Things Past Telling

A Novel

By: Sheila Williams

Narrated by: Robin Miles

Length: 11 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's summary

“This is a truly character-driven novel that explores how people define themselves, the creation of family and home, and the importance of memory and language. . . . Fans of historical epics won’t be able to put this book down.”—Historical Novel Society

“Emotionally satisfying. . . . A remarkable character portrait.”—Publishers Weekly

The author of The Secret Women tells the story of a brave and enduring woman as indomitable as Ernest Gaines’ legendary Miss Jane Pittman, in a breathtaking novel that combines the epic romance and adventure of Outlander, the sweeping drama of Roots, and the haunting historical power of Barracoon.

Things Past Telling is a remarkable historical epic that charts one unforgettable woman’s journey across an ocean of years as vast as the Atlantic that will forever separate her from her homeland.

Born in West Africa in the mid-eighteenth century, Maryam Prescilla Grace—a.k.a “Momma Grace” will live a long, wondrous life marked by hardship, oppression, opportunity, and love. Though she will be “gifted” various names, her birth name is known to her alone. Over the course of 100-plus years, she survives capture, enslavement by several property owners, the Atlantic crossing when she is only eleven years of age, and a brief stint as a pirate’s ward, acting as both a spy and a translator.

Maryam learns midwifery from a Caribbean-born wise woman, whose “craft” combines curated techniques and medicines from African, Indigenous, and European women. Those midwifery skills allow her to sometimes transcend the racial and class barriers of her enslavement, as she walks the razor’s edge trying to balance the lives and health of her own people with the cruel economic mandates of the slave holders, who view infants born in bondage not as flesh-and-blood children but as investment property.

Throughout her triumphant and tumultuous life Maryam gains and loses her homeland, her family, her culture, her husband, her lovers, and her children. Yet as the decades pass, this tenacious woman never loses her sense of self.

Inspired by a 112-year-old woman the author discovered in an 1870 U.S. Federal census report for Ohio, loosely based on the author’s real-life female ancestors, spanning more than a hundred years, from the mid-eighteen-century to the end of America’s Civil War, and spanning across the globe, from what is now southern Nigeria to the islands of the Caribbean to North America and the land bordering the Ohio River, Things Past Telling is a breathtaking story of a past that lives on in all of us, and a life that encompasses the best—and worst—of our humanity.

©2022 Sheila Williams (P)2022 HarperCollins Publishers

I couldn't stop listening!

This story was mesmerizing and I would recommend it to everyone interested in learning about thing they don't teach you in history books.

What is this?

A biography? A Historical Fiction? Either accord would not diminish the beauty of this story. It’s an incredible moving tale of resilience. There are thousands of lost truthful stories I wish we could know from the personal histories of this part of the American experience.
The way the author has written this piece wakes up something within us to want to seek and learn more about the people brought here in chains. Who were they? Where were they all from? How did it happen that they were captured, trapped and sold?Who were their people? What was their life before?
If ALL American children are taught these histories told in the way this author has written this story, It would bring a depth of understanding sadly needed to grasp the tragedy and rare triumphs of the people enslaved in that part of our American history.
The Jewish people have done this for the generations that came after the holocaust. Why not the same for the generations that came after the tragedy of slavery? Is it too late and the stories too rare and lost to history?
I am grateful to this author for telling this story in the manner it has been.

Unforgettable

Also bought the kindle but the narration took this from 4.5 to 8 stars.

The story spans about 7 decades, several continents and social change. Definitely worth your time and credit

Truly Worth Reading

Mesmerizing story, beautiful history. Mama Grace tells her story in a way that holds your attention to the end.
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A Great Tale of A Woman's African American Story

The author was masterful in the way she told the story. Her descriptive approach painted such vivid pictures that I imagined myself a part of the story, and the narrator's execution was brilliantly deliberate. I was completely engrossed in the writing and would recommend this to anyone.

A treasure

This is one of the most beautifully told stories! It makes you feel like you are there.

Loved it

Felt like I was walking right alone side her during her journey, Love hearing story of survival

Wow what an awesome story

This book held my attention from being to end. I couldn’t put it down. My heart feels so full from listening to this. The narrator was superb! What a story omg

I laughed, cried, and felt everything in between.

I couldn't put this one down. The writer describes the characters so well and the narrator gives them extra life through the audio book. I highly recommend this book.

Transports you to the 1700’s

I just can’t say enough about this book. I just finished it for the second time. I enjoyed it even more this time around. The author’s words are like poetry. Her descriptive words and picturesque speech cannot be compared to any other in my opinion. This book gives you the idea of what the slaves endured without all of the horrible graphic beatings and hangings. (I know some people cannot endure to even read about that sort of thing) So don’t be afraid to read this if you are one that can’t handle the horror of the Antebellum Period.
The narrator is unbelievable. I could listen to her all day everyday. Her voice is such a calming and soothing balm.