The History of Sound

Stories

By: Ben Shattuck

Narrated by: Ben Shattuck, Zachary Chastain, Paul Mescal, Dion Graham, Ellen Adair, Steven Jay Cohen, Jim Seybert, Dawn Harvey, Chris Cooper, Rebecca Lowman, Jenny Slate, Ed Helms, Nick Offerman

SOON TO BE A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE STARRING PAUL MESCAL AND JOSH O’CONNOR

WINNER OF THE STORY PRIZE SPOTLIGHT AWARD

LONGLISTED FOR THE PEN/FAULKNER AWARD FOR FICTION & THE ANDREW CARNEGIE MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE IN FICTION

AN ALA NOTABLE BOOK • ONE OF NPR’s “BOOKS WE LOVE” • ONE OF THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE’S 10 BEST BOOKS OF 2024 • BEST SHORT FICTION, KIRKUS REVIEWS

“Polyphonic fiction. . . . A reminder of the short story’s power. . . . The History of Sound marks Shattuck as one of the form’s brightest lights. . . . A terrific writer. . . . Deeply resonant.” —The Boston Globe

“Exquisitely crafted, deeply imagined, exhilaratingly diverse, The History of Sound places Ben Shattuck firmly among the very finest of our storytellers.”
—Geraldine Brooks, New York Times bestselling author of Horse

“Magnificent. . . . Poignant. . . . Exquisite.” —Publishers Weekly

A stunning collection of interconnected stories set in New England, exploring how the past is often misunderstood and how history, family, heartache, and desire can echo over centuries

In twelve luminous stories set across three centuries, The History of Sound examines the unexpected ways the past returns to us and how love and loss are entwined and transformed over generations. In Ben Shattuck's ingenious collection, each story has a companion story, which contains a revelation about the previous, paired story. Mysteries and murders are revealed, history is refracted, and deep emotional connections are woven through characters and families.

The haunting title story recalls the journey of two men who meet around a piano in a smoky, dim bar, only to spend a summer walking the Maine woods collecting folk songs in the shadow of the First World War, forever marked by the odyssey. Decades later, in another story, a woman discovers the wax cylinders recorded that fateful summer while cleaning out her new house in Maine. Shattuck’s inventive, exquisite stories transport readers from 1700s Nantucket to the contemporary woods of New Hampshire and beyond—into landscapes both enduring and unmistakably modern. Memories, artifacts, paintings, and journals resurface in surprising and poignant ways among evocative beaches, forests, and orchards, revealing the secrets, misunderstandings, and love that linger across centuries.

Written with breathtaking humanity and humor, The History of Sound is a love letter to New England, a radiant conversation between past and present, and a moving meditation on the abiding search for home.©2024 Ben Shattuck (P)2024 Penguin Audio

A moving meditation on intimacy, loss, and the enduring power of art

I just re-read “The History of Sound” by Ben Shattuck. I don’t often reread books but this one is such a beautifully written novel that I had to. The book explores love, memory, and the haunting echoes of war and many of the stories are interconnected through complicated threads. Set against the backdrop of World War I, the first story follows Lionel and David, two young men who travel through New England recording folk songs before being drawn into the conflict overseas. Shattuck’s prose captures the tenderness and tragedy of a fleeting romance shaped by time and trauma. With quiet intensity, the novel examines how sound—both literal and emotional—preserves what history often forgets. It’s a moving meditation on intimacy, loss, and the enduring power of art.

Shattuck’s background as a painter and essayist is evident in his attention to sensory detail and the pacing of his storytelling. From tales of solitary reflection to subtle examinations of grief and love, the collection offers a rich exploration of human vulnerability. These deeply personal narratives feel like universal themes—each story feels like a carefully preserved artifact of feeling.

The book is soon to be a made into a movie with one of my favorite actors, Paul Mescal. I can’t wait!

Gorgeous written connected stories

The environment these stories are set in, the landscapes, the sounds, the imagery are what connected most with me. The way each tale is written, and the way the stories expand on each other was really unique. I loved the audiobook, hearing Jenny Slate, Nick Offerman, Ed Helms etc. tell the stories was lovely. I devoured this book, I want the physical copy now so I can re-read and likely catch so many details I wasn’t aware of in my first time through.

Connections

I enjoyed piecing these stories together. It was a lovely quilt.
The narrators stayed in my brain for hours after I quit listening.

Captivating

Characters were fully fleshed out. All the short stories were complete by themselves but tied together to make a beautiful picture. The readers made the characters come alive. Loved every minute of the book.

Beautiful stories.

The writing is exquisite. The narrators are wonderful actors who are a cut above the usual narration.

Clever connections

Sooo well written 5 star. Reaches inside the reader like a caress. Subtle. Moody. But not always.

Easter eggs

I loved the fun of finding characters woven through the stories. Beautifully written and read by these narrators.

Short Stories Done Right!

Shattuck did an excellent job with each short story. They are beautifully written and I love how he portrayed the complexities of life within each generation. The inter-connected story lines was genius. Highly recommend if you want a thought provoking read.