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Sign up todayIsola
A Novel
Length
12 hours 53 minutes
Language
English
Narrators
Fiona Hardingham & Allegra Goodman
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Learn moreBookseller recommendation
“Set in 1500s France, this story follows the plight of orphaned noblewoman Marguerite de is Rocque who is entrusted to a guardian from the age of 5. At the mercy of Francois Roberval, Marguerite finds herself on a ship bound for the new world. What happens next is unfathomable. ”
— Ashley • The Story Collective
Bookseller recommendation
“Isola, based on the true story of Marguerite de la Rocque de Roberval, is above all a story of one strong woman’s survival. Marguerite, orphaned in 1515, survives a childhood dependent on the whims of her adult cousin and guardian. She survives a treacherous journey across the Atlantic to New France, and she survives being cast from the ship by her ruthless cousin onto a deserted island with her lover and her nursemaid. Goodman is adept at creating both the courtly world of 16th century France and the desolate black granite island filled with wonders and dangers. Hardingham gives voice to this woman who had little voice of her own, but achieved more than many men of her age. ”
— Claire D. • Honest Dog Books
Bookseller recommendation
“Historical fiction at its finest. Marguerite is a heroine everyone should know about. Well researched and beautifully told. ”
— Jaime • Plenty
Bookseller recommendation
“In this rich and intriguing tale, Goodman imagines the details of the life of Marguerite, a real-life 16th-century gentlewoman who finds herself struggling for her survival. Wonderful historical fiction highlighting the perils of being a woman in 16th-century France, and the strength and transformation possible (necessary) through trials. ”
— Nancy • Raven Book Store
Bookseller recommendation
“Based on the real life of a 16th century French noblewoman, this harrowing tale held me enthralled. Marooned on an island off Newfoundland after being betrayed by her guardian, Marguerite must rely on ingenuity and love to survive in the harsh wilderness, discovering her true strength.”
— Erica • Author's Note
Bookseller recommendation
“Fascinating account of a woman's resilience in the face of cold, starvation, loneliness, grief, and polar bears! Resplendent with the natural splendor of a remote island off the coast of Canada.”
— Kristine • Buttonwood Books and Toys
A young woman and her lover are marooned on an island in this breathtaking saga, an epic story of love, faith, and defiance from the bestselling author of Sam
“A shocking story, made all the more stunning by the fact that it has its roots in true history.”—Jodi Picoult, author of By Any Other Name
“What a gift this novel is: vast, lush, feminist, and brilliantly crafted. Allegra Goodman is one of our finest writers.”—Ann Napolitano, author of Hello Beautiful
Heir to a fortune, Marguerite is destined for a life of prosperity and gentility. Then she is orphaned, and her guardian—an enigmatic and volatile man—spends her inheritance and insists she accompany him on an expedition to New France. Isolated and afraid, Marguerite befriends her guardian’s servant and the two develop an intense attraction. But when their relationship is discovered, they are brutally punished and abandoned on a small island with no hope for rescue.
Once a child of privilege who dressed in gowns and laced pearls in her hair, Marguerite finds herself at the mercy of nature. As the weather turns, blanketing the island in ice, she discovers a faith she’d never before needed.
Inspired by the real life of a sixteenth-century heroine, Isola is the timeless story of a woman fighting for survival
*This audiobook contains a PDF with a map and recommendations for further reading from the book.
Allegra Goodman is the author of six novels, including the national bestseller Sam, which was a Read with Jenna selection; two short story collections; and a novel for young readers. Her fiction has appeared in The New Yorker and elsewhere, and has been anthologized in The O. Henry Awards and Best American Short Stories. She lives with her family in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Allegra Goodman is the author of six novels, including the national bestseller Sam, which was a Read with Jenna selection; two short story collections; and a novel for young readers. Her fiction has appeared in The New Yorker and elsewhere, and has been anthologized in The O. Henry Awards and Best American Short Stories. She lives with her family in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
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Audiobook details
Author:
Allegra Goodman
Narrators:
Fiona Hardingham & Allegra Goodman
ISBN:
9780593946480
Length:
12 hours 53 minutes
Language:
English
Publisher:
Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Group
Publication date:
February 4, 2025
Edition:
Unabridged
PDF extra:
Available
Libro.fm rank:
#7,645 Overall
Genre rank:
#752 in Historical Fiction
Reviews
“Lushly painted . . . a perfect read for cozying up by a roaring fire—and feeling thankful you’re not the sixteenth-century heroine the story is based on.”—People, “Most Anticipated Books of 2025”“A new generation of survival story: a tale that distills larger themes of power, ownership, tenacity, and colonialism into intimate, vulnerable narratives. It is an extraordinary book that reads like a thriller, written with the care of the most delicate psychological and historical fiction.”—Vogue, “Best of 2025 Preview”
“A shocking story, made all the more stunning by the fact that it has its roots in true history, Isola is an immersive journey through the eyes of Marguerite de la Rocque, who redefines what makes one a woman of worth and what the difference is between having a life and truly living.”—Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling author
“What a gift this novel is: vast, lush, feminist, and brilliantly crafted. Allegra Goodman is one of our finest writers.”—Ann Napolitano, New York Times bestselling author of Hello Beautiful
“Allegra Goodman’s latest novel is a feminist castaway tale about love, faith, and self-actualization.”—Time, “Most Anticipated Books of 2025”
“Isola is a finely drawn and gripping novel of survival and faith. It succeeds in making the past strange and real and maddening—and is all the more memorable for that.”—Joanna Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Whalebone Theatre
“This book made me cry but it was worth it! I am grateful to Allegra Goodman for writing such a luscious, rich, and moving novel. . . . A beautiful, careful, and profound book about survival and hope.”—Alice Winn, author of In Memoriam
“Goodman writes with fluid beauty, deep empathy, and an emotional undertow that pulls you in and holds you from the first page to the last. [This] sweeping page turner is at once historical and modern, intimate and epic, personal and powerful.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review
“Engrossing . . . Goodman brilliantly depicts Marguerite’s courage as she fights to survive the bitter Canadian winter. It’s a rousing portrait of an undaunted woman.”—Publishers Weekly
“A bravura departure . . . Goodman’s lush and enthralling castaway tale of betrayal and love, suffering and strength is magnificent in its beauty, mystery, fury, and redemption.”—Booklist, starred review Expand reviews
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