"An extraordinary novel . . . a triumph of insight and
storytelling." --Associated Press
"A true masterpiece." --Glennon Doyle, author of Untamed
An extraordinary story set in the first century about a woman who
finds her voice and her destiny, from the celebrated number one New
York Times bestselling author of The Secret Life of Bees and The
Invention of Wings
In her mesmerizing fourth work of fiction, Sue Monk Kidd takes an
audacious approach to history and brings her acclaimed narrative gifts
to imagine the story of a young woman named Ana. Raised in a wealthy
family with ties to the ruler of Galilee, she is rebellious and
ambitious, with a brilliant mind and a daring spirit. She engages in
furtive scholarly pursuits and writes narratives about neglected and
silenced women. Ana is expected to marry an older widower, a prospect
that horrifies her. An encounter with eighteen-year-old Jesus changes
everything.
Their marriage evolves with love and conflict, humor and pathos in
Nazareth, where Ana makes a home with Jesus, his brothers, and their
mother, Mary. Ana's pent-up longings intensify amid the turbulent
resistance to Rome's occupation of Israel, partially led by her brother,
Judas. She is sustained by her fearless aunt Yaltha, who harbors a
compelling secret. When Ana commits a brazen act that puts her in peril,
she flees to Alexandria, where startling revelations and greater dangers
unfold, and she finds refuge in unexpected surroundings. Ana determines
her fate during a stunning convergence of events considered among the
most impactful in human history.
Grounded in meticulous research and written with a reverential approach
to Jesus's life that focuses on his humanity, The Book of Longings is
an inspiring, unforgettable account of one woman's bold struggle to
realize the passion and potential inside her, while living in a time,
place and culture devised to silence her. It is a triumph of
storytelling both timely and timeless, from a masterful writer at the
height of her powers.
