To the Bright Edge of the World cover art

To the Bright Edge of the World

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To the Bright Edge of the World

By: Eowyn Ivey
Narrated by: Christine Lakin, John Glouchevich, Kiff Vandenheuvel
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About this listen

Set in the Alaskan landscape that she brought to stunningly vivid life in The Snow Child (a Sunday Times best seller, Richard and Judy pick and finalist for the Pulitzer Prize), Eowyn Ivey's To the Bright Edge of the World is a breathtaking story of discovery set at the end of the 19th century, sure to appeal to fans of A Place Called Winter.

Lieutenant Colonel Allen Forrester receives the commission of a lifetime when he is charged to navigate Alaska's hitherto impassable Wolverine River with only a small group of men. The Wolverine is the key to opening up Alaska and its rich natural resources to the outside world, but previous attempts have ended in tragedy. Forrester leaves behind his young wife, Sophie, newly pregnant with the child he had never expected to have.

Adventurous in spirit, Sophie does not relish the prospect of a year in a military barracks while her husband carves a path through the wilderness. What she does not anticipate is that their year apart will demand every ounce of courage and fortitude of her that it does of her husband.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio.

©2016 Eowyn Ivey (P)2016 Hachette Audio Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Marriage Alaska Military

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Critic reviews

"Stunning and intriguing...the reader finishes it richer and wiser." (Rosamund Lupton, author of Sister and The Quality of Silence)
All stars
Most relevant

Where does To the Bright Edge of the World rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It must be in the top fifth!

Who was your favorite character and why?

The main character, Sophie Forrester. She is possibly not the most plausible character considering when this book is set but the isolation and wildness of the setting allows her to be a fully developed, multi-dimensional character. She is an original creation and I liked her very much. Reminiscent of Anne (of Green Gables) in some ways.

Have you listened to any of the narrators’s other performances? How does this one compare?

Not that I remember.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

This would make a good film I think! The tagline would be something about nests or perhaps light.

Any additional comments?

Interesting detail on early photography, well researched. I also enjoyed the scenery immensely.

Lovely imagery

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I was so sorry to reach the end of this book. The story itself, the quality of the writing, and the voices of the performers added up to make this the best audiobook I have listened to in ages. I cannot recommend it enough.

I was so sorry to reach the end!

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Having read Snow Child, I fell in love with Ivy’s style. I loves how she completely takes the reader on a journey. I found it fascinating and beautiful at the same time. I really could imagine Alaska back then.

Beautifully written and narrated

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Would give 3.5 stars. I’ll admit I expected a little more from Eowyn after the Snow Child. A lovely novel but a little dull to be honest. Good characterisation. Loved the magical realism and mystery she brought with the native Alaskan legends. Plot lacked some interest though to be honest. Felt like an old fashioned novel. Delightful and intriguing at times - very boring at others.

A lovely novel but a little dull to be honest.

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Thoroughly engaging storytelling in a class of its own. Narration perfect. The best book I've listened to/read in a long time.

Simply outstanding.

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