The Wild Girl

By: Kate Forsyth

Narrated by: Kate Reading

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

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……

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.

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.

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!!

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.