Set in the early 19th century, 'The Invention of Wings' follows the intertwined lives of Hetty, an enslaved girl, and Sarah, a privileged white girl. As they navigate the complex and oppressive world of Charleston, their aspirations for freedom and self-identity clash with societal expectations. The narrative delves deep into themes of friendship, rebellion, and the pursuit of justice, leading readers through a journey of personal and social transformation. With poignant storytelling and rich historical detail, the book raises questions about race, gender, and the cost of liberation. Readers will be left pondering the power of hope and the strength of the human spirit.
By Sue Monk Kidd
Published: 2014
""I am not afraid. I was born to do this.""
The #1 New York Times bestseller of hope, daring, and the quest for freedom taken on by two unforgettable American women, from the celebrated author of The Secret Life of Bees. “A remarkable novel that heightened my sense of what it meant to be a woman – slave or free . . a conversation changer.” – Oprah Winfrey, O, The Oprah Magazine “Powerful…furthers our essential understanding of what has happened among us as Americans – and why it still matters.” –The Washington Post Writing at the height of her narrative and imaginative gifts, Sue Monk Kidd presents a masterpiece of hope, daring, the quest for freedom, and the desire to have a voice in the world—and it is now the newest Oprah’s Book Club 2.0 selection. Hetty “Handful” Grimke, an urban slave in early nineteenth century Charleston, yearns for life beyond the suffocating walls that enclose her within the wealthy Grimke household. The Grimke’s daughter, Sarah, has known from an early age she is meant to do something large in the world, but she is hemmed in by the limits imposed on women. Kidd’s sweeping novel is set in motion on Sarah’s eleventh birthday, when she is given ownership of ten year old Handful, who is to be her handmaid. We follow their remarkable journeys over the next thirty five years, as both strive for a life of their own, dramatically shaping each other’s destinies and forming a complex relationship marked by guilt, defiance, estrangement and the uneasy ways of love. As the stories build to a riveting climax, Handful will endure loss and sorrow, finding courage and a sense of self in the process. Sarah will experience crushed hopes, betrayal, unrequited love, and ostracism before leaving Charleston to find her place alongside her fearless younger sister, Angelina, as one of the early pioneers in the abolition and women’s rights movements. Inspired by the historical figure of Sarah Grimke, Kidd goes beyond the record to flesh out the rich interior lives of all of her characters, both real and invented, including Handful’s cunning mother, Charlotte, who courts danger in her search for something better. This exquisitely written novel is a triumph of storytelling that looks with unswerving eyes at a devastating wound in American history, through women whose struggles for liberation, empowerment, and expression will leave no reader unmoved.
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“"I am not afraid. I was born to do this."”
The Invention of Wings
By Sue Monk Kidd
Discover a world of knowledge through our extensive collection of book summaries.
Sue Monk Kidd is a bestselling American author known for her engaging and lyrical prose that explores themes of spirituality, women's lives, and personal transformation. Her notable works include the acclaimed novels "The Secret Life of Bees," which was adapted into a major motion picture, and "The Invention of Wings," a historical fiction inspired by the life of abolitionist Sarah Grimké. Kidd's writing often weaves elements of her own experiences and reflects her deep interest in women's roles in society and the natural world.
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