The Whalebone Theatre

A Novel

By: Joanna Quinn

Narrated by: Olivia Vinall

NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER • A TODAY SHOW #ReadWithJenna BOOK CLUB PICK • A transporting, irresistible debut novel that takes its heroine, Cristabel Seagrave, from a theatre made of whalebones to covert operations during World War II—a story of love, family, bravery, lost innocence, and self-transformation.

“Absolute aces...Quinn’s imagination and adventuresome spirit are a pleasure to behold.”—The New York Times

“Utterly heartbreaking and joyous.”—Jo Baker, author of Longbourn

One blustery night in 1928, a whale washes up on the shores of the English Channel. By law, it belongs to the King, but twelve-year-old orphan Cristabel Seagrave has other plans. She and the rest of the household—her sister, Flossie; her brother, Digby, long-awaited heir to Chilcombe manor; Maudie Kitcat, kitchen maid; Taras, visiting artist—build a theatre from the beast’s skeletal rib cage. Within the Whalebone Theatre, Cristabel can escape her feckless stepparents and brisk governesses, and her imagination comes to life.

As Cristabel grows into a headstrong young woman, World War II rears its head. She and Digby become British secret agents on separate missions in Nazi-occupied France—a more dangerous kind of playacting, it turns out, and one that threatens to tear the family apart.

©2022 Joanna Quinn (P)2022 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

A Best Book of the Year: New York Times Notable, Washington Post, Sydney Morning Herald, Vox, Book Riot, Geek Girl Authority • A Best Gift Book: Seattle Times, Broadway Direct • A TODAY SHOW #ReadWithJenna BOOK CLUB PICK, in collaboration with the Queen Consort Camilla’s Royal Reading Room

“Gorgeous . . . Delightful . . . Absolute aces . . . Reading it is like plunging into a tub of clotted cream while (or whilst) enrobed in silk eau-de-Nil beach pajamas . . . Quinn’s imagination and adventuresome spirit are a pleasure to behold, boding more commanding work to come.”—The New York Times

“What’s remarkable, especially for a first novel, is Quinn’s deft way of depicting this lost world—whether a subsiding seaside aristocracy or a training school for British agents or a Parisian theater in wartime . . . Her vision is so fine and fully realized that it’s hard to imagine her doing anything else—and hard to have to wait to see what that might be.”—Washington Post

“An immersive, capacious delight . . . The pages fly by . . . The Whalebone Theatre is a supremely accomplished feat of storytelling. . . Quinn excels with the nuts and bolts of her craft—characterization, pace, plotting, and well-calibrated humor and suspense—and brilliantly depicts the rugged beauty of her county ‘on the crumbling bottom edge of England.'”—Minneapolis Star Tribune

Great story

I really enjoyed this novel . The characters are well developed and I feel like I really got to know them . Time we’ll spent !

Wonderful Writing

Good story, wonderful writing, very good performance. I recommend this book to any historical fiction lover!

Very original

This was an interesting read for a first time author. I loved the characters and was sad when the last chapter ended. And although I could feel what was about to happen to Digby in Paris, I wanted to run away from that event. The narrator was outstanding. I could have listened to her for another hour.

Not my normal

I purchased it based on reviews and description. Although it seemed to drag on at times. The narrator was good.

Loved this book!

So glad that Jenna Bush Hager suggested it for her book club and so glad I read it!!!

descriptive writing keeps interest going

Although somewhat long winded in beginning, the descriptions are so well orchestrated it keeps you interested. spanning several social era's, gives you another glimpse of the lead up to WWII, the war years and the aftermath.

A gorgeous story masterfully written

I kept mistakenly thinking of it as a show rather than a book. I’d look forward to watching, ope, I mean listening to more. The writing is descriptive in a way I (a mere mortal) can only describe as awe-inspiring in how uniquely, beautifully clear it is. The performance is phenomenal (still wondering where she’s actually from because she nailed every accent). I don’t know if I’ve ever read something so well written—original, breathtaking, and just glorious.

Such a beautiful tale!

Loved the story, the performance, the language, and the characters. Beautifully executed in all ways. Christabel is my hero!

Heads and tails above most historical fiction.

If you like historical fiction, but feel like most of it just narrates banal tales and basic history, this is a book for you. Much more sophisticated than most I've read. Interesting characters, unusual narrative structure, compelling to the end.

A Classic in the making

This story was absolutely beautiful and has a timeless quality. Take The Great Gatsby, Downton Abbey and Peter Pan.. mixed into a World War 2 story you have The Whalebone Theater. This is going on my all time favorites list.