"An epic masterpiece that is a triumph of insight and storytelling."
--Associated Press Named a Most Anticipated Book of 2020 by
O, the Oprah Magazine, Good Morning America/ABC-TV, Good
Housekeeping, Bustle, TIME, Marie Claireand The
Millions 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.
