About this ebook
The No. 1 New York Times bestseller. A powerful and extraordinary novel about the unlikely friendship between two exceptional women during the last years of slavery in the US. From the celebrated author of the multi-million-copy-bestselling novel The Secret Life of Bees.
'Fascinating... A splendid tribute to a pair of true heroines' The Times
'Wonderful - well-written, moving and engaging by turns, and always compelling' Daily Mail
'A remarkable novel that heightened my sense of what it meant to be a woman - slave or free' Oprah Winfrey
'A resonant, illuminating novel' Observer
Sarah Grimké is the middle daughter. Her mother says she's difficult and her father says she's remarkable. On Sarah's eleventh birthday, Hetty 'Handful' Grimké is taken from the slave quarters she shares with her mother, wrapped in lavender ribbons, and presented to Sarah as a gift. Sarah knows that what she does next will unleash a world of trouble. She also knows that she cannot accept another person as a present. And so, indeed, the trouble begins ...
A powerful, sweeping novel, inspired by real events, and set in the American Deep South in the nineteenth century, The Invention of Wings evokes a world of shocking contrasts, of beauty and ugliness, of otherwise respectable people living daily with cruelty they fail to recognise; and celebrates the power of friendship and sisterhood against all the odds.
What readers say about The Invention of Wings:
'You cannot fault Sue Monk Kidd's writing; she very adeptly speaks with both Sarah and Handful's voice. The pictures she paints are vivid, compelling and haunting; this is not a novel I will easily forget' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars
'I was not expecting this book to grab my heartstrings and pull the way that it did' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars
'The weaving of fact and fiction into a powerful novel covering abolition of slavery, women's ambitions in 19th century America, love, family, betrayal and hope for a better future make compelling reading' Amazon reviewer, 5 stars
'Unforgettable. This book was completely and utterly dynamic. From the first word to the last I was enthralled with Sarah and Handful. So powerful' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars
'Fascinating... A splendid tribute to a pair of true heroines' The Times
'Wonderful - well-written, moving and engaging by turns, and always compelling' Daily Mail
'A remarkable novel that heightened my sense of what it meant to be a woman - slave or free' Oprah Winfrey
'A resonant, illuminating novel' Observer
Sarah Grimké is the middle daughter. Her mother says she's difficult and her father says she's remarkable. On Sarah's eleventh birthday, Hetty 'Handful' Grimké is taken from the slave quarters she shares with her mother, wrapped in lavender ribbons, and presented to Sarah as a gift. Sarah knows that what she does next will unleash a world of trouble. She also knows that she cannot accept another person as a present. And so, indeed, the trouble begins ...
A powerful, sweeping novel, inspired by real events, and set in the American Deep South in the nineteenth century, The Invention of Wings evokes a world of shocking contrasts, of beauty and ugliness, of otherwise respectable people living daily with cruelty they fail to recognise; and celebrates the power of friendship and sisterhood against all the odds.
What readers say about The Invention of Wings:
'You cannot fault Sue Monk Kidd's writing; she very adeptly speaks with both Sarah and Handful's voice. The pictures she paints are vivid, compelling and haunting; this is not a novel I will easily forget' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars
'I was not expecting this book to grab my heartstrings and pull the way that it did' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars
'The weaving of fact and fiction into a powerful novel covering abolition of slavery, women's ambitions in 19th century America, love, family, betrayal and hope for a better future make compelling reading' Amazon reviewer, 5 stars
'Unforgettable. This book was completely and utterly dynamic. From the first word to the last I was enthralled with Sarah and Handful. So powerful' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars
Ratings and reviews
4.2
81 reviews
c/o bibba
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February 8, 2014
A very beautifully told story of two women, very engaging. One of those books that you don't want to come to an end, but cannot wait to read on.
1 person found this review helpful
Reboni Saha
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October 21, 2016
I preferred the secret life of bees but this book is enlightening especially about society and slavery then. What piqued my curiosity was the stand of the quaker belief system against slavery, quite advanced for its day. This is inspired by the real story of America's first feminists.
2 people found this review helpful
jan baylor
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July 2, 2016
Great book and a reminder that not all women were ruled by men. Harrowing information on punishment for slaves. This should never ever happen again.
2 people found this review helpful
About the author
Sue Monk Kidd's first novel, THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES, spent 2.5 years on the New York Times bestseller list, and has sold over 8 million copies worldwide. THE MERMAID CHAIR, THE INVENTION OF WINGS and THE BOOK OF LONGINGS were all New York Times bestsellers. THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES was long-listed for the Orange Prize (now the Women's Prize for Fiction), and was turned into an award-winning film. Sue is also the author of several acclaimed non-fiction books including the New York Times bestseller TRAVELLING WITH POMEGRANATES, co-written with her daughter Ann Kidd Taylor. Sue lives in Florida with her husband Sandy. www.suemonkkidd.com Twitter @suemonkkidd
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