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Piranesi

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Piranesi

By: Susanna Clarke
Narrated by: Chiwetel Ejiofor
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About this listen

Bloomsbury presents Piranesi by Susanna Clarke, read by Chiwetel Ejiofor.

WINNER OF THE WOMEN'S PRIZE 2021
WINNER OF THE KITSCHIES' 2021
SHORTLISTED FOR THE COSTA NOVEL OF THE YEAR AWARD
A SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
CHOSEN AS A BOOK OF THE YEAR BY THE THE TIMES, GUARDIAN, OBSERVER, DAILY TELEGRAPH, FINANCIAL TIMES, i PAPER, NEW STATESMAN, SPECTATOR, TIME MAGAZINE, TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT, BBC CULTURE, NETGALLEY AND THE CHURCH TIMES

The spectacular new novel from the bestselling author of JONATHAN STRANGE & MR NORRELL, ‘one of our greatest living authors’ New York Magazine

Piranesi lives in the House. Perhaps he always has.

In his notebooks, day after day, he makes a clear and careful record of its wonders: the labyrinth of halls, the thousands upon thousands of statues, the tides that thunder up staircases, the clouds that move in slow procession through the upper halls. On Tuesdays and Fridays Piranesi sees his friend, the Other. At other times he brings tributes of food to the Dead. But mostly, he is alone.

Messages begin to appear, scratched out in chalk on the pavements. There is someone new in the House. But who are they and what do they want? Are they a friend or do they bring destruction and madness as the Other claims?

Lost texts must be found; secrets must be uncovered. The world that Piranesi thought he knew is becoming strange and dangerous.

The Beauty of the House is immeasurable; its Kindness infinite.

*****

'What a world Susanna Clarke conjures into being … Piranesi is an exquisite puzzle-box' DAVID MITCHELL
‘It subverts expectations throughout … Utterly otherworldly’ Guardian
'Piranesi astonished me. It is a miraculous and luminous feat of storytelling' MADELINE MILLER
‘Brilliantly singular’ Sunday Times
'A gorgeous, spellbinding mystery … This book is a treasure, washed up upon a forgotten shore, waiting to be discovered' ERIN MORGENSTERN
‘Head-spinning … Fully imagined and richly evoked’ Telegraph

©2020 Susanna Clarke (P)2020 Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Dark Fantasy Fantasy Fiction Literary Fiction Heartfelt Mind-Bending

What listeners say about Piranesi

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Beautifully read, beautifully written

Piranesi is a beautifully written fiction that touches on concepts of perceived reality, personal truths and mental health. It’s brought to life so well by Chiwetel Ejiofor. I went into it with no prior knowledge, and was enamoured the whole time. Fully recommend.

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surprising

Purchased this by mistake- I know it is a 2 step process , but I still managed to do it. So glad I did though. Wonderful story, well defined characters and the narration was perfect. You won't be sorry if you read this even if it is not your usual genre. Do yourself a favour

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Wonderful rich book

So full of beautiful imagery and almost whimsical descriptions which totally countered the dark content. Narration was superb!

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Enthralling. great writing and narration

this book is like a window into another world. as you follow the main characters perspective you are taken on a journey and discover the plot unfold as he does. the world Susanna Clarke creates os so well described and imagined that it feels real and believable. I would not have enjoyed this book as much in written form as the narrator does an absolutely excellent job and ads so much emotion and expression u just wouldn't get in writing. this book, although very much fantasy, really makes u look at the world around you differently and at people with more empathy.

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Piranesi

The narrator's voice is engaging yet relaxing all at once and I loved the characters. Cannot recommend this title enough.

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Brilliant

I love this style of semi-real, semi-other worldly story. The narration is incredible, I often choose audio books by narrator nowadays and I was sad to find I couldn't fine another narration by Chiwetel Ejoifor. I hope he does many more. The story is quite literary, and whilst it does have action and intrigue, there is much poetry of life to listen to first.

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Hauntingly beautiful and touching

I struggled through the first section of this book, but based on the advice of other readers kept on while the world was brought to life. I'm so glad, this was definitely my favourite book of the year, and may even be one of my favourite books ever. Hauntingly beautiful, I found this novel both deeply moving and addictive - one I'm sure I will return to.

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Wonderful!

This is a deeply engrossing mystery set in a wondrous alternative universe. Susanna Clarke's writing is so beautifully evocative that Piranesi, the House and its statues and tides will stay with me for a long time. I was completely entranced by the narration. Altogether wonderful!

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Loved it

It was a really wonderful book and the best of narrations. I really enjoyed it.

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fabulous fantastical creation of the imagination

wow! this is like no other story I have encountered before. wonderful story telling, evoking a whole mentality befitting a wondrous place

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