Listen to a sample
Demon Copperhead
- Author
- Barbara Kingsolver
- Narrator
- Charlie Thurston
- Publisher
- Faber & Faber
- Publish Date
- 18 October 2022
- Run Time
- 21 hours 3 minutes
- Format
- x-book®
- Rating
- 5.0 (21 reviews)
Not available in your country
We don't have the rights to sell this audiobook where you are. If it's already in your library you can still listen to it in My Books.
What to expect
**A
SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER**
A masterful recasting of David Copperfield,
narrated by an Appalachian boy whose wise, unwavering voice relates his encounters with poverty, addiction, institutional failures and moral collapse-and his efforts to conquer them. - the Pulitzer
WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE FOR FICTION
TWICE WINNER OF THE WOMEN'S PRIZE
SHORTLISTED FOR THE ORWELL PRIZE FOR POLITICAL FICTION
SHORTLISTED FOR THE JAMES TAIT BLACK PRIZE FOR FICTION
THE MULTI-MILLION COPY SELLING AUTHOR
BOOK AT BEDTIME ON BBC RADIO 4
AN OPRAH'S BOOK CLUB PICK
WITH OVER 29,000 5* REVIEWS
'Extraordinary.' OPRAH
'She means to save us by telling us stories. . . She comes closer than anyone else I know.' ANN PATCHETT
'Electrifying. . . Every sentence here sizzles.
'
Daily Mail
'It's EPIC. Righteously angry, DEEPLY moving and exquisitely written.' MARIAN KEYES
____________
Demon Copperhead is a once-in-a-generation novel that breaks and mends your heart in the way only the best fiction can.
Demon's story begins with his traumatic birth to a single mother in a single-wide trailer, looking 'like a little blue prizefighter.' For the life ahead of him he would need all of that fighting spirit, along with buckets of charm, a quick wit, and some unexpected talents, legal and otherwise.
In the southern Appalachian Mountains of Virginia, poverty isn't an idea, it's as natural as the grass grows. For a generation growing up in this world, at the heart of the modern opioid crisis, addiction isn't an abstraction, it's neighbours, parents, and friends. 'Family' could mean love, or reluctant foster care. For Demon, born on the wrong side of luck, the affection and safety he craves is as remote as the ocean he dreams of seeing one day. The wonder is in how far he's willing to travel to try and get there.
Suffused with truth, anger and compassion,
Demon Copperhead is an epic tale of love, loss and everything in between.
'Legit about to get an 'I'd rather be reading
Demon Copperhead' sticker for my Nissan Murano.' ROB DELANEY
____________
What readers are saying:
*****
'An amazing, beautifully written story I cannot wait to recommend to everyone I know.'
*****
'Powerful and brilliant. To immerse yourself in a Kingsolver novel is to put yourself in the hands of a master.'
*****
'A must read and heart-opening book.'
*****
'Raw, angry, starkly beautiful. . . Genuinely one of the best books I've ever read.'
*****
'Amazingly complex. . . [Kingsolver] is, by far, one of the greatest living authors'
User Reviews
Book 5.0
Narration 4.8
-
5.0 5.0
OMG! What a wonderful book! Listened to it in the car and had to pull over a couple of times, I was so absorbed and move. Brilliantly narrated, but will read it in book form next year to savour the prose. Totally recommend this book!
Reggie 2024-10-16 -
5.0 5.0
Heartbreaking tale of extreme poverty and the effects on the children born into it. Enjoyed the narration of this very long book.
susiesocial 2024-04-08 -
5.0 5.0
This is an incredibly emotional read. The prose is so beautiful and really shone a light on the opioid crisis in America. Wonderful narration, completely immersive.
bazzalucy 2024-02-26 -
5.0 5.0
Incredible!
helenwellbeloved 2024-01-21
See more reviews See fewer reviews
-
5.0 5.0
A brilliantly updated David Copperfield. Sometimes I listen to an audiobook and wish I’d read it myself, as the text is great but the narration is poor, but for me this was a great combination of masterful text and narration together, I found myself listening at every opportunity. Excellent.
monoped 2023-10-04 -
5.0 5.0
Gosh, this was a riveting read. Distressing but engaging at the same time. Much more powerful to hear this history through the voice a fictional character. The narrator’s voice really added to the experience and I found it lingered with me through the sections I read rather than listened to. My first Barbara Kingsolver but undoubtedly not my last.
Jen313 2023-09-02 -
5.0 5.0
Love this book, and the most perfect narration. It’s Dickens’ David Copperfield retold in modern life from the viewpoint of a boy growing up in western Virginia in the late 20th century. It’s a clever interpretation of the orphan story in the context of the modern American epidemics of OxyContin and methamphetamine addiction, and the general decline of the mining industry in the region. It seems relevant to most post-industrial cities that feel a bit left behind.
kellifb 2023-07-17 -
5.0 5.0
If I could give this book 6-stars, I would. One of the best reading/listening experiences I've had.
