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  • The Color Purple

  • By: Alice Walker
  • Narrated by: Alice Walker
  • Length: 7 hrs and 58 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (238 ratings)

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The Color Purple

By: Alice Walker
Narrated by: Alice Walker
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Publisher's Summary

Winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award, this novel about a resilient and courageous woman has become a Broadway show and a cultural phenomenon.

A PBS Great American Read Top 100 Pick

Celie has grown up poor in rural Georgia, despised by the society around her and abused by her own family. She strives to protect her sister, Nettie, from a similar fate, and while Nettie escapes to a new life as a missionary in Africa, Celie is left behind without her best friend and confidante, married off to an older suitor, and sentenced to a life alone with a harsh and brutal husband.

In an attempt to transcend a life that often seems too much to bear, Celie begins writing letters directly to God. The letters, spanning 20 years, record a journey of self-discovery and empowerment guided by the light of a few strong women. She meets Shug Avery, her husband’s mistress and a jazz singer with a zest for life, and her stepson’s wife, Sophia, who challenges her to fight for independence. And though the many letters from Celie’s sister are hidden by her husband, Nettie’s unwavering support will prove to be the most breathtaking of all

The Color Purple has sold more than five million copies, inspired an Academy Award-nominated film starring Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey and directed by Steven Spielberg, and been adapted into a Tony-nominated Broadway musical. Lauded as a literary masterpiece, this is the groundbreaking novel that placed Walker “in the company of Faulkner” (The Nation) and remains a wrenching - yet intensely uplifting - experience for new generations of listeners.

©1982 Alice Walker (P)2018 Audible, Inc.

What listeners say about The Color Purple

Average Customer Ratings
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Immersive

Alice took us right into the experience without rancour. Not overdone. Just perfect. The movie was great, The book better. Thank you Alice.

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2 people found this helpful

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Beautiful and vulnerable

A masterpiece read, much deeper than the movie dares treat yourself to this queer classic

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Timeless

Such a fantastic novel and the narrator wasn’t wasted on this. I enjoyed every inch of listening to her and the journey of each character. Could not recommend this enough.

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3 people found this helpful

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Beautiful

Oh my goodness. What a truly beautiful and amazing book. I have always loved the movie, and was thrilled that the movie had followed the book so faithfully. But to hear it, read by the author was a truly moving experience.

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A very special book

Really quite a special story. So many things to think about after finishing it. Observant about the attitude of black Africans to black missionaries at the time.

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Riveting

I could not put my phone away. I thoroughly enjoyed going through the characters journey. Such beautiful story telling.

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Incredible

Alice Walker brings to life her stunning and raw novel with absolute perfection. A must read before you watch the movie!

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Outstanding

This is the most beautiful story. It made me rethink my whole view of the world and our place in it. If you want to understand ‘show, don’t tell’ then read this book. If you want to understand the experience of black women everywhere, read this book. If you are questioning traditional western religion, read it too. But if you just want a really great story … well this is still the book for you.

I cannot imagine how this was made into a film without losing so many of the wonderful philosophical ideas that are discussed in the story. I’m so glad to have read it before watching it.

Perfect narration by the author too.

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Even better than the Movie

Wow I absolutely love the movie Colour Purple and have watched it many many times. But this book was fantastic and said the real story. Please read xx

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Love that the author narrates

Beautiful story. Highly recommend. So lovely to hear the author narrate. Feel like I lived this journey too.

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3 people found this helpful

In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.