Matrix

A Novel

By: Lauren Groff

Narrated by: Adjoa Andoh

AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

WINNER OF THE 2022 JOYCE CAROL OATES PRIZE

FINALIST FOR THE 2021 NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FOR FICTION

One of Barack Obama's Favorite Books of 2021

Named a Best Book of the Year by The New York Times, The Washington Post, TIME, NPR, The Financial Times, Good Housekeeping, Esquire, Vulture, Marie Claire, Vox, The Los Angeles Times, USA Today and more!

“A relentless exhibition of Groff’s freakish talent. In just over 250 pages, she gives us a character study to rival Hilary Mantel’s Thomas Cromwell .” – USA Today

“An electric reimagining . . . feminist, sensual . . . unforgettable.” – O, The Oprah Magazine

“Thrilling and heartbreaking.” –Time Magazine

“[A] page-by-page pleasure as we soar with her.” –New York Times

One of our best American writers, Lauren Groff returns with her exhilarating first new novel since the groundbreaking Fates and Furies.

Cast out of the royal court by Eleanor of Aquitaine, deemed too coarse and rough-hewn for marriage or courtly life, seventeen-year-old Marie de France is sent to England to be the new prioress of an impoverished abbey, its nuns on the brink of starvation and beset by disease.

At first taken aback by the severity of her new life, Marie finds focus and love in collective life with her singular and mercurial sisters. In this crucible, Marie steadily supplants her desire for family, for her homeland, for the passions of her youth with something new to her: devotion to her sisters, and a conviction in her own divine visions. Marie, born the last in a long line of women warriors and crusaders, is determined to chart a bold new course for the women she now leads and protects. But in a world that is shifting and corroding in frightening ways, one that can never reconcile itself with her existence, will the sheer force of Marie’s vision be bulwark enough?

Equally alive to the sacred and the profane, Matrix gathers currents of violence, sensuality, and religious ecstasy in a mesmerizing portrait of consuming passion, aberrant faith, and a woman that history moves both through and around. Lauren Groff’s new novel, her first since Fates and Furies, is a defiant and timely exploration of the raw power of female creativity in a corrupted world.

©2021 Lauren Groff (P)2021 Listening Library

Critic reviews

“A radiant novel about the 12th-century poet and mystic Marie de France. . . Groff richly imagines Marie's decades of exile in a royal convent, which she eventually leads. A charged novel about female ambition.” – Maureen Corrigan, NPR's Fresh Air

“Just when it seems there are nothing but chronicles of decline and ruin comes Lauren Groff’s Matrix, about a self-sufficient abbey of 12th-century nuns—a shining, all-female utopian community… it is finally its spirit of celebration that gives this novel its many moments of beauty.” – Wall Street Journal

“An electric reimagining . . . feminist, sensual . . . unforgettable.” – O, The Oprah Magazine

Luminous literary novel!

Lauren Groff is a genius and is fast winning my heart as the finest writer I’ve read in years. Her versatility is amazing but here she gives us time travel and a character of totally pure warrior spirit and oceanic depth and mystery. Thematic complexity..perfection of imagery which takes the reader right into the heart of 12th century Britain.Matrix is a masterpiece!!!

Great historical vibe, but not much happens.

Easy read, and BEAUTIFUL narration in English spiced with Latin and french.
Intresting attempt at telling a story about a women's only community.

Wonderfully written story!!

This Audible selection was a delight to listen to. The author's use of language was magical and the narration was musical. Thank you for this gem!!

Holy Mother of God!

I kneel down to this story- and it’s telling. Glorious in its words, emotions, passions, sisterhood, and themes of the power of story, and of women- and the consequences of our actions, and the attraction of power- and the power of attraction. And the, and the…

I was enraptured from the beginning to the very last words.

Narration

The narrator is incredible. The writing magical, full of energy. A fable for our time.

Loved every minute

Great writing, fabulous performance, Lauren Groff is one of my faves. Adjoa Andoh is exceptional with the content and giving voice to each character.

Come for the great writing, stay for the narration

Very impressed with the amazing narrator. It’s not an easy story to tell but she does it beautifully.

Best book I’ve read in awhile!

Incredible, stunning and haunting book.
Thoroughly enjoyed this mystical world. Lauren Groff is a genius!!!!

interesting reas

interesting and immersive character development of the main character providing a different perspective that you would normally have of the time

Keep listening

There’s more to this story than on the surface. Listening to the message. Strong woman who didn’t stop.