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  • The Nightingale

  • By: Kristin Hannah
  • Narrated by: Polly Stone
  • Length: 17 hrs and 19 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (373 ratings)

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The Nightingale

By: Kristin Hannah
Narrated by: Polly Stone
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Publisher's summary

The Bestselling Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick

Soon to be a major motion picture, Kristin Hannah's The Nightingale has captured the hearts of millions of readers becoming a number one bestseller across the world. It is a heart-breakingly beautiful novel that celebrates the resilience of the human spirit and the endurance of women.

This story is about what it was like to be a woman during World War II, when women’s stories were all too often forgotten or overlooked . . . Vianne and Isabelle Mauriac are two sisters, separated by years and experience, by ideals and passion and circumstance, each embarking on her own dangerous path towards survival, love and freedom in war-torn France.

It is a novel for everyone, a novel for a lifetime.

‘A rich, compelling novel of love, sacrifice and survival’ Kate Morton, author of Homecoming

‘Movingly written and plotted with the heartless skill of a Greek tragedy, you’ll keep turning the pages until the last racking sob’ Daily Mail

‘I loved The Nightingale . . . great characters, great plots, great emotions, who could ask for more in a novel?’ Isabel Allende, bestselling author of The House of the Spirits

‘A griping tale of family, love, grief and forgiveness’ Sunday Express

The Nightingale has sold more than 4 million copies globally, TIME, February 2021

©2015 Kristin Hannah (P)2015 Pan Macmillan Publishers Ltd.

What listeners say about The Nightingale

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
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Heartbreaking but enjoyable

I enjoyed The Nightingale immensely. The narrator kept me wanting to hear more. The changes in her voice when she became another character was appealing to my ear.
Great story, which is many persons' story, told from a different angle.
Recommended to anyone who loves to read books with a historical perspective

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Beautiful

What did you like best about this story?

The book ended with me in tears – as almost all great books do. My last notes are monosyllables: brilliant, sad, love, forgiveness, courage, courage, courage…

Any additional comments?

While the novel is written in the third person, the intermittent glimpse to the future (1995) is narrated by one of the sisters (it is not clear for the majority of the book which sister this is) in the first person. This glimpse forward with its unmistakable hindsight adds an element of mystery to the story which I loved

I am drawn to WWII books, in particular, those set in occupied France. I don’t know why – they are almost always sad and I tend to question what I would have done in the same situation… I know I courage would have failed me and that doesn’t lead to happy thoughts. But it is why I found myself drawn to Vianne whose courage didn’t come easy.@crushingcinders

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3 people found this helpful

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fantastic read

great book, could not put it down.
well written.
I would highly recommend this book.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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One of the best books I've read

This book will stay with me for a long time. I just couldn't put it down.

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What an incredible book!!!!!!

So beautifully read!! So beautifully written!!! So difficult to listen to in parts and yet unputdownable which isn’t a word but the best way to describe this book. Get ready for a touching, painful, inspiring and deeply touching story!!! Well done to the reader - what an incredible job you did. And kristan Hannah you are simply incredible!!!!

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Heartbreaking

I rarely write reviews, on this occasion I shall endeavour to put my thoughts into print. This is not just another book about the holocaust. It’s about the French and how deeply they suffered under the German occupation. So often I was so deeply moved by the suffering endured I had to stop listening as I was so angered by the dictatorship of Hitler and others who have followed since. Truly one of the best books ever read/listened to.

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Everything

Love everything about this book , the best book I ever read , everyone should read this book , they will appreciate life more

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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nightingale

unforgettable characters that remained with me for a good while after finishing this totally marvelous story especially Vianne the quiet heroine. the graphic accounts in France after the German occupation can be hard to listen to all the suffering and abject cruelty that was imposed by the German soldiers leaves one s bit shaken. worth every bit of my credit.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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A must read

Incredible story, so beautifully written, and Polly Stone’s narration was absolutely brilliant!
I was so sad when the book was finished!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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The absolute tragedy of war...

it took a while for me to get into it, I kept thinking it was a bit "meh", but then it certainly picked up and I could not wait to get back to it.

A beautiful and tragic story. I highly recommend it.

Enjoyed the narrator very much bar for the Gestapo officers voices, but I guess that's to be expected.

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