Narrated by Chiwetel Ejiofor, Piranesi by Susanna Clarke has a runtime of 6 hrs 58 mins on Audible.
Publisher’s Summary
Bloomsbury presents Piranesi by Susanna Clarke, read by Chiwetel Ejiofor.
The award-winning, New York Times bestselling fantasy sensation that Madeline Miller called, “a miraculous and luminous feat of storytelling,” Piranesi is an intoxicating, hypnotic novel set in a dreamlike alternative reality from the author of Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell.
Piranesi’s house is no ordinary building: its rooms are infinite, its corridors endless, its walls lined with thousands upon thousands of statues. Within the labyrinth of halls an ocean is imprisoned; and waves thunder up staircases, while rooms are flooded in an instant. But Piranesi is not afraid; he understands the tides as he understands the pattern of the labyrinth itself. He lives to explore the house.
There is one other person in the house-a man called The Other, who visits Piranesi twice a week and asks for help with research into A Great and Secret Knowledge. But as Piranesi explores, evidence emerges of another person, and a terrible truth begins to unravel, revealing a world beyond the one Piranesi has always known.
“Spellbinding, strange, and unforgettably original” (Esquire), Piranesi introduces an astonishing new world, an infinite labyrinth, full of startling images and surreal beauty.
Audiobook Details
- Narrated by: Chiwetel Ejiofor
- Length: 6 hrs 58 mins
- Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
- Release year: 2026
- Audible category: Literature & Fiction / Genre Fiction / Literary Fiction
Listener Ratings
Piranesi holds an average listener rating of 4.5/5 from 211 Audible ratings.
On Audible, ratings for this title break down into narration performance and story separately:
- Performance (narration): 4.8/5
- Story: 4.4/5
- 5-star ratings: 67% of all ratings
What Audible Listeners Are Saying
4/5 stars — “Mysterious and Contemplative”
I thought this book was so beautiful. The beginning is strange, like a dream, but it evolves into something more grounded and interesting. If you aren’t sure about it at first, keep going. Loved the narration!— Katie Pope, Audible listener
4/5 stars — “the formatting, characters, and setting were enthralling.”
I wish there was more time spent developing the character of #16. I also felt that the it could have benefited with extending the realization of Piranesi. It felt rushed at certain points.— Tanner, Audible listener
5/5 stars — “Delightful listen “
I highly enjoyed every bit of this. The story brought a sense of calm and connectedness. A contemplative piece.— Kaylie, Audible listener
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