The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
$2.00
The Correspondent
- Winner of the Women’s Prize for Fiction 2026
- Written By: Virginia Evans
- Narrated By: Maggi-Meg Reed, Jane Oppenheimer, Carly Robins, Jeff Ebner, David Pittu, Chris Andrew Ciulla, Mark Bramhall, Petrea Burchard, Robert Petkoff, Kimberly Farr, Cerris Morgan-Meyer, Peter Ganim, Jade Wheeler, Various
- Length: 8 hrs and 33 mins
- Categories: Literature & Fiction, Genre Fiction
- Publisher: Penguin
- Format: Unabridged Audiobook
- Release Date: 29-04-2025
- Language: English
Publisher's Summary
Brought to you by Penguin.
*WINNER OF THE WOMEN’S PRIZE FOR FICTION 2026*
In her letters to family and friends we come to know the life of Sybil Van Antwerp: stubborn, cantankerous, opinionated, always steadfast in her belief in the power of the written word.
But as the clock begins to tick for Sybil, the need for a few post-scripts to the life she’s led becomes apparent. Fixing her difficult relationship with her children. Taking a final chance at romance. Atoning for an old legal case which has come back to haunt her. And finally, reckoning with a devastating loss that she has spent the last thirty years holding close to her chest.
'Subtly told and finely made, The Correspondent is a portrait of a small life expanding' ANN PATCHETT
'The superbly talented Virginia Evans has written a novel of connection and daring' - ADRIANA TRIGANI, bestselling author of The Good Left Undone
'I was wowed by this deliciously brilliant book! Thank you, Virginia Evans, for a life beautifully told in letters, for creating a character whose mind struggles with her heart in a most intriguing, sympathetic, witty, and binge-worthy way' - Elinor Lipman, author of MS DEMEANOR
© Virginia Evans 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025
Kirsty
A life story told through letters that share the pivotal moments of Sybil’s extraordinary life. This insight into her life was perfect in that each authors thoughts and feelings were able to expose their truth. A really good read
Amazon Customer
I listened to The Correspondent on a rare day off, letting it play while I moved through the house, cleaning and doing everyday tasks. It turned out to be the perfect way to experience this story — quiet, intimate, and easy to live inside.
From the beginning, the tone felt oddly personal, almost like listening to my own mother’s correspondence. The writing is gentle and understated, with an elegance that never feels forced. It’s a mild, reflective listen rather than a dramatic one, but that’s exactly what makes it work.
What surprised me was how emotionally it built without me noticing. The story unfolds softly, yet by the end I found myself in tears. The emotional impact sneaks up on you — not through big moments, but through honesty and subtle observation.
This is not a loud or fast-paced story, but it is beautifully written and quietly affecting. Thoughtful, eloquent, and deeply human, it’s the kind of listen that stays with you long after it finishes.