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Piranesi cover art

Piranesi

Written by: Susanna Clarke
Narrated by: Chiwetel Ejiofor
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Publisher's Summary

Bloomsbury presents Piranesi by Susanna Clarke, read by Chiwetel Ejiofor.

Winner of the 2021 Audie Awards Audiobook of the Year.

Winner of the 2021 Women's Prize for Fiction.

Shortlisted for The Costa Novel of The Year Award.

A Sunday Times and New York Times best seller.

Chosen as A Book of The Year by the Times, Guardian, Observer, Daily Telegraph, Financial Times, I Paper, New Statesman, Spectator, Time Magazine, Times Literary Supplement, BBC Culture, Netgalley and the Church Times.

The spectacular new audiobook from the best-selling author of Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, ‘one of our greatest living authors,’ New York Magazine.

Piranesi lives in the House. Perhaps he always has.

In his notebooks, day after day, he makes a clear and careful record of its wonders: the labyrinth of halls, the thousands upon thousands of statues, the tides that thunder up staircases, the clouds that move in slow procession through the upper halls. On Tuesdays and Fridays Piranesi sees his friend, the Other. At other times he brings tributes of food to the Dead. But mostly, he is alone.

Messages begin to appear, scratched out in chalk on the pavements. There is someone new in the House. But who are they and what do they want? Are they a friend or do they bring destruction and madness as the Other claims?

Lost texts must be found, secrets must be uncovered. The world that Piranesi thought he knew is becoming strange and dangerous.

The beauty of the House is immeasurable; its kindness infinite.

©2020 Susanna Clarke (P)2020 Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

What the critics say

"What a world Susanna Clarke conjures into being.... Piranesi is an exquisite puzzle-box." (David Mitchell)

"It’s always great to have some fiction to heartily recommend, and while there’s been stiff competition this year, Piranesi by Susanna Clarke has won out in the end. A masterful work of weird fiction, it’s a novel that grips, perplexes and moves you, usually all at once!" (Observer, The Best Books of 2020)

"The fiction, nonfiction and poetry that deepened our understanding, ignited our curiosity and helped us escape.... For fantasy readers often eager to get lost in mystical worlds and escape the complications of real life, Piranesi’s predicament deeply resonates." (Time, Books of the Year)

Featured Article: 18 Award-Winning Audiobooks by Female Authors That Will Excite and Inspire You

Discover the best of the best from female authors with this list of audiobooks created by strong women voices. From historical fiction to contemporary love stories, this list has it all.

What listeners say about Piranesi

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  • Amy
  • 2023-10-08

Gloriously mysterious and gripping!

It was easy for me to binge listen to this audiobook. From Chiwetel Ejiofor's incredible performance to Clarke's ability to drop you into the world of this story with ease and poetic elegance. I hung onto every word, every moment, every shred of information. Written beautifully in a manner that keeps you guessing and wanting more, Clarke is a talented writer that will inspire you to desire the thrill of being lost within the unknown.

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An Incredible Work

I've read about 150 fantasy novels in the last 10 years. I think this one is my favourite. I've never read something that captures a world within a world the way the author does in this book.

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Immaculate Vibes

I feel like everyone should go in blind and enjoy the ride cause this a trip worth taking.

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Couldn’t Stop Listening!

This is truly an audible treat—a gripping story beautifully performed. Much to ponder about human capacity and capability. Very well suited to be listened to, rather than read. Can’t wait for Susanna Clarke’s next one!

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Lyrical, challenging, extraordinary

Very unique, strange and compelling. I am so pleased I came to this book with no knowledge about it, just that so many people have raved about it on Instagram.

Truly magical.

And the ending was perfection.

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Beautiful story and mesmerizing narration.

I loved this story. I also loved the choice of narrator. At the beginning I wasn’t sure I was going to like it because I was a bit confused as to what was going on but very quickly I was completely immersed in the story, I looked forward to listening to this every evening and I was disappointed when it ended. I wanted more of the story (in a good way).

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Takes a moment to get into…

… but when you do, wow. What a beautiful book. By the time I got to the end, I wanted to read it again.

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Entrancing

From what place does such a story arise, I wonder? from knowing? Understanding? Hoping? Brilliant.

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Dreamy & disruptive

The reader is perfect for this book. The story has mythology, skewed universes and yet is intimate and warm. I cannot recommend enough, I am sad to move away from the main character now that I have finished the book.

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slow start, but after that I was hooked!

This was my very first audiobook, I quote enjoyed the narrator! the buildup in the beginning was curious and quite slow but once it picked up it had my full attention! very well written and painted a beautiful picture in my head.

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