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The Great Divide

A Novel

by Cristina Henriquez

Narrator Robin Miles

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Length 13 hours 21 minutes

Language English

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Bookseller recommendation

“There are few things I enjoy more than an author using fiction to shed light on big histories we think we know. This novel captures the period of upheaval in Panama as the canal was built. You get the sweeping impact of the US colonial campaign in Panama, juxtaposed against the personal cost for so many Panamanians and West Indians. It’s largely told from the perspectives of characters whose lives were forever changed by its building. Henriquez’s research and passion deftly add color to a history that should be of significance to us all. Observant, entertaining, touching, informative, and memorable - I can’t wait to share this book with other readers! ”
— Destinee • East City Bookshop

Bookseller recommendation

“This story of the building of the Panama Canal is full of interesting characters and colorful descriptions, told from three different points of view, giving the reader a well-rounded informational foundation. Not to mention, the cover is stunning!I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this production on Libro.fm.”
— Melanie • The Well-Read Moose

Bookseller recommendation

“The Great Divide by Cristina Henriquez is not my usual read, but I got an ALC through Libro.fm, so I thought I'd give it a shot. It's a beautiful historical fiction written through multiple perspectives during the creation of the Panama Canal. You get to see multiple issues through the lens of all kinds of people effected by the dramatic changes happening in the region. It's gorgeous and feels all-encompassing. If you're a fan of in-depth historical, this one's for you.”
— Anna • Katy Budget Books

Bookseller recommendation

“Henríquez's eloquently written novel sheds light on the untold stories that often go overlooked in the name of 'progress'. She skilfully navigates through the intricacies of personal struggles, societal challenges, and the pursuit of dreams. ”
— Claudia • Whose Books

Bookseller recommendation

“A fascinating novel about a wide cast of characters whose lives all intersect during the construction of the Panama Canal. The larger story emerges from many individual experiences; from laborers to housemaids to fishermen, all of whom play a part in the famous engineering feat. ”
— Erica • Author's Note

Bookseller recommendation

“One of the most beautifully narrated books I have ever listened to! The Great Divide takes place in Panama, around the building of the canal. Featuring several characters with different story lines, this is a fascinating look at the building of the canal from the points of view of the Panamanian people, and the people that traveled there to find work on the canal. ”
— Mary • Skylark Bookshop

Summary
About the author

A TODAY Show Read With Jenna Book Club Pick!

A powerful novel about the construction of the Panama Canal, casting light on the unsung people who lived, loved, and labored there

It is said that the canal will be the greatest feat of engineering in history. But first, it must be built. For Francisco, a local fisherman who resents the foreign powers clamoring for a slice of his country, nothing is more upsetting than the decision of his son, Omar, to work as a digger in the excavation zone. But for Omar, whose upbringing was quiet and lonely, this job offers a chance to finally find connection.

Ada Bunting is a bold sixteen-year-old from Barbados who arrives in Panama as a stowaway alongside thousands of other West Indians seeking work. Alone and with no resources, she is determined to find a job that will earn enough money for her ailing sister’s surgery. When she sees a young man—Omar—who has collapsed after a grueling shift, she is the only one who rushes to his aid.

John Oswald has dedicated his life to scientific research and has journeyed to Panama in single-minded pursuit of one goal: eliminating malaria. But now, his wife, Marian, has fallen ill herself, and when he witnesses Ada’s bravery and compassion, he hires her on the spot as a caregiver. This fateful decision sets in motion a sweeping tale of ambition, loyalty, and sacrifice.

Searing and empathetic,The Great Divide explores the intersecting lives of activists, fishmongers, laborers, journalists, neighbors, doctors, and soothsayers—those rarely acknowledged by history even as they carved out its course.

Named a Most Anticipated Book By: Washington Post * Book Riot * Electric Literature * LitHub * ELLE * The Millions * Goodreads * Reader’s Digest

Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

Fiction

Cristina Henríquez is the author of The Great Divide, The Book of Unknown Americans, The World In Half, and Come Together, Fall Apart: A Novella and Stories. She has been longlisted for the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction and was a finalist for the Dayton Literary Peace Prize. Her writing has appeared in The New Yorker, The Atlantic, The New York Times Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, Real Simple, The Oxford American, The American Scholar, and elsewhere. She earned her undergraduate degree from Northwestern University and is a graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. She lives in Illinois.