Truly beautiful, eye-opening, heartbreaking and uplifting. This is a book that will sit with you for a long time. Make this your next read!megchaplin 2023-07-09 -
5.0 5.0
I absolutely loved this book. Kingsolver is a writer of towering stature and blistering, angry compassion. Outstanding. The narration totally does the book justice. Best eight quid I've spent in ages. Listen to it or read it. You won't be sorry.
BernieBarclay 2023-06-29 -
5.0 5.0
A wonderful feast of a book brilliantly read.
ronya 2023-03-21
Details
- Author
- Barbara Kingsolver
- Narrator
- Charlie Thurston
- Duration
- 21 hours 3 minutes
- Release Date
- 18 October 2022
- ISBN
- 9780571376506
- Format
- x-book®
- Publisher
- Faber & Faber
- Genre
- Modern and contemporary fiction: literary and general, Fiction: literary and general non-genre
- Rating
- 5.0(21 reviews)
- Narration
- 4.8(21 reviews)
Synopsis
**A SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER** A masterful recasting of David Copperfield, narrated by an Appalachian boy whose wise, unwavering voice relates his encounters with poverty, addiction, institutional failures and moral collapse-and his efforts to conquer them. - the Pulitzer WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE FOR FICTION TWICE WINNER OF THE WOMEN'S PRIZE SHORTLISTED FOR THE ORWELL PRIZE FOR POLITICAL FICTION SHORTLISTED FOR THE JAMES TAIT BLACK PRIZE FOR FICTION THE MULTI-MILLION COPY SELLING AUTHOR BOOK AT BEDTIME ON BBC RADIO 4 AN OPRAH'S BOOK CLUB PICK WITH OVER 29,000 5* REVIEWS 'Extraordinary.' OPRAH 'She means to save us by telling us stories. . . She comes closer than anyone else I know.' ANN PATCHETT 'Electrifying. . . Every sentence here sizzles. ' Daily Mail 'It's EPIC. Righteously angry, DEEPLY moving and exquisitely written.' MARIAN KEYES ____________ Demon Copperhead is a once-in-a-generation novel that breaks and mends your heart in the way only the best fiction can. Demon's story begins with his traumatic birth to a single mother in a single-wide trailer, looking 'like a little blue prizefighter.' For the life ahead of him he would need all of that fighting spirit, along with buckets of charm, a quick wit, and some unexpected talents, legal and otherwise. In the southern Appalachian Mountains of Virginia, poverty isn't an idea, it's as natural as the grass grows. For a generation growing up in this world, at the heart of the modern opioid crisis, addiction isn't an abstraction, it's neighbours, parents, and friends. 'Family' could mean love, or reluctant foster care. For Demon, born on the wrong side of luck, the affection and safety he craves is as remote as the ocean he dreams of seeing one day. The wonder is in how far he's willing to travel to try and get there. Suffused with truth, anger and compassion, Demon Copperhead is an epic tale of love, loss and everything in between. 'Legit about to get an 'I'd rather be reading Demon Copperhead' sticker for my Nissan Murano.' ROB DELANEY ____________ What readers are saying: ***** 'An amazing, beautifully written story I cannot wait to recommend to everyone I know.' ***** 'Powerful and brilliant. To immerse yourself in a Kingsolver novel is to put yourself in the hands of a master.' ***** 'A must read and heart-opening book.' ***** 'Raw, angry, starkly beautiful. . . Genuinely one of the best books I've ever read.' ***** 'Amazingly complex. . . [Kingsolver] is, by far, one of the greatest living authors'
About xigxag and the x-book®
xigxag is an independent, UK-based audiobook platform and the UK's only B Corp certified audiobook company. We offer nearly 150,000 audiobooks, all with professional human narration. No AI-generated voices. xigxag is rated an Ethical Consumer Best Buy for audiobooks and a top-rated ethical bookshop.
Our x-book® format is the only fully integrated listen-and-read experience available. See the text on screen as you listen, look up words, take notes, search within the book, and share quotes. It is especially useful for accessibility, language learning, and getting more from non-fiction. Look for the purple x-book® ribbon on the cover, or filter your search by "x-book" to find them.
There is no subscription. You buy the audiobooks you want, you own them permanently, and prices start at $13.95. The more you listen over the year, the less you pay per book, and there is always a selection in Listen for Less from $7.95. You can also send audiobooks as gifts using our audiobook gift cards or in-app gifting.
Every audiobook on xigxag has honest reviews covering both the book and the narration, and our community features make it easy to share what you are listening to, discover what others recommend, and find your next listen.
Download or stream on iOS, Android, or in your browser. Browse the full catalogue at xigxag.co.uk.