The Correspondent is an audiobook by Virginia Evans, narrated by Maggi-Meg Reed and Jane Oppenheimer and Carly Robins and Jeff Ebner and David Pittu and Chris Andrew Ciulla and Mark Bramhall and Petrea Burchard and Robert Petkoff and Kimberly Farr and Cerris Morgan-Moyer and Peter Ganim and Jade Wheeler and Various. The unabridged Audible edition runs 8 hrs 36 mins.
Publisher’s Summary
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • OVER TWO MILLION COPIES SOLD • Discover the word-of-mouth hit hailed by Ann Patchett as “A cause for celebration”—an intimate novel about the transformative power of the written word and the beauty of slowing down to reconnect with the people we love.
“This novel is a complete and utter joy.”—Ann Napolitano, author of Hello Beautiful
“Quietly dazzling.”—The New York Times
“I cried more than once as I witnessed this brilliant woman come to understand herself more deeply.”—Florence Knapp, author of The Names
In development as a major motion picture
WINNER OF THE WOMEN’S PRIZE FOR FICTION • LONGLISTED FOR THE CENTER FOR FICTION FIRST NOVEL PRIZE AND THE ANDREW CARNEGIE MEDAL • A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: NPR, The Washington Post, Boston Globe, Elle, Christian Science Monitor, She Reads
“Imagine, the letters one has sent out into the world, the letters received back in turn, are like the pieces of a magnificent puzzle. . . . Isn’t there something wonderful in that, to think that a story of one’s life is preserved in some way, that this very letter may one day mean something, even if it is a very small thing, to someone?”
Filled with knowledge that only comes from a life fully lived, The Correspondent is a gem of a novel about the power of finding solace in literature and connection with people we might never meet in person. It is about the hubris of youth and the wisdom of old age, and the mistakes and acts of kindness that occur during a lifetime.
Sybil Van Antwerp has throughout her life used letters to make sense of the world and her place in it. Most mornings, around half past ten, Sybil sits down to write letters—to her brother, to her best friend, to the president of the university who will not allow her to audit a class she desperately wants to take, to Joan Didion and Larry McMurtry to tell them what she thinks of their latest books, and to one person to whom she writes often yet never sends the letter.
Sybil expects her world to go on as it always has—a mother, grandmother, wife, divorcee, distinguished lawyer, she has lived a very full life. But when letters from someone in her past force her to examine one of the most painful periods of her life, she realizes that the letter she has been writing over the years needs to be read and that she cannot move forward until she finds it in her heart to offer forgiveness.
Sybil Van Antwerp’s life of letters might be “a very small thing,” but she also might be one of the most memorable characters you will ever read.
Audiobook Details
- Narrated by: Maggi-Meg Reed and Jane Oppenheimer and Carly Robins and Jeff Ebner and David Pittu and Chris Andrew Ciulla and Mark Bramhall and Petrea Burchard and Robert Petkoff and Kimberly Farr and Cerris Morgan-Moyer and Peter Ganim and Jade Wheeler and Various
- Length: 8 hrs 36 mins
- Publisher: Random House Audio
- Release year: 2025
- Audible category: Literature & Fiction / Genre Fiction / Epistolary
Listener Ratings
The Correspondent holds an average listener rating of 4.8/5 from 30512 Audible ratings.
On Audible, ratings for this title break down into narration performance and story separately:
- Performance (narration): 4.9/5
- Story: 4.7/5
- 5-star ratings: 84% of all ratings
What Audible Listeners Are Saying
5/5 stars — “Sensational “
This book might be in my top 3 of all time. Absolutely incredible. I think the Audible performance brought the book to life. Highly recommend listening!— Porter, Audible listener
5/5 stars — “Wonderful!”
I didn’t expect to love this as much as I did. Cleverly written and many profound truths you’ll want to rewind and hear again. Character development through correspondence in the most beautiful way.— Michelle Klaustermeier, Audible listener
5/5 stars — “Brilliant and beautiful. “
This was such a beautiful novel with a unique method of telling the story. Excellent narration.
I loved this book. 🧡— Nancy E, Audible listener
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