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The Great Alone

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The Great Alone

Written by: Kristin Hannah
Narrated by: Julia Whelan
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About this listen

The number one New York Times best seller

The newest audiobook sensation from Kristin Hannah, best-selling author of The Nightingale.

This program is read by acclaimed narrator Julia Whelan, whose enchanting voice brought Gone Girl and Fates and Furies to life. Kristin Hannah reads the acknowledgements.

Alaska, 1974. Unpredictable. Unforgiving. Untamed.

For a family in crisis, the ultimate test of survival.

Ernt Allbright, a former POW, comes home from the Vietnam war a changed and volatile man. When he loses yet another job, he makes an impulsive decision: He will move his family north, to Alaska, where they will live off the grid in America’s last true frontier. Thirteen-year-old Leni, a girl coming of age in a tumultuous time, caught in the riptide of her parents’ passionate, stormy relationship, dares to hope that a new land will lead to a better future for her family. She is desperate for a place to belong. Her mother, Cora, will do anything and go anywhere for the man she loves, even if means following him into the unknown.

At first, Alaska seems to be the answer to their prayers. In a wild, remote corner of the state, they find a fiercely independent community of strong men and even stronger women. The long, sunlit days and the generosity of the locals make up for the Allbrights’ lack of preparation and dwindling resources. But as winter approaches and darkness descends on Alaska, Ernt’s fragile mental state deteriorates and the family begins to fracture. Soon the perils outside pale in comparison to threats from within. In their small cabin, covered in snow, blanketed in 18 hours of night, Leni and her mother learn the terrible truth: They are on their own. In the wild, there is no one to save them but themselves.

In this unforgettable portrait of human frailty and resilience, Kristin Hannah reveals the indomitable character of the modern American pioneer and the spirit of a vanishing Alaska - a place of incomparable beauty and danger.

The Great Alone is a daring, beautiful, stay-up-all-night audiobook about love and loss, the fight for survival, and the wildness that lives in both man and nature.

Praise for The Great Alone:

"Listeners, beware: You won't want to stop listening to narrator Julia Whelan's performance of this complex story of survival and family.... With pitch-perfect timing and a touch of drama, Whelan exquisitely builds the tension, creating an enveloping atmosphere of foreboding that's difficult to turn away from...a don't miss audiobook experience." (AudioFile Magazine)

"Reliably alluring...The Great Alone is packed with rapturous descriptions of Alaskan scenery.... Hannah remembers and summons an undeveloped wilderness, describing a gloriously pristine region in the days before cruise ships discovered it." (The New York Times Daily Review)

"Kristin Hannah's new novel makes Alaska sound equally gorgeous and treacherous - a glistening realm that lures folks into the wild and then kills them there." (The Washington Post)

©2017 Kristin Hannah (P)2017 Macmillan Audio
Genre Fiction Fiction Alaska Heartfelt Feel-Good Wilderness Wilderness Survival Stories
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What listeners say about The Great Alone

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Heart wrentching

I couldn't stop listening to this non stop story. the characters transported you to their world.

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one of my new favorite books!

Amazing book! I felt so connected to the characters and enchanted by Alaska. I laughed, cried and lived threw them. Highly recommend!

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A Great Story of Sacrifice and Family

Julia Whelan does a great job performing the various roles while taking us on a great ride as written by Kristin Hannah. Time just flew as we went through a journey of soul searching, survival and commitment. The description of the locations and the development and threading of the characters were extremely engaging. The story line was remarkable and the end was gripping. I highly recommend this book! #Audible1

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Emotional and entertaining

Great read, the narrator did a fantastic job of bring the characters to life. There were moments in the story that were an emotional roller-coaster and were difficult to listen to. A great story of love, life and hardship. Highly recommended.

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haunting

this book made me laugh cry lose sleep and kept me wanting to come back for more

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Captured remote life as if it were at my city door!

There are many reviews which are a bit sour about reading/listening about the domestic abuse mentioned throughout this book. Sadly, it is a part of this story and the story for many other families who escape to remote locations for various reasons. This author and narrator captured the beauty in the wildness of the wilderness, the strength of getting chores completed in rugged conditions and the weakness and/or strength that love (or perceived love) brings to the families living there. Thank you for capturing it in your brilliant writing and narration.

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Possibly my favourite read ever

So captivating. A must read. Characters so well described but Alaska. Her description of life in Alaska made the desire to be there so great. Truly so well written.

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excellent book

Loved it from start to finish, it brings Alaska alive. Would highly recommend and I would like to read more of her books.

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Excellent story!

I really liked how the character development allowed us to love each character.
The narrator was also easy to listen too.

Great all around book.

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fantastic

loved the story, great narrative, kept me engaged. characters were true to life. loved it

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