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Zuleikha Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

4.4 out of 5 stars 912 ratings

Winner of the Big Book Award, the Yasnaya Polyana Award and The Best Prose Work of the Year Award

Soviet Russia, 1930. Zuleikha, the “pitiful hen,” lives with her brutal husband Murtaza and her mother-in-law in a small Tartar village. When Murtaza is executed by communist soldiers, she is sent into exile to a remote region on the Angara River in Siberia. Hundreds die of hunger and exhaustion on the journey and over the first difficult winter, yet exile is the making of Zuleikha.

As she gets to know her fellow survivors - among them an eccentric German doctor, a painter, and the conscience-stricken Commander Ignatov, her husband’s killer - Zuleikha begins to build a new life far removed from the one she left behind.

Guzel Yakhina’s outstanding debut - inspired by her grandmother's childhood memories of being exiled to the Gulag - has been translated into twenty-one languages, capturing the hearts of listeners all over the world.

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  1. Listening Length
    18 hours and 52 minutes
  2. Author
    Guzel Yakhina, see all
  3. Narrator
    Elise Arsenault
  4. Audible release date
    September 24, 2019
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    Brilliance Audio
  7. ASIN
    B07XC3H9MY
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
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Product details

Listening Length 18 hours and 52 minutes
Author Guzel Yakhina, Lisa C. Hayden - translator
Narrator Elise Arsenault
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date September 24, 2019
Publisher Brilliance Audio
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B07XC3H9MY
Best Sellers Rank

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
912 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers praise this skillful historical fiction for its brilliant descriptions of harsh environments and good character development. The book provides an intimate look at the Soviet take over of Russia, with one customer highlighting its portrayal of early settlements in Siberia. Customers find the narrative heartbreaking, with one review noting its ultimate triumph through hardships and tragedy, while another appreciates how characters persevere above all odds. The writing quality receives positive feedback, though some customers find it difficult to read.

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Narrative qualityWriting qualityCharacter developmentHistoryHeartbreakingStrengthDifficulty to read
19 customers mention "Narrative quality"19 positive0 negative

Customers praise the narrative quality of the book, describing it as a skillful historical fiction that unfolds as a real saga, with one customer noting how history is revealed through human experiences.

"An incredible book, a real saga by an award-winning Russian author that stretches through the Russian Soviet era beginning just at the start of the..." Read more

"...The details are painful and profound. The story feels equal to the truth through and through." Read more

"The author and translator are very skilled at evoking worlds. The descriptions of nature and the hardships of the Semruk settlement are lyrical...." Read more

"I found the topic interesting but the book was a slow read for me...." Read more

12 customers mention "Writing quality"12 positive0 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, particularly its brilliant descriptions of harsh environments and vivid depictions of various settings.

"...And Lisa Hayden's English translation captures the rich and harsh environments, the pain and the fight for life in seemingly unbearable..." Read more

"...The author is so talented that it is absolutely impossible to believe that this book was her debut in literature...." Read more

"...The details are painful and profound. The story feels equal to the truth through and through." Read more

"Great writing, character development and pace." Read more

10 customers mention "Character development"10 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, with one review specifically praising the strong Muslim lead character's strength and courage.

"...struggles, and finds reason to live, I came to love and admire her strength and courage. Highly recommended...." Read more

"...helping others, of giving unconditional love, and of surviving even in the most dire conditions...." Read more

"Great writing, character development and pace." Read more

"...opens a window onto a terrible time and through the brilliant development of its main characters, ensures that the reader ardently stays invoved in..." Read more

5 customers mention "History"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the historical content of the book, with reviews highlighting its portrayal of the Soviet takeover of Russia and early settlements in Siberia.

"An intimate look at the Soviet take over of Russia and its surrounding nations primarily through the eyes of a young wife who is sent to one of the..." Read more

"Great book about early settlements in Siberia ,remote land east of Ural mountain...." Read more

"Zuleikha is a contemporary Soviet era gem...." Read more

"...A great portrait of Soviet camp and a remarkable woman." Read more

4 customers mention "Heartbreaking"4 positive0 negative

Customers describe the book as heartbreaking, with one review noting how it evokes intense emotions and leaves no heart untouched, while another highlights its ultimate triumph through hardships and tragedy.

