Things Past Telling

A Novel

De: Sheila Williams

Narrado por: Robin Miles

“This is a truly character-driven novel that explores how people define themselves, the creation of family and home, and the importance of memory and language. . . . Fans of historical epics won’t be able to put this book down.”—Historical Novel Society

“Emotionally satisfying. . . . A remarkable character portrait.”—Publishers Weekly

The author of The Secret Women tells the story of a brave and enduring woman as indomitable as Ernest Gaines’ legendary Miss Jane Pittman, in a breathtaking novel that combines the epic romance and adventure of Outlander, the sweeping drama of Roots, and the haunting historical power of Barracoon.

Things Past Telling is a remarkable historical epic that charts one unforgettable woman’s journey across an ocean of years as vast as the Atlantic that will forever separate her from her homeland.

Born in West Africa in the mid-eighteenth century, Maryam Prescilla Grace—a.k.a “Momma Grace” will live a long, wondrous life marked by hardship, oppression, opportunity, and love. Though she will be “gifted” various names, her birth name is known to her alone. Over the course of 100-plus years, she survives capture, enslavement by several property owners, the Atlantic crossing when she is only eleven years of age, and a brief stint as a pirate’s ward, acting as both a spy and a translator.

Maryam learns midwifery from a Caribbean-born wise woman, whose “craft” combines curated techniques and medicines from African, Indigenous, and European women. Those midwifery skills allow her to sometimes transcend the racial and class barriers of her enslavement, as she walks the razor’s edge trying to balance the lives and health of her own people with the cruel economic mandates of the slave holders, who view infants born in bondage not as flesh-and-blood children but as investment property.

Throughout her triumphant and tumultuous life Maryam gains and loses her homeland, her family, her culture, her husband, her lovers, and her children. Yet as the decades pass, this tenacious woman never loses her sense of self.

Inspired by a 112-year-old woman the author discovered in an 1870 U.S. Federal census report for Ohio, loosely based on the author’s real-life female ancestors, spanning more than a hundred years, from the mid-eighteen-century to the end of America’s Civil War, and spanning across the globe, from what is now southern Nigeria to the islands of the Caribbean to North America and the land bordering the Ohio River, Things Past Telling is a breathtaking story of a past that lives on in all of us, and a life that encompasses the best—and worst—of our humanity.

©2022 Sheila Williams (P)2022 HarperCollins Publishers

I couldn't stop listening!

This story was mesmerizing and I would recommend it to everyone interested in learning about thing they don't teach you in history books.

What is this?

A biography? A Historical Fiction? Either accord would not diminish the beauty of this story. It’s an incredible moving tale of resilience. There are thousands of lost truthful stories I wish we could know from the personal histories of this part of the American experience.
The way the author has written this piece wakes up something within us to want to seek and learn more about the people brought here in chains. Who were they? Where were they all from? How did it happen that they were captured, trapped and sold?Who were their people? What was their life before?
If ALL American children are taught these histories told in the way this author has written this story, It would bring a depth of understanding sadly needed to grasp the tragedy and rare triumphs of the people enslaved in that part of our American history.
The Jewish people have done this for the generations that came after the holocaust. Why not the same for the generations that came after the tragedy of slavery? Is it too late and the stories too rare and lost to history?
I am grateful to this author for telling this story in the manner it has been.

Unforgettable

Also bought the kindle but the narration took this from 4.5 to 8 stars.

The story spans about 7 decades, several continents and social change. Definitely worth your time and credit

Truly Worth Reading

Mesmerizing story, beautiful history. Mama Grace tells her story in a way that holds your attention to the end.
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Wonderful Listen

A sad part of history told with truth and dignity. I enjoyed the narration. One of the best narrations I have ever heard! Story was told with unexpected phrases that were sing song and graceful that just pulled you into the story but also spoke of terrible cruelty of the time. Wonderful book.

10 Stars!

A trip through time! What a beautiful but sad story. I remember tales from my southern roots and sometimes I cry because of what people of color had to endure through no fault of their own. Families being separated had to be so hard. I cried/sobbed at the ending of this tale, even though it was a happy occasion. Well written. Excellent narration. A keeper!

Thought provoking!

This is a heart touching story through generations, written in a time most of us can understand and even relate to. This is a Wonderful story written in a way that put the reader in her shoes. Despite all the hurdles thrown her way, she survived and thrived.
The narrator was awesome, capturing all of the diverse cultural accents. Because of my hearing loss, the accents were sometimes hard to understand, but not any fault of the narrator.

Beautiful, storytelling and narration

The author did a beautiful job of weaving the story, and the narrator was amazing!

Amazing

Amazing story. While the subject of slavery is anything from entertainment. I found myself so attached to the characters and heart broken and so many emotions followed each one’s story .

Heartfelt and beautifully told.

Reluctant as I was initially, I loved this story. Robin Miles narrates it perfectly as is usual for her.