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Piranesi cover art

Piranesi

Written by: Susanna Clarke
Narrated by: Chiwetel Ejiofor
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Publisher's Summary

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

Winner of the 2021 Audie Awards Audiobook of the Year.

Winner of the 2021 Women's Prize for Fiction.

Shortlisted for The Costa Novel of The Year Award.

A Sunday Times and New York Times best seller.

Chosen as A Book of The Year by 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 audiobook from the best-selling 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.

©2020 Susanna Clarke (P)2020 Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

Critic Reviews

"What a world Susanna Clarke conjures into being.... Piranesi is an exquisite puzzle-box." (David Mitchell)

"It’s always great to have some fiction to heartily recommend, and while there’s been stiff competition this year, Piranesi by Susanna Clarke has won out in the end. A masterful work of weird fiction, it’s a novel that grips, perplexes and moves you, usually all at once!" (Observer, The Best Books of 2020)

"The fiction, nonfiction and poetry that deepened our understanding, ignited our curiosity and helped us escape.... For fantasy readers often eager to get lost in mystical worlds and escape the complications of real life, Piranesi’s predicament deeply resonates." (Time, Books of the Year)

What listeners say about Piranesi

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Magical Realism!

I haven't read much from this genre before but this was a good book to try out. it gets darker as you go ahead & gives you stuff to think about. Enjoyed listening to it!

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  • Overall
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Aah...the innocence of Piranesi

Excellently done. Some terms and references do not make sense at the start but as things settle, you can't help but chuckle and smile at Piranesi's innocence. Wonderfully read too.

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  • Overall
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Let it wash all over you

This exceptionally performed Lynchian masterpiece will leave you spellbound. It's short, just be patient and it will reward you. Chiwetel Ejiofor is nothing short of a revelation with an absolutely beautiful portrayal of the lovely empathetic Piranesi. Hope he gets to play him in the eventual film adaptation too!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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A great tale told in an incredible voice

Chiwetel Ejiofor has a magical, mysterious and sombre voice, which made him perfect for narrating Piranesi. The story itself was superb, and I'm glad I listened to this audiobook while on a solo drive to the hills. Simply perfect.

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  • Overall
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Beautiful fantasy brought to life by the narrator

The writing is exceptionally good. It just flows, and then sucks you in. And then the performance takes the story to a whole new level. Give it about half an hour though. The initial descriptions can be a bit too much, but trust me, it all comes through.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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a unique story and a must read

it is a bit hard to imagine it at first but as you get through the book.. you will love it more and more.. the book is a puzzle to solve

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unique and interesting storyline

The book is super- great story telling with a highly engaging narrative. I started the book tentatively- how interesting can a book get with a premise which is contained within one house. I was in for a pleasant surprise. The narrator was amazing too...made the book all the more engaging.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Enjoyable

I love love loved Piranesi. Delightful magical realism. Fantastic performance. 5 stars, even though I didn’t understand everything fully ahahah

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  • Overall
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Exceptional

Simply brilliant. Extremely well written and excellent performance. From the very start the story keeps you hooked. Invites you to think along as the story raises some deep and fundamental philosophical questions. I finished it almost in one go it's that good. A must listen.

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Stupendous

Are you greater than the worlds you wander in, and what will become of you if you have to leave behind the world that both loves and imprisons you?

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