Preview
  • The Wild Girl

  • By: Kate Forsyth
  • Narrated by: Kate Reading
  • Length: 17 hrs and 42 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (158 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The Wild Girl

By: Kate Forsyth
Narrated by: Kate Reading
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $19.46

Buy for $19.46

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

One of six sisters, Dortchen Wild lives in the small German kingdom of Hesse-Cassel in the early 19th century. She finds herself irresistibly drawn to the boy next door, the handsome but very poor fairy-tale scholar Wilhelm Grimm.

It is a time of tyranny and terror. Napoleon Bonaparte wants to conquer all of Europe, and Hesse-Cassel is one of the first kingdoms to fall. Forced to live under oppressive French rule, Wilhelm and his brothers quietly rebel by preserving old, half-forgotten tales that had once been told by firesides of houses grand and small all over the land.

As Dortchen tells Wilhelm some of the most powerful and compelling stories in what will one day become his and Jacob's famous fairy-tale collection, their love blossoms. But Dortchen's father will not give his consent for them to marry, and war, death, and poverty also conspire to keep the lovers apart. Yet Dortchen is determined to find a way.

Evocative and richly detailed, Kate Forsyth's The Wild Girl masterfully captures one young woman's enduring faith in love and the power of storytelling.

©2015 Blackstone Audio, Inc. (P)2015 Blackstone Audio
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

What listeners say about The Wild Girl

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    95
  • 4 Stars
    38
  • 3 Stars
    12
  • 2 Stars
    9
  • 1 Stars
    4
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    113
  • 4 Stars
    20
  • 3 Stars
    6
  • 2 Stars
    4
  • 1 Stars
    3
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    89
  • 4 Stars
    30
  • 3 Stars
    16
  • 2 Stars
    8
  • 1 Stars
    3

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Pleasantly surprised!

With the title I expected a wild magical concoction. I thoroughly enjoyed this romantic, historical tale. The way the story is punctuated with heartbreak almost caused physical pain. Now on to my next Forsyth……

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Surprising Depth

I don't know how much of this is true. But I know its based on truth. This story packs a punch, just like Grimms’ original fairy tales. Very glad i read it. Official fan.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

What a surprise in the most pleasant way!

I don’t usually write reviews but wow! Completely blown away by how much I enjoyed this book. The narration, writing, and overall story arc are *chef’s kiss*. Will most definitely listen to again and will probably be buying the book as well.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Powerful, bittersweet and enchanting

If you could sum up The Wild Girl in three words, what would they be?

Powerful, bittersweet, and enchanting. For anyone who loves history, fairytales, and romance, this is your perfect book. For me in particular it was special, as the German setting brought me close to home.

What other book might you compare The Wild Girl to and why?

I've never read any like it, which made it even more special. But thinking on this question made me think of Pan's Labyrinth, the film.

What does Kate Reading bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Oh, her voices were perfect for each character. I loved listening to her!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, absolutely. I loved everything - save the treatment of the main character - the interweaving of love, storytelling, German folk culture, history and the war. Every detail, like the description of medicines and herbal remedies, added to the layered magic of this tale.

Any additional comments?

It was quite a tragic story in many ways, but don't all fairytales have an element of tragedy? The treatment of Dortchen by her father was very alarming at times, and I wondered how true this was to the real life of this family. There were moments I could scarcely listen and felt perhaps the author went too far, but perhaps my strong reaction to the story is what makes it such a great story. The ending was perfect!!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

In the end, I loved it 💜

It took a moment for me to settle into this book. However, I'm so glad I did! Definitely worth the read. Especially if you enjoy period pieces.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Bittersweet story, fantastic reader

I had debated on this book for some time just not quite sure about it from the description. But because Kate Reading was narrating, I finally gave it a try. And so glad I did!

One of the amazing things about voice actor Reading is that I forget there is s narrator. I just get completely lost in the story. Yes, she has unique character voices, a smooth narration, and all the other hallmarks we look for in a reader. But the story comes first, and it shines in the best possible light.

This bittersweet tale could have been one of the brothers Grimm own tales. It weaves through hardship after hardship, to end with a triumph against the odds. A story to encourage perseverance and hope.

While there were no notes regarding historical accuracy, it does take place in Westphalia before and after Napoleon's rise to power. And I think to myself: It seems a realistic picture of what it might have been like as an average person living through war torn times in the 19th century. Some nice details for the historical clothing fans out there. Enough visuals overall, that I recall it as one might a movie.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Beautiful and tragic

This was such a sad love story with such great detail and historical references that kept me listening every chance I had. I highly recommend but definitely be aware there are some very disturbing traumas described. At times they were too much to listen to but indeed gave such a deep layer of empathy for the main character and her story that I understand why the author wrote them in where she did.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

heartwrenchingly amazing

could not put it "down. Excited to read more from this author. Narrator Kate Reading nails it, again:-)

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Excellent performance, brutal story

I enjoyed the descriptions of life in the time and place, including the references to real historical events. The narrator is superb. The story was compelling, but so often the brutality and violence were just really hard to listen to. This book is definitely not recommended for anyone with issues around sexual abuse.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Truly a Grimm tale

This was a very special book. Not a remotely gentle read, but very well written and perfectly narrated.
I learned so much about the Napoleonic wars that I’ve never run across before.
Though a love story, it wasn’t easy, and there was a lot of violence and very challenging subject matter, much like the original Grimm fairy tales.
I’m glad I listened to it, but it’s not for everyone

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!