"...through human experiences, struggles, incredible obstacles and intense emotions. Very moving...." Read more

"This is a rare book that would not leave a single heart untouched...." Read more

"...of natural scenes and their inhabitants; and the perfect, heartbreaking, yet hope-filled ending. A truly beautiful story." Read more

"Beautiful story centering on a woman’s survival and ultimate triumph through hardships and tragedy. A glimpse into another world of not that long ago" Read more

4 customers mention "Strength"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the strength of the book, with one review highlighting how the protagonist perseveres above all odds and overcomes many obstacles to survive, while another notes how she finds reason to live.

"...As Zuleikha survives, struggles, and finds reason to live, I came to love and admire her strength and courage. Highly recommended...." Read more

"...With time, she will find out that she is a strong woman, capable of helping others, of giving unconditional love, and of surviving even in the most..." Read more

"...She over comes many obstacles to survive and finds inner strength that she never knew she had. A great portrait of Soviet camp and a remarkable woman." Read more

"...part of the world only when people live, love, and persevere above all odds." Read more

3 customers mention "Difficulty to read"0 positive3 negative

Customers find the book difficult to read, with one mentioning tedious sections discussing mythological creatures.

"...It was extremely slow moving and tedious. The book itself just ended abruptly...." Read more

"...Good character development but a bit tedious in sections discussing mythological creatures." Read more

"It was hard to get into........" Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Sharon
    5.0 out of 5 stars Exquisite historical novel; brilliant descriptions of harsh environments and struggles for survival
    Reviewed in the United States on September 4, 2023
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    An incredible book, a real saga by an award-winning Russian author that stretches through the Russian Soviet era beginning just at the start of the 20th Century near Kazan and going into 1946 in the harshest lands imaginable. Beautiful. Exquisite. History revealed slowly through human experiences, struggles, incredible obstacles and intense emotions. Very moving. Guzel Yakhina describes nature in lush, rich detail as she develops strong, tough characters. And Lisa Hayden's English translation captures the rich and harsh environments, the pain and the fight for life in seemingly unbearable circumstances. As Zuleikha survives, struggles, and finds reason to live, I came to love and admire her strength and courage. Highly recommended.

    by Guzel Yakhina (English translation: Lisa C. Hayden)
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Mara
    4.0 out of 5 stars Book in excellent condition
    Reviewed in the United States on April 17, 2025
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Book arrived in excellent condition
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  • cautiousbuyer
    5.0 out of 5 stars A True Masterpiece!
    Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2019
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    This is a rare book that would not leave a single heart untouched. Narration is done mostly through the mindset of a young Islamic Tartar woman, who is simple and holly as a child and whose only fault was to happen to be born in the Stalin time in Russia and to be married to a hardworking husband, but this was still enough to be exiled to Siberia taiga to die of hunger and cold. But God is love and love is God, though the road to them is unique for everyone, but only Love can do the impossible possible, and turn death into life and the evil into beauty. The author is so talented that it is absolutely impossible to believe that this book was her debut in literature. BTW The Russians have just finished the movie based on the book with a famous Russian movie and stage actress Chulpan Khamatova as Zuleikha, who is a Tatar by her origin, and the movie is planned to be released in the fall of 2019.
    23 people found this helpful
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Powerful
    Reviewed in the United States on July 1, 2023
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    An intimate look at the Soviet take over of Russia and its surrounding nations primarily through the eyes of a young wife who is sent to one of the first ever reeducation camps and until she reaches middle age there. The details are painful and profound. The story feels equal to the truth through and through.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Mary E. Young
    3.0 out of 5 stars 3 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed in the United States on May 14, 2025
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Zuleikha has been relegated to a workhorse for her husband and mother-in-law. Forced to follow their every whim, her life is full of drudgery. In the aftermath of the Russian revolution, soldiers overrun her village and kill her husband. She is transported by train to a new life in Siberia.

