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The Signature of All Things

By: Elizabeth Gilbert
Narrated by: Juliet Stevenson
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Publisher's Summary

Bloomsbury presents The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert, read by Juliet Stevenson.

Shortlisted for the Wellcome Book Prize.

Longlisted for the Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction.

A captivating story of botany, exploration and desire, by the multi-million best-selling author of Eat Pray Love.

Everything about life intrigues Alma Whittaker. Her passion for botany leads her far from home, from London to Peru to Tahiti, in pursuit of that rare specimen: knowledge. But as her careful studies draw her deeper into the mysteries of evolution, she meets the man who she will come to love - whose perspective, radically different from her own, will transform the way she understands the world. 

Radiating with all the heart, soul and earthiness as its unforgettable heroine, The Signature of All Things is a captivating celebration of the workings of this world, and the mechanisms behind all life.

©2013 Elizabeth Gilbert (P)2013 Penguin Audio, a member of Penguin Group US

Critic Reviews

"Unlike anything else she has ever written.... Its prose has the elegant sheen of a 19th-century epic, but its concerns - the intersection of science and faith, the feminine struggle for fulfilment - are especially modern." (Steve Almond, International Herald Tribune)

"The story of Alma Whittaker’s journey of discovery has irresistible momentum." (Helen Dunmore, The Times)

"A botanical odyssey through the 19th century, global in ambition, revelling in the period's insatiable curiosity about the world...a tall tale, told with verve and wit." (Guardian)

What listeners say about The Signature of All Things

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Exquisite

I cried when it finished for I will mourn these marvellous characters. Thank you Elizabeth Gilbert for bringing this into the world.

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

Q story for our time.

A multilayered story revealing multi faceted and gentle wisdom. The reader performed the story well.

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

loved the story and depth of characters, what a life

the characters were so well described and performed I was there with them. an extroidinary life lived by an extroidinary character. always remember to have some thing stashed away to pay someone off. love

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Highly recommended

Gilbert’s rich storytelling offers a detailed text which spans the lifetime of a single characater. Juliet Stevenson’s narration is masterful and brings such nuance to a potentially unwieldy narrative. Thoroughly enjoyed experiencing this as an audio book as the characters are brought to life so beautifully. Highly recommended.

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

What a wonderful journey with Alma

Liz Gilbert you are truly touched by a genie.
Thank you for using your gift for our pleasure. I miss Alma, and I hope she is surrounded by great conversation…and moss.

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

Lovely journeu

I really enjoyed the journey through Alma’s life. Great philosophy for life. When life gives you lemons just get over it and onwards

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Bev
  • 22-08-2022

loved it. one of my favourites. rich and exqisitel

loved it. one of my favourites. rich and exquisitely crafted.
superb performance by narrator.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Brilliant

I normally just rate and make no comments however this audio book was a stand out. Complex characters beautiful story well researched loved the history that was covered.

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

Loved it

Quiet a long story. But I was quiet captivated. Loved all the history woven in.

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

Brilliant

If I could give 6 stars for narration, I would exceed even that.
A wonderful story, with much fascinating history along with imagination of those times.

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