Monk Kidd: The Book of Longings

In The Book of Longings, Sue Monk Kidd reimagines the life of Ana, a young woman in first-century Galilee who becomes the wife of Jesus. Raised in a wealthy family with ties to the ruler of Galilee, Ana is rebellious and ambitious, with a brilliant mind and a daring spirit. She engages in furtive scholarly pursuits and writes narratives about neglected and silenced women. Ana is expected to marry an older widower, a prospect that horrifies her. A chance encounter with the eighteen-year-old Jesus changes everything. Their marriage evolves with love and conflict, humor and pathos in Nazareth, where Ana makes a home with Jesus, his brothers, and their mother, Mary. Ana's pent-up longings intensify amid the turbulent resistance to Rome's occupation of Israel, partially led by her brother, Judas. She is sustained by her fearless aunt Yaltha, who harbors a compelling secret. When Ana commits a brazen act that puts her in peril, she flees to Alexandria, where startling revelations and greater dangers unfold, and she finds refuge in unexpected surroundings. Ana determines her fate during a stunning convergence of events considered among the most impactful in human history.

Key Features:

• A feminist reimagining of the New Testament, focusing on the life of Ana, the wife of Jesus.

• Explores themes of women's voices, identity, and the silencing of women throughout history.

• Set in first-century Galilee, providing a rich historical and cultural backdrop.

• Written by Sue Monk Kidd, acclaimed author of The Secret Life of Bees and The Invention of Wings.

• Published by Viking Press on April 21, 2020.