A Short Walk Through a Wide World

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What to expect

Brought to you by Penguin.

If you could never stay, where would you go? – a dazzlingly epic debut novel that charts the adventurous life of one woman as she journeys the globe to outrun a mysterious curse

Paris, 1885: Aubry Tourvel, a spoiled and stubborn nine-year-old girl, comes across a wooden puzzle ball on her walk home from school. She tosses it over the fence, only to find it in her satchel that evening. Days later, at the family dinner table, she begins to succumb to a mysterious illness.

When a visit to a doctor only makes her worse, she flees to the outskirts of the city, where she realises that it is this very act of movement that keeps her alive. And so begins her incredible lifelong journey on the run from her condition.

From the scorched dunes of the Calanshio Sand Sea to the snow-packed peaks of the Himalayas; from a bottomless well in a Parisian courtyard, to the shelves of an infinite underground library, we follow Aubry as she learns what it takes to survive and, ultimately, to truly live. But the longer she wanders, the clearer it becomes that the world she travels through may not be quite the same as everyone else’s…

©2024 Douglas Westerbeke (P)2024 Penguin Audio

Critics Review

  • A gorgeous ode to wanderlust… Douglas Westerbeke’s dazzling debut takes readers on a thought-provoking journey through cultures and timelines…and also, through a mysterious cave-bound library. I savored every page of this book!

    SHELBY VAN PELT, bestselling author of Remarkably Bright Creatures

  • From a stint on a Greek fishing vessel, to a love affair on the Trans-Siberian Railroad, to solo sojourns in impossible libraries seemingly located outside of space and time… A hopeful tale of improbable friendships, whirlwind romances, and unexpected joy

    Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

  • A shining story. . . with exciting twists and prose that feels like legend, this is an essential read for anyone looking to renew their lust for life. Perfect for fans of Matt Haig and V.E. Schwab

    Barnes & Noble

  • A one-of-a-kind love letter to nature, humanity, and the stories we all carry within ourselves. Westerbeke’s engrossing, assured debut will enchant fans of Erin Morgenstern and Alix Harrow

    Booklist (starred review)

  • A wild romping adventure, a poignant tale of relationships and interconnectedness, and a compelling journey of self-discovery. A Short Walk Through a Wide World is utterly engrossing, a world – worlds – to get lost in… every reader will find something to love

    Shelf Awareness

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