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The Secrets of the Huon Wren by Claire van Ryn
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The Secrets of the Huon Wren

$19.59

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Length 9 hours 26 minutes
Language English
Narrators Micaela Ellis & Zindzi Okenyo

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Senior journalist Allira is writing a story for Folk magazine when she meets Nora, a nursing home resident with dementia and a doll cradled lovingly in her arms. Bit by bit, Nora reveals details about her younger life as a spirited teenage girl living beneath the Great Western Tiers in Tasmania's heartland, of stitching linings into coffins, of her illicit romance with a charming Polish-German migrant, and of a family torn apart by heartbreak.
As the two women form an unlikely friendship, Allira becomes helplessly drawn into the old woman's story. When Allira opens up to Nora about her own recent tragedy, the secrets embedded in the story of a carved Huon pine wren become the key to a life-changing discovery from the past. It is a revelation that finally fills in the missing pieces of Nora's history and has the power to set them both free.
Set among the picturesque mountain ranges of Tasmania's Central Highlands, and moving between the 1950s and the present day, The Secrets of the Huon Wren is a lyrical and highly evocative story about two lives connected by a shared tragedy, and a universal love.

Claire van Ryn (Author)
Claire van Ryn is an awarded writer who began her career as a newspaper journalist, but has also filled roles as magazine editor, communications specialist, writing teacher, blueberry picker and shoe fitter. She lives in Tasmania and extensive travels have only affirmed her love for Australia's southernmost island state. She recently spent a year travelling Australia with her husband and two children in a caravan. Creating is Claire's favourite thing: whether with words, watercolours or whatever else is close at hand.

Zindzi Okenyo (Reader)
Soon after graduating from NIDA in 2006 Zindzi was cast in THE VERTICAL HOUR and THE CRUCIBLE for Sydney Theatre Company and SCORCHED for Company B Belvoir. From 2009 to 2011 she was a member of the Residents Company at STC.

In 2012 Zindzi toured Europe and USA with A HISTORY OF EVERYTHING and began as a presenter on ABC's PLAYSCHOOL. In 2013 Zindzi won a Best Female Performer Award for her role in STCSA's RANDOM. She has performed for Griffin in ORANGE THROWER, MASQUERADE and THE GIRL IN TAN BOOTS. For STC: GRAND HORIZONS, THE GOLDEN AGE, BOYS WILL BE BOYS, A HISTORY OF EVERYTHING, MONEY SHOTS, BEFORE/AFTER, BLOOD WEDDING, THE COMEDY OF ERRORS, THE ORESTEIA, VS MACBETH, THE CRUCIBLE, THE MYSTERIES: GENESIS, THE VERTICAL HOUR. For Melbourne Theatre Company: AN IDEAL HUSBAND, DISGRACED, Belvoir: PRIZE FIGHTER, LA TRAVIATA, SCORCHED, Bell Shakespeare: MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA, Ensemble: THE RASPUTIN AFFAIR, GOOD PEOPLE, State Theatre Company of South Australia: RANDOM, Darlinghurst: GAYBIES, Theatre Ink: ANGELS IN AMERICA. Most recently Zindzi was Director of ORANGER THROWER at Griffin, Co-Director on Darlinghurst Theatre/Sydney Festival's highly acclaimed SEVEN METHODS OF KILLING KYLIE JENNER and Assistant Director on DEATH OF A SALESMAN for Sydney Theatre Company.

As well as PLAYSCHOOL Zindzi's television roles include, WAKEFIELD, THE CODE, HIDING, JANET KING, HARROW and GET KRACK!N (ABC) and WONDERLAND and SISTERS (Network 10). In feature films she has appeared in Abe Forsythe's LITTLE MONSTERS and Dean Murphy's THE VERY EXCELLENT MR DUNDEE.

