Listen to a sample
The Correspondent
- Author
- Virginia Evans
- Narrator
- various
- Publisher
- Penguin Books Ltd
- Publish Date
- 29 April 2025
- Run Time
- 8 hours 34 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
- Genre
- Modern and contemporary fiction: literary and general, Humorous fiction, Epistolary fiction / fictional diaries, Family life fiction / Stories about family, Narrative theme: love / relationships
- Rating
- 4.5 (10 reviews)
Not available in your country
We don't have the rights to sell this audiobook where you are. If it's already in your library you can still listen to it in My Books.
What to expect
Brought to you by Penguin.
*WINNER OF THE WOMEN’S PRIZE FOR FICTION 2026*
In her letters to family and friends we come to know the life of Sybil Van Antwerp: stubborn, cantankerous, opinionated, always steadfast in her belief in the power of the written word.
But as the clock begins to tick for Sybil, the need for a few post-scripts to the life she’s led becomes apparent. Fixing her difficult relationship with her children. Taking a final chance at romance. Atoning for an old legal case which has come back to haunt her. And finally, reckoning with a devastating loss that she has spent the last thirty years holding close to her chest.
'Subtly told and finely made, The Correspondent is a portrait of a small life expanding' ANN PATCHETT
'The superbly talented Virginia Evans has written a novel of connection and daring' - ADRIANA TRIGANI, bestselling author of The Good Left Undone
'I was wowed by this deliciously brilliant book! Thank you, Virginia Evans, for a life beautifully told in letters, for creating a character whose mind struggles with her heart in a most intriguing, sympathetic, witty, and binge-worthy way' - Elinor Lipman, author of MS DEMEANOR
© Virginia Evans 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025
Critics Review
-
I was delighted and moved . . . Evans does an expert job at making you root for [Sybil] even as you want to give her a timeout . . . Masterful
New York Times
-
This is the novel I'm giving to everyone for Christmas... The Correspondent is a delight: melancholy without being sentimental, warm without being cosy, witty without being silly... The comparisons to Strout are accurate but this novel also reminded me of Anne Tyler's ability to make the domestic dramatic... An ode to a dying art form, and proof that your life is never too decided to make a change.
The Times
-
A warm, funny gem of a novel . . . It’s a clever conceit, which Virginia Evans uses to great effect in a novel that is melancholic without being sentimental. One for fans of Elizabeth Strout.
The Times, Best Books of 2025
-
Subtly told and finely made, The Correspondent is a portrait of a small life expanding. Virginia Evans shows how one woman changes at a point when change had seemed impossible. That change, like this novel, turns out to be a cause for celebration
Ann Patchett, bestselling author of TOM LAKE
See more reviews See fewer reviews
-
‘A masterclass in how to put words on human frailty. This debut does not put a foot wrong. Smart and clever . . . Evans is a confident, competent author in whom we can trust’
Irish Times
-
I can't praise it enough. Sybil is such a wonderful character, and the supporting cast so vivid and real. For a book about grief and regret it is also properly funny. It's an absolute triumph
Clare Chambers, bestselling author of SMALL PLEASURES
-
Open-hearted with some, a hedgehog curled tight in a ball with others, I cried more than once as I witnessed this brilliant woman come to understand herself more deeply and risk lowering her defences. Both serious and uplifting, in The Correspondent, Virginia Evans shows us what a glorious thing growing older can be
Florence Knapp, author of THE NAMES
-
This novel is a complete and utter joy.
Ann Napolitano, bestselling author of HELLO BEAUTIFUL
-
I'm kind of speechless at how good this was. How unexpectedly perfect and profoundly moving. It is so rare that a novel surprises you, but this one certainly did. I loved it. Felt cradled by it. Moved, and hurt, and healed. It’s a masterclass in the passage of time, in showing, not telling. In humility and redemption and how to love. I couldn’t look away. It is genius. It is tender. It has left me bruised, and grateful, and in tears. One of my best reads of the year.
Claire Daverley, author of TALKING AT NIGHT
-
Beautiful. A quietly brilliant debut that I didn’t want to put down. Sybil is one of the most rounded, real, fascinating characters I've read in a long time.
BETH O'LEARY
User Reviews
Book 4.5
Narration 4.7
-
5.0 5.0
I couldn’t stop listening to this. I loved all the characters and the style of writing really kept me wanting more.
weez 2026-09-11 -
5.0 5.0
Incredible story and amazing narration!
EmmaBethany 2026-07-26 -
5.0 5.0
I LOVED this book. A really lovely, understated but powerful story, and fantastically performed by a full cast.
emgrace 2026-06-16 -
4.0 5.0
Very well read. Took me a while to get into this story, as the whole book is a series of letters from different people, but once I was into it I enjoyed it. The different voices are excellent and really help with following the story with this interesting narrative structure.
girlinahurry 2026-02-19
See more reviews See fewer reviews
-
5.0 5.0
Wonderful book - very moving, and the narration was excellent
marieiram 2026-02-01 -
5.0 5.0
I highly recommended this book. It's a story told through letters. I found it interesting, informative, funny, sad and so much more.
Greenkiwiinlondon 2025-12-26
Details
- Author
- Virginia Evans
- Narrator
- various
- Duration
- 8 hours 34 minutes
- Release Date
- 29 April 2025
- ISBN
- 9781405972796
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- Penguin Books Ltd
- Genre
- Modern and contemporary fiction: literary and general, Humorous fiction, Epistolary fiction / fictional diaries, Family life fiction / Stories about family, Narrative theme: love / relationships
- Rating
- 4.5(10 reviews)
- Narration
- 4.7(10 reviews)
Synopsis
Brought to you by Penguin. *WINNER OF THE WOMEN’S PRIZE FOR FICTION 2026*In her letters to family and friends we come to know the life of Sybil Van Antwerp: stubborn, cantankerous, opinionated, always steadfast in her belief in the power of the written word.But as the clock begins to tick for Sybil, the need for a few post-scripts to the life she’s led becomes apparent. Fixing her difficult relationship with her children. Taking a final chance at romance. Atoning for an old legal case which has come back to haunt her. And finally, reckoning with a devastating loss that she has spent the last thirty years holding close to her chest.'Subtly told and finely made, The Correspondent is a portrait of a small life expanding' ANN PATCHETT'The superbly talented Virginia Evans has written a novel of connection and daring' - ADRIANA TRIGANI, bestselling author of The Good Left Undone 'I was wowed by this deliciously brilliant book! Thank you, Virginia Evans, for a life beautifully told in letters, for creating a character whose mind struggles with her heart in a most intriguing, sympathetic, witty, and binge-worthy way' - Elinor Lipman, author of MS DEMEANOR© Virginia Evans 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025
About xigxag
xigxag is an independent, UK-based audiobook platform and the UK's only B Corp certified audiobook company. We offer nearly 150,000 audiobooks, all with professional human narration. No AI-generated voices. xigxag is rated an Ethical Consumer Best Buy for audiobooks and a top-rated ethical bookshop.
There is no subscription. You buy the audiobooks you want, you own them permanently, and prices start at $13.95. The more you listen over the year, the less you pay per book, and there is always a selection in Listen for Less from $7.95. You can also send audiobooks as gifts using our audiobook gift cards or in-app gifting.
Every audiobook on xigxag has honest reviews covering both the book and the narration, and our community features make it easy to share what you are listening to, discover what others recommend, and find your next listen.
Download or stream on iOS, Android, or in your browser. Browse the full catalogue at xigxag.co.uk.