Free Audiobook : The Four Winds, by Kristin Hannah

Texas, 1921. A period of plenty. The Great War has ended, the land yields its riches, and America stands on the cusp of a hopeful new age. However, for Elsa Wolcott, considered too old for matrimony in an era where marriage is the only path for women, the future looks grim. That is, until she encounters Rafe Martinelli one night, prompting her to take control of her destiny. With her reputation tarnished, her only honorable option is to wed a man she scarcely knows.

By 1934, the landscape has shifted; unemployment is rampant, and the Great Plains are ravaged by drought. Farmers are in a desperate struggle to hold onto their land as crops wither, water vanishes, and the ground splits apart. Dust storms sweep across the plains unendingly. On the Martinelli farm, everything is perishing, including Elsa's fragile marriage; each day is a trial against nature and a fight for her children's survival.

In these harsh times, Elsa, along with many others, faces a heart-wrenching decision: to battle for the land she cherishes or to abandon it for California, chasing a dream of a better future for her family.

The Four Winds vividly captures the Great Depression, the struggles of its people, the stark divisions within society, and the relentless fight between those with and without. It's a narrative of hope, endurance, and the unyielding human spirit's capacity to overcome, painting an unforgettable picture of America and its dreams through the lens of one extraordinary woman whose bravery and sacrifices will shape a generation.