The Song of Bernadette, Franz Werfel Translated by Ludwig Lewisohn
The Song of Bernadette, Franz Werfel Translated by Ludwig Lewisohn
List: $23.95 | Sale: $16.77
Club: $11.97

The Song of Bernadette

Author: Franz Werfel; Translated by Ludwig Lewisohn

Narrator: Johanna Ward

Unabridged: 18 hr 7 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 01/23/2013


Synopsis

The Song of Bernadette is considered one of the twentieth centurys greatest novels of triumphant religious faith. How the book came to be written is itself an inspirational and even miraculous story. In 1940, famed Austrian author Franz Werfel and his wife were on a desperate flight from the Nazi invaders, whom Franz had publicly denounced. Repeatedly thwarted in their attempts to cross the French border, they found temporary refuge in Lourdes, home of the famous shrine where Bernadette received visions of the Virgin Mary and where millions come in faith to seek a miracle. Werfel became fascinated with Bernadettes story and began to visit the sacred grotto every day, swearing that, should he and his wife be granted escape from the Nazis, he would write the story of Bernadette for all the world. Franzs prayers were answered, and in America he wrote his masterpiece, The Song of Bernadette, a beautiful fusion of faith and craft.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Danusha on May 25, 2013

Whoever you are, gentle reader, I recommend this book to you. It is one of those universal classics that powerfully, skillfully, and with thoroughgoing integrity, addresses a truly universal phenomenon: the encounter of mortal, corporeal, limited human beings with the numinous. That's something we al......more

Goodreads review by Lemar on December 19, 2021

Fran Werfel tells a story many in 1941 must have initially thought unimportant and hopelessly out of fashion, a story about a strong woman, a story about a divine vision. I can only imagine his publisher's disappointment. It turned out to be a major book and was made into a movie (that I haven't yet......more

Goodreads review by Yigal on February 08, 2019

the story of Bernadette a simple girl turned into a sacred and holy figure and in reality the struggle between a dreamer and the religious system drawn in the hand of a master writer.......more

Goodreads review by Isabella on February 24, 2024

This book was a beautiful masterpiece of thanksgiving from Frank Werfel to both Our Lady of Lourdes and St. Bernadette. The character, struggles, and virtue of the child of Lourdes was expressed throughout the novel, as he portrayed the apparition scenes, and the opposition that Bernadette faced as......more

Goodreads review by Katie on October 11, 2022

The Song of Bernadette was written by Franz Werfel and published in 1941. Franz was a Jew who took refuge in Lourdes, France with his wife during World War 2. It was there that he learned about the famous Bernadette and vowed to write a tribute to her when he escaped to the United States. The Song o......more