• The Four Winds

  • A Novel
  • By: Kristin Hannah
  • Narrated by: Julia Whelan
  • Length: 15 hrs and 20 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (35,219 ratings)

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The Four Winds  By  cover art

The Four Winds

By: Kristin Hannah
Narrated by: Julia Whelan
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Publisher's summary

This program includes a bonus interview with the author.

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

#1 USA TODAY BESTSELLER

#1 WALL STREET JOURNAL BESTSELLER

#1 INDIE BESTSELLER

"The Four Winds seems eerily prescient in 2021 . . . Its message is galvanizing and hopeful: We are a nation of scrappy survivors. We’ve been in dire straits before; we will be again. Hold your people close.”—The New York Times

"A spectacular tour de force that shines a spotlight on the indispensable but often overlooked role of Greatest Generation women."—People

"Through one woman’s survival during the harsh and haunting Dust Bowl, master storyteller, Kristin Hannah, reminds us that the human heart and our Earth are as tough, yet as fragile, as a change in the wind." Delia Owens, author of Where the Crawdads Sing

From the number-one bestselling author of The Nightingale and The Great Alone comes a powerful American epic about love and heroism and hope, set during the Great Depression, a time when the country was in crisis and at war with itself, when millions were out of work and even the land seemed to have turned against them.

My land tells its story if you listen. The story of our family.”

Texas, 1921. A time of abundance. The Great War is over, the bounty of the land is plentiful, and America is on the brink of a new and optimistic era. But for Elsa Wolcott, deemed too old to marry in a time when marriage is a woman’s only option, the future seems bleak. Until the night she meets Rafe Martinelli and decides to change the direction of her life. With her reputation in ruin, there is only one respectable choice: marriage to a man she barely knows.

By 1934, the world has changed; millions are out of work and drought has devastated the Great Plains. Farmers are fighting to keep their land and their livelihoods as crops fail and water dries up and the earth cracks open. Dust storms roll relentlessly across the plains. Everything on the Martinelli farm is dying, including Elsa’s tenuous marriage; each day is a desperate battle against nature and a fight to keep her children alive.

In this uncertain and perilous time, Elsa—like so many of her neighbors—must make an agonizing choice: fight for the land she loves or leave it behind and go west, to California, in search of a better life for her family.

The Four Winds is a rich, sweeping novel that stunningly brings to life the Great Depression and the people who lived through it—the harsh realities that divided us as a nation and the enduring battle between the haves and the have-nots. A testament to hope, resilience, and the strength of the human spirit to survive adversity, The Four Winds is an indelible portrait of America and the American dream, as seen through the eyes of one indomitable woman whose courage and sacrifice will come to define a generation.

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin's Press

©2021 Kristin Hannah (P)2021 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

2021 Amazon.com Best Books of the Year, Long-listed

2021 Hudson Booksellers Best of the Year, Long-listed

2021 Washington Post Best Books of the Year, Long-listed

2021 USA Today Best Books of the Year, Long-listed

2021 Read with Jenna, Long-listed

"With forceful narrative drive, Whelan delivers a compelling performance of Hannah's memorable new novel." —AudioFile Magazine

"Julia Whelan is herself a master storyteller because it’s absolute magic how she brings this novel to life for listeners. Her emotional rendering will bring tears and laughter and she portrays every character perfectly, men women and children...Have the tissues close when you put those earbuds in." —Reading Franzy

Featured Article: Hit the Open Highway with the 40+ Best Road Trip Listens for Your Next Journey


It takes more than great storytelling to be the right fit for each type of road trip. What works for a cross-country adventure may not be quite right for a quick day trip. What you listen to with your significant other may not be (read: is definitely not) the same as what you listen to with a carload of kids. And when driving solo, sometimes what you want is a little company. No matter what kind of journey you have coming up, we’ve got you covered.

