Listen free for 30 days
Listen with offer
-
The Color Purple
- Narrated by: Samira Wiley
- Length: 8 hrs and 7 mins
Failed to add items
Add to basket failed.
Add to wishlist failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
99p for the first 3 months
The Color Purple
Buy Now for £22.00
No valid payment method on file.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Listeners also enjoyed...
Summary
Winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award, this novel about a resilient and courageous woman has become a Broadway show and a cultural phenomenon.
A PBS Great American Read Top 100 Pick
Celie has grown up poor in rural Georgia, despised by the society around her and abused by her own family. She strives to protect her sister, Nettie, from a similar fate, and while Nettie escapes to a new life as a missionary in Africa, Celie is left behind without her best friend and confidante, married off to an older suitor, and sentenced to a life alone with a harsh and brutal husband.
In an attempt to transcend a life that often seems too much to bear, Celie begins writing letters directly to God. The letters, spanning 20 years, record a journey of self-discovery and empowerment guided by the light of a few strong women. She meets Shug Avery, her husband’s mistress and a jazz singer with a zest for life, and her stepson’s wife, Sofia, who challenges her to fight for independence. And though the many letters from Celie’s sister are hidden by her husband, Nettie’s unwavering support will prove to be the most breathtaking of all.
The Color Purple has sold more than five million copies, inspired an Academy Award-nominated film starring Oprah Winfrey and directed by Steven Spielberg, and been adapted into a Tony-nominated Broadway musical. Lauded as a literary masterpiece, this is the ground-breaking novel that placed Walker “in the company of Faulkner” (The Nation), and remains a wrenching - yet intensely uplifting - experience for new generations of listeners.
More from the same
What listeners say about The Color Purple
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- eleniki
- 07-12-21
Perfection - one woman theatre
What can you say about the colour purple that hasn't been articulated a thousand times. An iconic book. We know that.
But this performance by the superb Samira Wiley just blows it out of the water. Every word is acted, every nuance is expressed, every emotion is there. I have never heard a 'vocal' smile, but Samira Wiley does just this incredibly well, making you smile along with Celie. At first, I, along with other reviewers, I note, thought Samira might be hard to understand, but it's amazing how quickly the ear adjusts to the rural southern accent. Listeners who gave up early on really missed out on an exceptional piece of theatre.
I loved it, and was sorry when I finished it. I strongly recommend this performance.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 26-06-20
Such a beautiful book
I loved this book. Its hard to read - brutal at times but the characters are wonderful and I couldn't stop until I reached the end, when I wished it wasn't over.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jennyflubug
- 28-07-20
BRILLIANT!!!
not only was the book better than the film, and the film was brilliant, Samira Wiley made the book come alive. she is an excellent narrator and I look forward to hearing from her again. A***********
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Allison FitzGerald
- 12-02-24
The narration
I really enjoyed the book after understanding it was made up of letters to either God or her sister
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jetsuny
- 23-02-21
ouch
outstanding, too beautiful of an experience for me to find words for, other than please treat yourself to this phenomenal piece of work.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
6 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Cait
- 19-06-20
Perfect escapism
I have been meaning to read this book for a while now, but there never seem to be enough hours in the day, so I started listening to it on dog walks and absolutely fell in love with it. Samira does a phenomenal job narrating it. Loved it.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- paul
- 07-01-22
Brilliant.
Takes a short while to get used to her accent but then makes the book so much better.
Amazing.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance2 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mrs Le More
- 18-03-24
Brilliant book, but terrible narration.
I have this book in kindle and audible versions, and was excited to see an updated narration as my previous one was narrated by the author. I love Samira, but I don't know how they thought this recording was anyway near good enough. The volume isn't constant, one minute is it too loud and the next its too quiet, then sometimes Samira is mumbling. The attempt at different voices for different characters is disappointing too, especially for an actor. So disappointing as you do not get this issues from the 5 minute sample you get before you purchase.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Carragh
- 24-07-21
Beautifully narrated
Samina Wiley was an absolute pleasure to listen to. I thoroughly recommend this reading of the classic text.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Joani Reynders
- 08-06-20
Brilliant
Samira Wiley makes an absolute masterpiece of an already amazing story. Do it, buy it. This story is important.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!