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Matrix: A Novel
Audible Audiobook
– Unabridged
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.
- Listening Length8 hours and 51 minutes
- Audible release dateSeptember 7, 2021
- LanguageEnglish
- ASINB08X129G7X
- VersionUnabridged
- Program TypeAudiobook
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Product details
Listening Length | 8 hours and 51 minutes |
---|---|
Author | Lauren Groff |
Narrator | Adjoa Andoh |
Whispersync for Voice | Ready |
Audible.com Release Date | September 07, 2021 |
Publisher | Penguin Audio |
Program Type | Audiobook |
Version | Unabridged |
Language | English |
ASIN | B08X129G7X |
Best Sellers Rank |
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Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers praise the book's remarkable writing style and find it a true masterpiece, appreciating its historical detail of medieval life and careful research. Moreover, the story focuses on women in important positions and features a strong female protagonist. However, the character development receives mixed reviews, with some finding the main protagonist wonderfully characterized while others say there's no real character development. The story quality also gets mixed reactions, with some finding it an imaginative tale while others describe it as a depressing slog.
AI Generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers praise the writing style of the book, describing it as remarkable, with one customer noting how the author's words flow and enchant, while another appreciates the balance between poetry and prose.
"...the lyricism and cleverness of the writing was exceptional, the story fascinating, and i’ll admit to some tears at the end...." Read more
"...The novel is well-written and gives the reader the sense of the life of a nun in difficult times. Still, the read may not be for everyone...." Read more
"...She’s such a visual and balanced writer, all the parts fit. Marie de France and a few others are unforgettable. "..." Read more
"...dull, and while there is beautiful prose in the book, there is no dialog at all. This keeps the reader (at least this reader) at arms length...." Read more
Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as a true masterpiece that is wonderfully interesting and entertaining, with one customer noting how it gives the reader a sense of life.
"...The novel is well-written and gives the reader the sense of the life of a nun in difficult times. Still, the read may not be for everyone...." Read more
"...If you are looking for a well-thought out book that will make you think, this is a book for you." Read more
"...Also, it was an interesting and unusual experience to read a book in which all of the characters were female." Read more
"...for a brilliant but “ugly” woman in the Middle Ages is narrow, fascinating, and painful...." Read more
Customers appreciate the book's historical context, particularly its detailed portrayal of medieval life and well-presented historical elements, with one customer noting how it evokes a specific time and place.
"...-century nun who protects her abbey from intruders will appeal to historical fiction fans who enjoy strong female characters...." Read more
"...This historical period is amazing and the characters, especially, Eleanor of Aquitaine, are true forces of nature...." Read more
"...the ecclesiastic and monastic, 12th century, and give us the exaltation of religion but in the form of tone, character, atmosphere, setting, and..." Read more
"...Many of her lines stayed with me. The setting, an impoverished abbey in 12th century England, was interesting to read about...." Read more
Customers appreciate the research quality of the book, describing it as carefully researched and complex, with one customer noting its many levels or layers.
"...Groff’s well-researched work takes the real poet Marie de France and transforms her into a reluctant nun who rises to the position of the abbess and..." Read more
"...Matrix is dense in details and there are so many levels or layers in this novel, but these are just not very apparent for the lay reader, like a..." Read more
"...The book had lots of historical detail that made the setting and events vivid...." Read more
"...The abbey is thereby not a place of spiritual solace, nor does its daily recitation of the Divine Office nurture the people of God who would..." Read more
Customers appreciate the book's portrayal of a strong female protagonist, with one review highlighting the heroine's willingness to defy rules and expectations.
"...They show courage and possess a raw elegance. Marie, made prioress at a shabby abbey at the age of 17, year 1158. Why not be married off? “..." Read more
"...I really liked imagining the life of medieval nuns, particularly as they became more prosperous and successful...." Read more
"...The novel is about strong women and their abilities to overcome adversity. I can't remember a single line of dialog involving a male speaker...." Read more
"...She skillfully telss the story of Marie de France, who as a young teenis banished to a poor and rotting abbey in England, because of her size and..." Read more
Customers appreciate the feminist content of the book, particularly its focus on women in important positions, with one customer highlighting the tale of a powerful medieval woman and another noting how the protagonist learns to wield power.