Zindzi also performs her own music under the name 'OKENYO'

Micaela Ellis (Reader)
Raised in Griffith NSW, in the heart of Wiradjuri nation, Micaela pursued her passion for the arts from a very young age - her first one-woman show being in the living room of her grandmother's house.
Since then, she has picked up skills in painting, writing, music and coffee making, all contributing towards her ambitions as a storyteller. Before graduating from NIDA, Micaela studied at a variety of acting schools including Actors Centre Australia, Screenwise and her high school The McDonald College of Performing Arts.
Recent credits include A Play In a Day - The Changeling (Bell Shakespeare), Cool Pool Party 2: The Second (BanShakespeare), Heroes of The Fourth Turning (Outhouse Theatre Company), Experimenta of Theatre and Cinema (Riverside Parramatta) and a number of short films.

Claire van Ryn (Author)
Claire van Ryn is an awarded writer who began her career as a newspaper journalist, but has also filled roles as magazine editor, communications specialist, writing teacher, blueberry picker and shoe fitter. She lives in Tasmania and extensive travels have only affirmed her love for Australia's southernmost island state. She recently spent a year travelling Australia with her husband and two children in a caravan. Creating is Claire's favourite thing: whether with words, watercolours or whatever else is close at hand.

Zindzi Okenyo (Reader)
Soon after graduating from NIDA in 2006 Zindzi was cast in THE VERTICAL HOUR and THE CRUCIBLE for Sydney Theatre Company and SCORCHED for Company B Belvoir. From 2009 to 2011 she was a member of the Residents Company at STC.

In 2012 Zindzi toured Europe and USA with A HISTORY OF EVERYTHING and began as a presenter on ABC's PLAYSCHOOL. In 2013 Zindzi won a Best Female Performer Award for her role in STCSA's RANDOM. She has performed for Griffin in ORANGE THROWER, MASQUERADE and THE GIRL IN TAN BOOTS. For STC: GRAND HORIZONS, THE GOLDEN AGE, BOYS WILL BE BOYS, A HISTORY OF EVERYTHING, MONEY SHOTS, BEFORE/AFTER, BLOOD WEDDING, THE COMEDY OF ERRORS, THE ORESTEIA, VS MACBETH, THE CRUCIBLE, THE MYSTERIES: GENESIS, THE VERTICAL HOUR. For Melbourne Theatre Company: AN IDEAL HUSBAND, DISGRACED, Belvoir: PRIZE FIGHTER, LA TRAVIATA, SCORCHED, Bell Shakespeare: MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA, Ensemble: THE RASPUTIN AFFAIR, GOOD PEOPLE, State Theatre Company of South Australia: RANDOM, Darlinghurst: GAYBIES, Theatre Ink: ANGELS IN AMERICA. Most recently Zindzi was Director of ORANGER THROWER at Griffin, Co-Director on Darlinghurst Theatre/Sydney Festival's highly acclaimed SEVEN METHODS OF KILLING KYLIE JENNER and Assistant Director on DEATH OF A SALESMAN for Sydney Theatre Company.

As well as PLAYSCHOOL Zindzi's television roles include, WAKEFIELD, THE CODE, HIDING, JANET KING, HARROW and GET KRACK!N (ABC) and WONDERLAND and SISTERS (Network 10). In feature films she has appeared in Abe Forsythe's LITTLE MONSTERS and Dean Murphy's THE VERY EXCELLENT MR DUNDEE.

Zindzi also performs her own music under the name 'OKENYO'

Micaela Ellis (Reader)
Raised in Griffith NSW, in the heart of Wiradjuri nation, Micaela pursued her passion for the arts from a very young age - her first one-woman show being in the living room of her grandmother's house.
Since then, she has picked up skills in painting, writing, music and coffee making, all contributing towards her ambitions as a storyteller. Before graduating from NIDA, Micaela studied at a variety of acting schools including Actors Centre Australia, Screenwise and her high school The McDonald College of Performing Arts.
Recent credits include A Play In a Day - The Changeling (Bell Shakespeare), Cool Pool Party 2: The Second (BanShakespeare), Heroes of The Fourth Turning (Outhouse Theatre Company), Experimenta of Theatre and Cinema (Riverside Parramatta) and a number of short films.