Editor's Pick

Pure audio bliss
Listening to Julia Whelan perform a Kristin Hannah novel is a salve for the soul and a joy for a historical fiction fan like me. I knew The Four Winds was coming months ago (news of an upcoming Hannah is always big news!) and I was lucky enough to get an early review (hardcover) copy by surprise in the mail. I immediately devoured two-thirds of it—then forced myself to wait for the audio to finish. I gladly started from the top and was thrilled to hear Whelan as the voice in my head. It was a seamless transition. Whelan brilliantly embodies the voice of Elsa—the heroine of this Dust Bowl-era story—as well as the array of Texans, Italian immigrants, and a whole host of unforgettable characters. The Four Winds is one I will return to—I’ll surely be thinking back on it, and relistening whenever in need of a story to get lost in. —[Tricia F., Audible Editor]

What listeners say about The Four Winds

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On the lookout for the Movie!

Be prepared for an emotional ride as Kristen Hannah does flawlessly! The Four Winds is a very intense, provocative, detail rendered novel dealing with one of the darkest times in US history. The Dust Bowl, Great Depression, Migrant Experience come alive through Elsa and her family. Throw in very vivid characters in the darkest moments in their lives and you have a novel that will leave you in tears. There is also hope and lessons on how relationships can get you through. How one mother finds her voice not only to stand up for herself, or her children but for many. Outstanding!!!

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75 people found this helpful

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Another Solid Historial Fiction

Kristin Hannah has again nailed the historical fiction genre - after reading the Nightingale, I knew I could not miss The Four Winds - and it did NOT disappoint. It's actually comical seeing how many reviews speak to "how depressing" this book is - SPOILER ALERT: it's written during the Great Depression! Unfortunately some people don't like being faced with the bleakest moments in history. So, please ignore those reviews and go in with the mindset that yes, the characters in this book will face hardship (as with ALL Kristin Hannah novels- that's what makes her character driven writing so great) and yes, this was not a pleasant time in American History, but this book is excellent. It is extensively researched and the narration by Julia Whalen is exceptional as always.

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Did not want this to end!

Kristen Hannah's talent for human suffering comes through in spades in her newest novel about the Great Depression. I am in awe of her ability to bring to life such a wide breadth of characters in her work. She is not tied to one region, one era, or even a genre. She's just damn good at creating characters who are so real you get attached to them enough that you are sad to see them go when the book is over. Her books are always painfully sad, but she hones in on the true meaning of human suffering and the small victories that come from determination and hope. And of course Julia Whalen knocks this one out of the park with her brilliant narration. Highly recommend!

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The Four Winds

Kristen Hannah is such a good writer! Everyone of her books touches my soul in some way. I never knew how hard people had it when they moved West to California. Not sure I could have done this. Elsa finally finds her voice and speaks out. I’ll let you read the rest. So good.

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Beautifully written and moving story

I really enjoyed listening to this truly moving story. The author took a terrible time in our nation’s history and created a story of hope, tragedy and the power of love to transform. Thank you Kristin Hannah!

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This is gripping a true page turner

I love this book . I never give reviews but I would hate for someone to miss out on this great novel.

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Wonderful and Heartbreaking

This book is by a fantastic author and is performed by one of the best readers out there...it is wonderful. It is also incredibly sad.

It is about part of our history that isn't very well remembered and it feels timely for 2021.

It is a book about strong women facing unimaginable hardship and is a reminder of how quickly the world we know can be completely upended.

We need more people like Elsa in this world.

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Detail-Rich wirh Exceptional Narration

Loved this story about Americans struggling through The Dust Bowl and The Great Depression. Kristin Hannah's descriptions made me feel like I could feel, smell or touch the things she was describing. And Julia Whalen's narration was superb. She is an artist. I highly recommend this book.

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Terrible and Fantastic.

loved the book. it was depressing and then hopeful, relevant and historical. vivid. I could feel everything they went through.

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a story about things we don't normally know

the depression, the dust bowl, the rights of workers, being an American in search of a better way of life. the American dream immersed into a love story of family, dedication, commitment and grit. beautifully narrated.

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