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The Nightingale

The Multimillion Copy Bestseller from the Author of The Women

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The Nightingale

By: Kristin Hannah
Narrated by: Polly Stone
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About this listen

The Bestselling Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick

'One of the greatest storytellers of our time' – Delia Owens
, author of Where the Crawdads Sing

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.

'
I always thought it was what I wanted: to be loved and admired. Now I think perhaps I’d like to be known'

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 A Long Petal of the Sea

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

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

20th Century Family Life Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction War & Military Women's Fiction War Military Heartfelt Inspiring Tear-jerking Thought-Provoking Feel-Good

Critic reviews

A rich, compelling novel of love, sacrifice and survival (Kate Morton, author of Homecoming and The Lake House)
Utterly compelling, powerful and unforgettable Kristin Hannah is an exquisite storyteller. The Nightingale is one of those rare must read books that will forever nestle in your heart . . . (Christy Lefteri, bestselling author of The Beekeeper of Aleppo)
I loved The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah, a talented writer of American stories; great characters, great plots, great emotions, who could ask for more in a novel? (Isabel Allende, bestselling author of A Long Petal of the Sea and Violeta)
Beautifully written . . . packed with action and emotion (Sara Gruen, bestselling author of Water for Elephants)
The real horrors of war, the deprivations, the risks are all there . . . This is a hauntingly tragic yet sympathetic novel
An unforgettable portrait of love and war
The bestselling author hits her stride in this page-turning tale about two sisters, one in the French countryside, the other in Paris, who show remarkable courage in the German occupation during WWII . . . The author ably depicts war’s horrors through the eyes of these two women, whose strength of character shines through no matter their differences
A respectful and absorbing page-turner
The suspense builds slowly in this thought-provoking and absorbing novel
All stars
Most relevant
Beautifully read and I was drawn into the story straightaway. Tears at the end. A view of how it was in France during the war whether you were passive or wanted to fight back. My first Kristin Hannah book so I will look for others but read by Polly Stone and she had me hanging on her every word with her wonderfully soft French accent. Loved the way she said 'Isabel'.

Just Wonderful

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A must listen.
This book moved me in so many was and stirred up so many emotions.
I thought I knew so much about WW2 but this sad story which had me in tears so many times gave me a new insight into the treatment of the French people by the Germans in occupied France.
The struggles, the sadness and the bravery of so many.
Beautifully written and read!
Highly recommended.
I have nothing but admiration for all who suffered hell on earth, at the hands of the Nazi’s.
I will miss the characters in this book.
How lucky we are that the Nazi’s were defeated.

What a wonderful story! So sad but wonderful all the same.

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This book is a harrowing account of just what the German Army in the 2nd world war put the French nation through.
The first hour was a little slow, but i am so glad i stuck with it
17hours seems a long time for an audiobook, but this one needed to be
Although Kristen Hanna is an excellent narrator, i think maybe a British voice would have been better
Dont miss this book

Heartbreaking, Compelling and Difficult to Stop listening to

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A Great story we'll read and we'll writen.
History can teach us much, but a story will always teach use more.

A good read

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Excellent story, exciting, tense, moving and sad. I couldn't stop listening to it. I have never been so involved with the characters before.

The Nightingale

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