    I’m not entirely sure how I feel about this book. It was extremely slow moving and tedious. The book itself just ended abruptly. I thought life in Siberia was interesting to read about, but the characters never captured me. Overall, 3 out of 5 stars.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Patricia Ibarra
    4.0 out of 5 stars How adversity sometimes discloses the best of people
    Reviewed in the United States on July 24, 2023
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Zuleikha is a young Russian woman, married to a man used to treating her with cruelty, as his possession and his mother as a goddess, who acts as a vigilant eye so that her daughter-in-law follows and obeys all the religious, social, and personal rules, but particularly, her desires. She aspires to be obeyed because she is blind and everybody owes her unconditional respect. They live in a small Tatar village, but unrest is brewing again in Russia. Zuleikha's life will change in a way she would have never imagined when they were attacked by communist soldiers and her husband was killed.

    She is exiled to Siberia and starts a completely new life from starch and all alone. With time, she will find out that she is a strong woman, capable of helping others, of giving unconditional love, and of surviving even in the most dire conditions. One of the exiles is a doctor who will become a strong shoulder she can lean on. She also has to overcome gnawing feelings that take hold of her mind, such as knowing that the person who is in charge of them, Ignatov, was her husband's murderer, but is also a compassionate man who has made his mission to help everybody survive.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • TC Gal
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic
    Reviewed in the United States on June 9, 2024
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Great writing, character development and pace.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars A classic is born
    Reviewed in the United States on December 19, 2021
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Guzel Yakhina's core characters will live on in her readers' minds long after they reluctantly close the book. This is a triumph. Lisa Hayden's brilliant translation is beautiful: sharp, crackling prose that at times becomes dreamlike and layered. Time lags or accelerates depending on events. The novel opens a window onto a terrible time and through the brilliant development of its main characters, ensures that the reader ardently stays invoved in their fates.
    2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Geoff Crocker
    5.0 out of 5 stars Officialdom vs Humanity, Russian style
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 10, 2019
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    Guzel Yakhina writes a gripping story. Her characters are deeply drawn. Her descriptive prose is captivating. The historic context of persecution of Kulaks in post-revolutionary Russia is fascinating. Her partly researched and partly imagined descriptions of harsh primitive agricultural Tatar culture, and of human community in a forced labour camp in arduous conditions, are compelling.

    Murtaza is the hardy Islamic Tartar farmer dreadfully mistreating the young Zuleikha, Ivan Ignatov is the young revolutionary capable of sensitive thought, but compromised to the system by persuading himself that Kulaks really are the ‘enemies of the people’, Kuznets is the cynical gangster party boss, Gorelov the duplicitous base criminal who gains power. The rest of Yakhina’s cast are decent, gifted, gracious people, deported and imprisoned for their class. This may seem a rather fanciful binary divide between virtue and vice, but is a relevant comment on Russian society which still today is often characterised by hostility in the public domain, and warm friendship and human virtue in the private domain. Yakhina is optimistic in letting virtue prevail. Let’s hope she’s right.

    The English of Lisa Hayden’s translation flows flawlessly.
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  • Alena Jirasek
    5.0 out of 5 stars Brave Zuleikha
    Reviewed in Canada on July 24, 2023
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Very readable book but in parts there are too many details that are not part of the story. Regardless I recommend the book.
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  • Hell
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excelente servicio de pre venta))
    Reviewed in Mexico on April 11, 2019
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    El pedido me llego en tiempo y forma, muy buen servicio
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    Hell
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    Excelente servicio de pre venta))

    Reviewed in Mexico on April 11, 2019
    El pedido me llego en tiempo y forma, muy buen servicio
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  • Fortunata
    1.0 out of 5 stars Depressing
    Reviewed in Spain on February 14, 2021
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Relentlessly miserable and extremely depressing. Bad translation.
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  • Anna Bokhanova
    5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant story, brilliant translation
    Reviewed in Germany on May 20, 2019
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    Read that in Russian, so fascinated and ordered English version and never regretted
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