The Nightingale

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What to expect

The Bestselling Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick

'One of the greatest storytellers of our time' – Delia Owens
, author of Where the Crawdads Sing

Soon to be a major motion picture, Kristin Hannah's The Nightingale has captured the hearts of millions of readers becoming a number one bestseller across the world. It is a heart-breakingly beautiful novel that celebrates the resilience of the human spirit and the endurance of women.

'
I always thought it was what I wanted: to be loved and admired. Now I think perhaps I’d like to be known'

This story is about what it was like to be a woman during World War II, when women’s stories were all too often forgotten or overlooked . . . Vianne and Isabelle Mauriac are two sisters, separated by years and experience, by ideals and passion and circumstance, each embarking on her own dangerous path towards survival, love and freedom in war-torn France.

It is a novel for everyone, a novel for a lifetime.

‘A rich, compelling novel of love, sacrifice and survival’ Kate Morton, author of Homecoming

‘Movingly written and plotted with the heartless skill of a Greek tragedy, you’ll keep turning the pages until the last racking sob’ Daily Mail

‘I loved The Nightingale . . . great characters, great plots, great emotions, who could ask for more in a novel?’ Isabel Allende, bestselling author of A Long Petal of the Sea

‘A griping tale of family, love, grief and forgiveness’ Sunday Express

The Nightingale has sold more than 4 million copies globally, TIME, February 2021

Critics Review

A rich, compelling novel of love, sacrifice and survival
Kate Morton, author of Homecoming and The Lake House
Utterly compelling, powerful and unforgettable Kristin Hannah is an exquisite storyteller. The Nightingale is one of those rare must read books that will forever nestle in your heart . . .
Christy Lefteri, bestselling author of The Beekeeper of Aleppo
I loved The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah, a talented writer of American stories; great characters, great plots, great emotions, who could ask for more in a novel?
Isabel Allende, bestselling author of A Long Petal of the Sea and Violeta
Beautifully written . . . packed with action and emotion
Sara Gruen, bestselling author of Water for Elephants
The real horrors of war, the deprivations, the risks are all there . . . This is a hauntingly tragic yet sympathetic novel
Cape Times
An unforgettable portrait of love and war
People
The bestselling author hits her stride in this page-turning tale about two sisters, one in the French countryside, the other in Paris, who show remarkable courage in the German occupation during WWII . . . The author ably depicts war’s horrors through the eyes of these two women, whose strength of character shines through no matter their differences
Publishers Weekly
A respectful and absorbing page-turner
Kirkus Reviews
The suspense builds slowly in this thought-provoking and absorbing novel
Choice

User Reviews

Book 4.8
Narration 4.8
5.0
5.0
A book I struggled to switch off when I had to do something, a story that kept me intrigued till the end. A time we should never forget and one that should be foremost in people inflicting war on others today.
jeannette 28/10/2025
4.0
5.0
Excellent novel with strong narrative which kept me absorbed from beginning to end.
gibbonsdeirdre 23/08/2025
5.0
4.0
Really enjoyed this book. Such a captivating story.
crissiesky 04/03/2025
5.0
5.0
Phenomenal! I cannot even begin to describe how good this is. I do not know how it is that Kristin Hannah makes you care so wholly for her characters, how she makes your happiness and their happiness so intrinsically linked, it is absolutely incredible how she does this. This book might be my new favourite book and I have read a lot of books. Thank you Kristin Hannah for creating a masterpiece.
Helenw102 07/09/2024

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