"...It’s pretty hard to deny that this is a feminist novel. Marie is able to ignore the dictates of the crown and even the pope...." Read more
"...from being cowed by her circumstances, accepts her fate and learns to wield power...." Read more
"...development, the growth of the abbey, and the focus on women in important positions (Marie and Eleanor)...." Read more
"...There is also a feminist element that is not overbearing but feasible given the character of Marie...." Read more
Customers have mixed opinions about the story quality of the book, with some finding it imaginative while others describe it as a depressing slog.
"...the lyricism and cleverness of the writing was exceptional, the story fascinating, and i’ll admit to some tears at the end...." Read more
"...but “ugly” woman in the Middle Ages is narrow, fascinating, and painful...." Read more
"...Gone are her fine clothes and the accustomed niceties of court life...." Read more
"...It's really a bit dull, and while there is beautiful prose in the book, there is no dialog at all...." Read more
Customers have mixed opinions about the character development in the book, with some praising the main protagonist's characterization while others note a lack of development.
"...Marie matures in the abbey, because she has mettle and noble blood, oozes charisma, and alights a little heretic inside her spirited soul...." Read more
"...It turns out that this fictional character is a committed lesbian. There is no historical basis for attributing this predeliction to Marie de France...." Read more
"...I liked all aspects of the book: the character development, the growth of the abbey, and the focus on women in important positions..." Read more
"...The wholeness of Groff’s characters and the fineness of her detail takes us into a dim world of crusades and superstitions enlightened by Marie’s..." Read more
Reviews with images

"...a powerful work from an author who is in top form."
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on May 5, 2025Format: KindleVerified Purchasei don’t really know how to leave a review for this, because despite never liking marie and struggling to get through the first 20% of this book, it’s undeniably a 5 🌟 read. the lyricism and cleverness of the writing was exceptional, the story fascinating, and i’ll admit to some tears at the end.
if you hear me recommending this and saying “just trust me,” please do.
- Reviewed in the United States on September 25, 2021Format: HardcoverVerified PurchaseTHE MATRIX begins in 1158 when Marie, the protagonist, is sent to a nunnery by her half-sister, the sometimes queen of England.
You see, Marie is the product of a rape; she is also a mannish and homely young woman, and Queen Eleanor, whom Marie actually worships, doesn’t see her as a lady in waiting. She is sent to a run-down abbey in England where the nuns are starving. She will be a novice at first, but when she takes her vows she will be second in command, the prioress. The abbess is bordering on senility, so it won’t be long before Marie is in charge.
Marie wants out. She doesn’t believe the mystical hogwash the nuns teach. But then she meets women among the nuns that she respects. Tilde, an heiress of a rich family, will be her prioress. She’s like the administrator of a small city. She makes sure the convent runs efficiently. Ruth will run her almshouse. Wulfhild is her engineer who will run her building projects. Nest will run the infirmary, a job Marie would ordinarily handle. Marie grows to love them all.
One of her first changes is to swap the silk spinning industry for a scriptorium; they can do it cheaper than the monks, and it will bring in enough money to feed the nuns and the servants. Gradually Marie begins to revel in the power she holds as abbess; she doubles the number of nuns, ultimately growing it to near a hundred with many more novices and oblates.
A problem crops up she must solve. Some of the younger nuns and novices are pregnant. She bans men from the abbey and builds a labyrinth to keep any unwanted towns people and visitors away including church officials. Gradually her power goes to her head. When sickness claims the priest who says mass and hears confessions at the abbey, Marie does it herself. The older nuns are outraged. Her next step is to build an elaborate abbess’s house for herself and some of her money-making crafts.
It’s pretty hard to deny that this is a feminist novel. Marie is able to ignore the dictates of the crown and even the pope. When men from the village attack the abbey to steal their wealth, she and the nuns fight them off. When a beautiful young novice who plays the part of a holy woman begins to sway the younger nuns and the novices, Marie puts her in charge of a house for the lepers, something the woman can not abide.
Who would have thought that in the end Marie would have a greater authority as an abbess than she ever would have had at court.
