“Anextraordinarynovel...atriumphofinsightandstorytelling.“--AssociatedPress“Atruemasterpiece.“--GlennonDoyle,authorofUntamedAnextraordinarystorysetinthefirstcenturyaboutawomanwhofindshervoiceandherdestiny,fromthecelebratednumberoneNewYorkTimesbestsellingauthorofTheSecretLifeofBeesandTheInventionofWingsInhermesmerizingfourthworkoffiction,SueMonkKiddtakesanaudaciousapproachtohistoryandbringsheracclaimednarrativegiftstoimaginethestoryofayoungwomannamedAna.RaisedinawealthyfamilywithtiestotherulerofGalilee,sheisrebelliousandambitious,withabrilliantmindandadaringspirit.Sheengagesinfurtivescholarlypursuitsandwritesnarrativesaboutneglectedandsilencedwomen.Anaisexpectedtomarryanolderwidower,aprospectthathorrifiesher.Anencounterwitheighteen-year-oldJesuschangeseverything.Theirmarriageevolveswithloveandconflict,humorandpathosinNazareth,whereAnamakesahomewithJesus,hisbrothers,andtheirmother,Mary.Ana’spent-uplongingsintensifyamidtheturbulentresistancetoRome’soccupationofIsrael,partiallyledbyherbrother,Judas.SheissustainedbyherfearlessauntYaltha,whoharborsacompellingsecret.WhenAnacommitsabrazenactthatputsherinperil,shefleestoAlexandria,wherestartlingrevelationsandgreaterdangersunfold,andshefindsrefugeinunexpectedsurroundings.Anadeterminesherfateduringastunningconvergenceofeventsconsideredamongthemostimpactfulinhumanhistory.GroundedinmeticulousresearchandwrittenwithareverentialapproachtoJesus’slifethatfocusesonhishumanity,TheBookofLongingsisaninspiring,unforgettableaccountofonewoman’sboldstruggletorealizethepassionandpotentialinsideher,whilelivinginatime,placeandculturedevisedtosilenceher.Itisatriumphofstorytellingbothtimelyandtimeless,fromamasterfulwriterattheheightofherpowers.
