Book of Longings

FROM THE NUMBER ONE New York Times BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF The Secret Life of Bees AND The Invention of Wings'Superlative . . . From a writer at the top of her game . . . A practically perfect historical novel' New York Journal of Books'A bold, imaginative reworking' Sunday Times'Brilliant . . . Brava!"e, The Daily Mail'Fascinating . . . Clever, rebellious Ana is a memorable character' The Times'I am Ana. I was the wife of Jesus.' Ana is a rebellious young woman, a gifted writer with a curious, brilliant mind, who writes secret narratives about the neglected and silenced women around her. Raised in a wealthy family in Galilee, she is sheltered from the brutality of Rome's occupation of Israel. Ana is expected to marry an elderly widower to further her father's ambitions, a prospect that horrifies her. A chance encounter with the eighteen-year-old Jesus changes everything: his ideas and his passion are intoxicating. Taking Ana on a journey she could never have imagined, The Book of Longings is a glorious evocation of a time and a place where astounding events unfolded, and of one woman's fate when she fights to make her voice heard.'I kept having to close this novel and breathe deeply, again and again . . . It is a true masterpiece' Glennon Doyle, author of Untamed'Unleashes the reader's imagination with glorious evocations of extraordinary times and places, allowing our minds to roam . . . Original, challenging, beautiful' Adele Parks, Platinum'Compelling . . . Ana is a truly wonderful character, strong and inspiring, and her life story so captivating that it swept me along' Good HousekeepingOver 10 million readers have devoured Sue Monk Kidd's novels. Here's why: 'A wonderful book . . . Funny, sad and full of incident' Daily Telegraph'Wonderfully written, poignant and humorous' Joanna Trollope'Masterly . . . A story about empowering women to change the world . . . A remarkable novel' Chicago Tribune