- Reviewed in the United States on November 17, 2024Format: KindleVerified PurchaseSeems Marie was either making love to most of the female characters or seeing visions due to menopause…..really!!!???!? Found it a tedious read.
- Reviewed in the United States on October 28, 2021Format: HardcoverVerified PurchaseLauren Groff’s novel about a 12th-century nun who protects her abbey from intruders will appeal to historical fiction fans who enjoy strong female characters. Groff’s well-researched work takes the real poet Marie de France and transforms her into a reluctant nun who rises to the position of the abbess and engages with fierce intensity against her foes. As a young woman, Marie belongs to the court of Eleanor of Aquitaine in France, whom she respects, fears, and loves. Marie is a large-boned plain girl not thought to have marriage prospects. Much to her horror, the Queen decides to place Marie in a nunnery, a fate that often happened to women of a particular class who became inconvenient to have around.
Marie, who is not particularly religious, tries to escape before she gets to her destination, an abbey in Britain. She realizes that there is no place for her to go and becomes resigned to her fate. Her life begins as a novice in a highly structured and disciplined environment. Gone are her fine clothes and the accustomed niceties of court life. In their place, Marie learns the life of a nun, which revolves around prayers: Matins, Lauds, Prime, Terce, Sext, Vespers, and Compline. Between these services, Marie is expected to do the work of the cloister. For her, this means scrubbing floors, writing letters for the abbess, and interpreting the disorganized account books.
Over the years, Marie makes friends, thrives under the structure of the order, and rises to the position of the abbess. Her shrewdness saves the abbey from famine, enemies, land grabs, and poverty. She instructs the nuns into building a labyrinth around the abbey to prevent troublemakers from entering. Her skills and reputation grow. Even Queen Eleanor takes notice. From a frightened teen, Marie turns into an indomitable leader.
Groff writes with authority about a time in history filled with snares for women who didn’t fit a specific mold. Her main character is a woman who, far from being cowed by her circumstances, accepts her fate and learns to wield power. The novel is well-written and gives the reader the sense of the life of a nun in difficult times. Still, the read may not be for everyone. There are some scenes between the nuns which some readers may find offensive. I recommend this book to those interested in medieval times from the perspective of an unconventional woman in a world of women.
Top reviews from other countries
- shaperReviewed in the United Kingdom on September 25, 2021
5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful, engrossing, revealing
above all, this is an excellent story. it's the sort of tale one could imagine told alongside a winter fire in times of yore, a cracking yarn winding this way and that, now revealing, now concealing. i love it for its reframing of the original humanness story, and for the manner in which that restatement is evidenced by the tale.
be bold, be brave. tuck in and allow yourself to encounter deeper truths than more commonly allowed about what it is to be woman. and yes, by this is firmly, and exclusively meant those among humans who are born into childbearing capacity (even when unused) and form: women.
- AnnetteReviewed in Germany on March 30, 2022
4.0 out of 5 stars It’s a great way to write a historical novel.
Format: HardcoverVerified PurchaseA book to treasure. Place,pace and each word so carefully chosen for its poetic smoothness. What a refreshing and gentle escape into an entirely different world. I loved Lauren’s characters; her abbey of unstructured women; the fact that they ranged from confidence to timidity. In her world the seasons unfold to show treasure and disease in equal measure . It’s a novel encompassing huge rich bundles of nature so often understated.
Loved it!
- busbyReviewed in Australia on November 3, 2021
5.0 out of 5 stars A masterpiece
Riveting. Glorious.
-
MouaisReviewed in France on April 18, 2023
5.0 out of 5 stars Fiction ou Magie ?
Biographie imaginaire de Marie de France, dont on ignore à peu près tout... Qui s'appuie sur les textes qu'elle a écrits mais aussi sur un manuscrit fictif. Un tour de magie de l'écriture dans lequel le lecteur de trouve emporté avec délectation. La lectrice de Marie de France que je suis, en tout cas. Certaines ont été brûlées pour moins que ça.
- davidReviewed in Canada on September 18, 2024
3.0 out of 5 stars An acquired taste
Format: HardcoverVerified PurchaseThis book is a fictional account of Marie de France. It will appeal to feminists, amateur historians of the angevin dynasty and religious people particularly christians.