I Who Have Never Known Men

By: Jacqueline Harpman

Narrated by: Nikki Massoud

Deep underground, 39 women live imprisoned in a cage. Watched over by guards, the women have no memory of how they got there, no notion of time, and only a vague recollection of their lives before.

As the burn of electric light merges day into night and numberless years pass, a young girl—the 40th prisoner—sits alone and outcast in the corner. Soon she will show herself to be the key to the others’ escape and survival in the strange world that awaits them above ground.

Informed by her background as a psychoanalyst and her youth in exile, I Who Have Never Known Men is a haunting, heartbreaking post-apocalyptic novel of female friendship and intimacy, and the lengths people will go to maintain their humanity in the face of devastation. Back in print for the first time since 1997, Jacqueline Harpman’s modern classic is an important addition to the growing canon of feminist speculative literature.

This audio edition of I Who Have Never Known Men is expertly read by Nikki Massoud, a listener favorite. Produced and published by Echo Point Books & Media, an independent bookseller in Brattleboro, Vermont.

©1997, 2019 Ros Schwartz (P)2024 Echo Point Books & Media, LLC

Extremely mid

Fun concept but ultimately feels like it doesn't really resolve. That's probably the point, but unless you like stories where stuff just sort of happens it will feel unsatisfying

Will Stay With Me for a Long Time

Wow. This book was so powerful. I have read reviews saying it was boring and didn’t go anywhere and I understand that opinion. But I think it is a great philosophical story that would be give interesting fodder for Bookclub discussions.

Compelling, human story

I’ve never read anything quite like it. I felt like I was sitting alongside the protagonist and other women. Beautifully narrated.

Unanswered questions

This is a very well written, depressing, monotonous story. Do not pick this book if you're looking for something thrilling or entertaining. Do not pick this book if you suffer from depression. Worst of all, none of your questions will ever be answered. It's an entire book of loose ends. That being said, it's written well and it'll make you think.

Enticing Beginning that Fell Flat

I really did like this book at first I was very interested in the questions and the characters. However, as I got further and further into the book it kinda fell flat.