A History of Loneliness cover art

A History of Loneliness

 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 History of Loneliness

By: John Boyne
Narrated by: Owen McDonnell
Try Premium Plus free

$16.45 per month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $26.99

Buy Now for $26.99

About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

Odran Yates enters Clonliffe Seminary in 1972 after his mother informs him that he has a vocation to the priesthood. He goes in full of ambition and hope, dedicated to his studies and keen to make friends.

Forty years later, Odran’s devotion has been challenged by the revelations that have shattered the Irish people’s faith in the church. He has seen friends stand trial, colleagues jailed, the lives of young parishioners destroyed and has become nervous of venturing out in public for fear of disapproving stares and insulting remarks.

But when a family tragedy opens wounds from his past, he is forced to confront the demons that have raged within a once respected institution and recognise his own complicity in their propagation.

It has taken John Boyne 15 years and 12 novels to write about his home country of Ireland, but he has done so now in his most powerful novel to date, a novel about blind dogma and moral courage and about the dark places where the two can meet. At once courageous and intensely personal, A History of Loneliness confirms Boyne as one of the most searching chroniclers of his generation.

©2014 John Boyne (P)2020 Penguin Audio Christian Fiction Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Historical Fiction Inspiring Tear-jerking Heartfelt Thought-Provoking
All stars
Most relevant  
The voice actor brought this book to life for me. Lulled by his lilting tones and accent only to be slapped around the face with some event or profound thought. I was driving to work listening to the final chapters, in tears and feeling suffocated by the sadness and devastation expressed by Father Yates. An amazing narrative on the church and it's influence. highly recommend.

This book was totally unexpected

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
The truth about the Catholic and the unflinching honesty of the author Donal Ryan. The reading was superlative - brilliantly read, brilliantly written. I cannot praise it highly enough.

Brilliant in every respect

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I live John Boyne’s novels and this is a compelling, excoriating mea culpa for a great tragedy. It is beautifully, perfectly read and a very fine novel.

Painfully brilliant

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
A profoundly moving tale, soulfully, heartrendingly and beautifully read by Mr McDonnell. Bravo

Heartbreaking

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
From the first sentence to the last, a story and narration to capture every sense. How I love this author's writing.

Fabulous!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
A man of the cloth, who’s choice in career leaves him alone in a depression for his naivety. Irish priest who began his career in the 70’s and realised the true deprivation of so many child fiddling priests i his error.

History of loneliness

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Despite the devastating subject matter the book was absolutely riveting and believable. Though it was clear there would be no happy endings for any of the characters, I was captivated. John Boyne masterfully balances the tragedy with the innate decency in the main character in spite of his equivocation. A brilliant book enhanced wonderfully by the superb narration.

Powerful and tragic

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I found this book both uncomfortable and interesting. It is about a time, still happening in some places, where the clergy of the Catholic Church are being asked to explain both behaviours and practices. The narration of this book was incredibly powerful too.

Powerful Words & Narration Added To the Tension

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
John Boyne at his brilliant best.
Owen McDonnell’s narration exceptional.
The story was powerful, sad with many human emotions. I couldn’t put it down and it’s up there with my top listens/reads.

Brilliant but so tragic!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I really enjoyed both the thoughtful story and the narration. Will look for more from this author.

A very good book

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews
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.