grew longer and longer as it got into its final tear jerking phase. it felt heavy going and old fashioned in it's final union rousing sections. It's a style of book I used to read a lot of in the mid eighties. Maybe my tastes have changed, but although reasonably well written for most of the book, it became turgid and I could only skim towards the very well signalled and predictable end.

An addictive listen of hope

I absolutely loved this book, could not stop listening, and devastated to reach the end and finally leave the characters behind. A story of hope through adversity is too much of a cliche for this book because it is so much more. Devastatingly sad at times, but don’t let this put you off, you will full in love with the characters, fume over the cruelty of human greed and smile at our ability over come hardship for the love of our children and families.

Amazing and gripping

A story, with amazing historical factness to what did happen during the American Great Depression. In listening to the plight, the suffering, and neglect dished out by American states and wealthier citizens I am left wondering if anyone has ever reflected on how truly shocking the treatment was to another fellow human being?

The reason I say this, it's clear with high levels of deprivation in the States now, high levels of unemployment, homelessness and a lack of free medical care, It seems history is just repeating itself? This story will open your eyes to how rock bottom people's lives can get and when it does, what friendship and love truly mean. The story takes you on a very large roller coaster ride with characters and emotions so vividly written about.

The Narration is excellent. But why are more people not saying: Wake up America and stop history from repeating itself with an attitude of, "I'm alright Jack' when levels of deprivation, homelessness, starvation and bigotry to your fellow man is still as rife as this great book details about the Great Depression.

amazing

I absolutely loved this book! An amazing story of love that holds lives together through rejection, environmental challenges, poverty, and the strength we can have if we believe in something.

Incredible

As a massive fan of this author I can only thank her for this wonderful, thought provoking, searing story

Women s work is never done

I really enjoyed this book
Sad but true a real story of a woman’s heart