The Kingdom of Cain Audiobook By Andrew Klavan cover art

The Kingdom of Cain

Finding God in the Literature of Darkness

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The Kingdom of Cain

By: Andrew Klavan
Narrated by: Andrew Klavan
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About this listen

Read by the author.

How can we "rejoice always" when the world often seems so broken? Andrew Klavan explores how artists' imaginative engagement with the darkness can point the way to living beautifully in the midst of a tragic world.

In his USA Today bestselling The Truth and Beauty, Andrew Klavan explored how the work of great poets helps illuminate the truth of the gospels. Now, the award-winning screenwriter and crime novelist turns his attention to the dark side of human nature to discover how we might find joy and beauty in the world while still being clear-eyed about the evil found in it.

The Kingdom of Cain looks at three murders in history—including the first murder, Cain's killing of his brother, Abel—and at the art created from imaginative engagement with those horrific events by artists ranging from Fyodor Dostoevsky to Alfred Hitchcock. To make beauty out of the world as it is—shot through with evil and injustice and suffering—is the task not just of the artist but, Klavan argues, of every life rightly lived. Examining how that transformation occurs in art grants us a vision for how it can happen in our lives.

Klavan eloquently argues that it is possible to be clear-eyed about the evil in the world while remaining hope-filled about God's ability to redeem it all.

©2025 Andrew Klavan (P)2025 Zondervan
Christian Literature & Art Christian Living Christianity Death & Grief Ethics & Morality Literary History & Criticism Philosophy Religious Studies Heartfelt Inspiring Thought-Provoking
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Thank you Andrew Klavan for your piercing wit and wisdom and THANk YOU for reading this work to us!

Lightning insights into the culture we know and the deeper meanings we may not have considered

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It’s pretty good
I like listening to his podcast
But I love this book
Give it a listen

His best yet

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Beautiful work, if you liked ‘Truth and Beauty’ you’ll love Kingdom of Cain! I already plan on listening and reading it again to see what I may have missed.

Klavan Klassic

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I bought this book then downloaded the audible version when I found out the author read it himself. This story is a deep, unrelenting truthful look into mankind and what makes humans the superior creation of a loving God. Flaws, failures and redemption.

The best of Andrew Klavan

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I love Andrew’s heartfelt, honest commentary on culture, morality, art, history, etc. I love that he doesn’t pretend to be a theologian but speaks so eloquently about his experience with God. His writing is weighty, timely, hopeful and inspiring. I get insights from his work like those I’ve gotten from CS Lewis. The closing paragraphs of this book gave me chills in its poignant wrap up of the Kingdom of Cain we live in now and the hope of the Kingdom of God.

A Modern Day CS Lewis Type

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Liked the perspective: ancient and historical that Andrew Klaven brought to living in this culture of atheism. He did this wrapped up in the mystery of man who murders-I appreciated the last chapter where he spoke of the murder of man through art-really amazing-plan to give the book to many friends and family-Dislike: sometimes he spoke a little too rapidly-like his mind works-glad audible has speed controls!

Refreshing insights into a reality as old as Genesis.

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Klavan provides another great insight into the arts in their current state, what has happened to get us here, and why we still ought to look to the Lord with awe because of them. What a great listen!

Klavan Does It Again

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Once again Andrew Klavan has taken a subject I hadn’t thought redeemable and shown how it points straight to God.

Even evil is used to show us how good is necessary. That there really is good. And that good comes from no other source but God Himself.

I was fascinated by this very well written book.

Insightful and Wise

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Fascinating how Klavan tied all of his concepts together. I found the book quite compelling! Thanks, Andrew!

Very insightful!

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Klavan keeps getting better. I’m pretty sure I only understood less than half of this book on the first listen. Not because it isn’t well written, but because I’m not that smart! But the half I did understand was truly moving. Even if you disagree with every word, it’s still worth your time. It will make you look at life and art in a whole new light. Oh, and also, check out Werewolf Cop. Klavan mentions it in The Kingdom of Cain. It truly is an amazing book…with a terrible title :)

Wow…just, wow!

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