Claire van Ryn (Author)
Claire van Ryn is an awarded writer who began her career as a newspaper journalist, but has also filled roles as magazine editor, communications specialist, writing teacher, blueberry picker and shoe fitter. She lives in Tasmania and extensive travels have only affirmed her love for Australia's southernmost island state. She recently spent a year travelling Australia with her husband and two children in a caravan. Creating is Claire's favourite thing: whether with words, watercolours or whatever else is close at hand.

Zindzi Okenyo (Reader)
Soon after graduating from NIDA in 2006 Zindzi was cast in THE VERTICAL HOUR and THE CRUCIBLE for Sydney Theatre Company and SCORCHED for Company B Belvoir. From 2009 to 2011 she was a member of the Residents Company at STC.

In 2012 Zindzi toured Europe and USA with A HISTORY OF EVERYTHING and began as a presenter on ABC's PLAYSCHOOL. In 2013 Zindzi won a Best Female Performer Award for her role in STCSA's RANDOM. She has performed for Griffin in ORANGE THROWER, MASQUERADE and THE GIRL IN TAN BOOTS. For STC: GRAND HORIZONS, THE GOLDEN AGE, BOYS WILL BE BOYS, A HISTORY OF EVERYTHING, MONEY SHOTS, BEFORE/AFTER, BLOOD WEDDING, THE COMEDY OF ERRORS, THE ORESTEIA, VS MACBETH, THE CRUCIBLE, THE MYSTERIES: GENESIS, THE VERTICAL HOUR. For Melbourne Theatre Company: AN IDEAL HUSBAND, DISGRACED, Belvoir: PRIZE FIGHTER, LA TRAVIATA, SCORCHED, Bell Shakespeare: MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA, Ensemble: THE RASPUTIN AFFAIR, GOOD PEOPLE, State Theatre Company of South Australia: RANDOM, Darlinghurst: GAYBIES, Theatre Ink: ANGELS IN AMERICA. Most recently Zindzi was Director of ORANGER THROWER at Griffin, Co-Director on Darlinghurst Theatre/Sydney Festival's highly acclaimed SEVEN METHODS OF KILLING KYLIE JENNER and Assistant Director on DEATH OF A SALESMAN for Sydney Theatre Company.

As well as PLAYSCHOOL Zindzi's television roles include, WAKEFIELD, THE CODE, HIDING, JANET KING, HARROW and GET KRACK!N (ABC) and WONDERLAND and SISTERS (Network 10). In feature films she has appeared in Abe Forsythe's LITTLE MONSTERS and Dean Murphy's THE VERY EXCELLENT MR DUNDEE.

Zindzi also performs her own music under the name 'OKENYO'

Micaela Ellis (Reader)
Raised in Griffith NSW, in the heart of Wiradjuri nation, Micaela pursued her passion for the arts from a very young age - her first one-woman show being in the living room of her grandmother's house.
Since then, she has picked up skills in painting, writing, music and coffee making, all contributing towards her ambitions as a storyteller. Before graduating from NIDA, Micaela studied at a variety of acting schools including Actors Centre Australia, Screenwise and her high school The McDonald College of Performing Arts.
Recent credits include A Play In a Day - The Changeling (Bell Shakespeare), Cool Pool Party 2: The Second (BanShakespeare), Heroes of The Fourth Turning (Outhouse Theatre Company), Experimenta of Theatre and Cinema (Riverside Parramatta) and a number of short films.

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Audiobook details

Author:

ISBN:
9781761341533

Length:
9 hours 26 minutes

Language:
English

Publisher:
Penguin Random House Australia

Publication date:

Edition:
Unabridged

Illustration of person opening a gift

The perfect last-minute gift

Audiobook credit bundles can be delivered instantly, given worldwide, and support local bookstores!

Start gifting
Phone showing make the switch message

Limited-time offer

Get two free audiobooks!

Nowโ€™s a great time to shop indie. When you start a new one credit per month membership supporting local bookstores with promo code SWITCH, weโ€™ll give you two bonus audiobook credits at sign-up.

Sign up today
The perfect last-minute gift Shop credit bundles