A Brightness Long Ago cover art

A Brightness Long Ago

 Preview
Try Premium Plus free
1 credit a month to buy any audiobook in our entire collection.
Access to thousands of additional audiobooks and Originals from the Plus Catalogue.
Member-only deals & discounts.
Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

A Brightness Long Ago

By: Guy Gavriel Kay
Narrated by: Mr Simon Vance
Try Premium Plus free

Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $26.99

Buy Now for $26.99

About this listen

Internationally best-selling author Guy Gavriel Kay's latest work is set in a world evoking early Renaissance Italy, with an extraordinary cast of characters.

In a chamber overlooking the nighttime waterways of a maritime city, a man looks back on his youth and the people who shaped his life. Danio Cerra's intelligence won him entry to a renowned school, though he was only the son of a tailor. He took service at the court of a ruling count - and soon learned why that man was known as The Beast.

Danio's fate changed the moment he recognised Adria Ripoli as she entered the count's chambers one night - intending to kill. Born to power, Adria had chosen a life of danger - and freedom - instead.

Other vivid figures share the story: a healer determined to defy her expected lot; a charming, frivolous son of immense wealth; a religious leader more decadent than devout; and, affecting these lives and many more, two mercenary commanders, whose rivalry puts a world in the balance.

A Brightness Long Ago offers both compelling drama and deeply moving reflections on the nature of memory, the choices we make in life, and the role played by the turning of Fortune's wheel.

©2019 Guy Gavriel Kay (P)2019 Hodder & Stoughton Limited Fantasy Historical Military Fiction

Critic Reviews

Praise for Guy Gavriel Kay: "The greatest living author of epic fantasy." (Brandon Sanderson)

"Contemporary fiction's finest fantasist." (Tor.com)

"One of the (if not the) premiere fantasists of our time." (The Financial Times)
All stars
Most relevant  
Beautifully crafted, poignant tale of adventure. The book describes a sophisticated and dangerous world where one's every move are a matter of life or death. The narrator is gifed and a very good choice. This was my first audio novel. I will buy another audio book by this author for sure.

Got hooked early!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Wow once more the duo : narrator Simon Vance and author Guy Gabriel Kay create a masterpiece. A story to savour.

A Masterpiece

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Lovable characters, intrigue - excellent storytelling with beautiful writing and narration. On to the next book!

Such a brightness!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
The subtleties in these books are almost overwhelming. As enjoyable on the second read, perhaps more so, than the first.

Another perfect story

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
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.