Into the Wilderness

A Novel

By: Sara Donati

Narrated by: Kate Reading

Weaving a vibrant tapestry of fact and fiction, Into the Wilderness sweeps us into another time and place...and into the heart of a forbidden, incandescent affair between a spinster Englishwoman and an American frontiersman. Here is an epic of romance and history that will captivate listeners from the start.

When Elizabeth Middleton, 29 years old and unmarried, leaves her Aunt Merriweather's comfortable English estate to join her father and brother in the remote mountain village of Paradise on the edge of the New York wilderness, she does so with a strong will and an unwavering purpose: to teach school.

It is December of 1792 when she arrives in a cold climate unlike any she has ever experienced. And she meets a man different from any she has ever encountered - a white man dressed like a Native American, tall and lean and unsettling in his blunt honesty. He is Nathaniel Bonner, also known to the Mohawk people as Between-Two-Lives.

Determined to provide schooling for all the children of the village - White, Black, and Native American - Elizabeth soon finds herself at odds with local slave owners. Much to her surprise, she clashes with her own father as well. Financially strapped, Judge Middleton has plans for his daughter - betrothal to local doctor Richard Todd. An alliance with Todd could extract her father from ruin but would call into question the ownership of Hidden Wolf, the mountain where Nathaniel, his father, and a small group of Native Americans live and hunt.

As Judge Middleton brings pressure to bear against his daughter, she is faced with a choice between compliance and deception, a flight into the forest, and a desire that will bend her hard will to compromise and transformation.

Elizabeth's ultimate destiny, here in the heart of the wilderness, lies in the odyssey to come: trials of faith and flesh, and passion born amid Nathaniel's own secrets and divided soul.

Interweaving the fate of the remnants of the Mohawk Nation with the destiny of two lovers, Sara Donati's compelling novel creates a complex, profound, passionate portrait of an emerging America.

©2009 Sara Donati (P)2009 Random House

Critic reviews

"My favorite kind of book is the sort you live in, rather than read. Into the Wilderness is one of those rare stories that let you breathe the air of another time, and leave your footprints on the snow of a wild, strange place. I can think of no better adventure than to explore the wilderness in the company of such engaging and independent lovers as Elizabeth and her Nathaniel." (Diana Gabaldon)
"Each time you open a book you hope to discover a story that will make your spirit of adventure and romance sing. This book delivers on that promise." (Amanda Quick)

GREAT READ!

I LOVED THIS BOOK ! As one review stated, it reminds me of the Outlander series. I wonder how many noticed that Claire and James Fraser (from the Outlander series) were mentioned in "Into the Wilderness" story. I loved that little sneaky item. The story drags you into the story and you feel like you know each person personally. I vowed never to spend 2 credits on a book, but I am so glad that I did for this one......it was well worth it. I can't wait to continue on with the series. Thank you Sara Donati.........keep 'em coming !

good book ..good start to the series

...A good book. This is a good start to the series. A little slow in starting but worth the wait. I was so surprised by the "Outlook Series reference", by D. Gabaldon ,in the story line. I would recommend this book to anyone.

The down side is that this is 2 credit/book and The Outlook series is only 1 credit/book( an excellent series in the same style.) Both worth the time as they are both long books and in a series. If this was 1 credit I would definitely finish this series. As I did the "Outland series." At 2 credits I have to think about it as it uses up my monthly amount and I can read it in a few days

Fascinating: what a great narrator, too

I'm about halfway through this book and can't sing its praises enough. The character and plot development pull one in, and the narrator is a delight! I agree that Ms. Reading is equally convincing as male or female with Mohawk, English, American or Scots accents.

Enjoyed listening to this book very much

I this was a very interesting story line I enjoyed the characters and very much in the narrator did a very good job I hope to listen to her book

Loved it

Not only did I thoroughly enjoy the story and ask the accents andlanguages but Claire, Jamie, and Ian made an appearance too from Outlander.

Awesome listening

I really enjoyed listening to this book. It is very refreshing hearing someone read who has taken the time to research the languages and to pronounce the words with a cadence that is correct to that language.

Amazing narrator!

Although this was a wonderfully written story the narrator really brought this story to life! She was able to alter her voice for every character and actually sounded believable. She even mad men sound like men and notice a women attempting to sound masculine. I can't say enough about this listening experience-- absolutely amazing!

Incredible series! Especially if you are an Outlander fan!

I am an avid lover and reader of all Diana Gabaldon books and her stamp of a approval on this series was not a simple “Thank you” to Ms Donati for her mentioning of a few of Gabaldon’s main Outlander characters, but based on the beautiful imagery and character development of all the people in this small town on the Sacandaga River and on the infamous mountain, Hidden Wolf. I enjoy reading this series over and over as i do Outlander and the novels about that dashing devil Lord John Gray. The Bonner family will always hold a very special place in my heart along with my love of the Frasier clan! Thank you Ms Donati for sharing your ability to bring the reader to the town of Paradise so we could experience life on the American frontier and providing so much of the culture of the Native Americans by having many of them main characters. You are a true artist! Much love!

LOL = LAUGH OUT LOUD

I enjoyed the story. "LOL Phrase" completely out of place, time & period. Utterly inappropriate!

Unlike My Typical Book Choice

Where does Into the Wilderness rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is a slow-moving story, but the emotion and history captivate me. It's easy to transport myself to the time and get lost in it. Makes my drive to and from work something to look forward to.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Elizabeth. Strong woman for her time and she surprises herself over and over. Love that.

Have you listened to any of Kate Reading’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No.