Audiobook Sample
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- Title: Story of a Soul
- Author: Saint Therese Of Lisieux
- Narrator: Ann Boulais
- Length: 06:55:45
- Version: Abridged
- Release Date: 01/01/2016
- Publisher: LibriVox
- Genre: Biography & Memoir, History & Culture
- ISBN13: SABLIB9782570
There’s a particular magic that happens when a spiritual autobiography meets the right narrator’s voice – it becomes more than words, more than ideas; it becomes an intimate conversation across time. That’s precisely what I discovered listening to Ann Boulais’ narration of “Story of a Soul” by Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, a free audiobook that has lingered in my heart long after the final chapter.
I first encountered this audiobook during a quiet morning in a Benedictine monastery guesthouse in New Mexico, where I was staying while researching pilgrimage routes. The desert light filtering through the chapel windows created the perfect atmosphere to receive Thérèse’s words. Boulais’ gentle yet precise narration reminded me of those evenings in Oaxaca with the storytelling grandmother – there’s a similar quality of wisdom being passed down through generations, of sacred truths spoken in ordinary tones.
The audio production preserves the unedited manuscript’s authenticity, allowing Thérèse’s original voice to shine through with all its youthful passion and spiritual depth. Boulais masterfully captures the cadence of 19th-century French spirituality without making it feel antiquated. Her pacing during Thérèse’s famous ‘Little Way’ passages – where the saint describes her approach to spiritual childhood – is particularly moving, allowing space for reflection between insights.
What struck me most was how Thérèse’s concept of finding holiness in small, everyday actions resonates with my experiences documenting ordinary people’s extraordinary lives across the world. Whether it’s a street food vendor in Bangkok who prays over each meal or a shepherd in the Andes who sees divine presence in his flock, I’ve witnessed this same spirituality of the ordinary that Thérèse articulates so beautifully. Boulais’ narration highlights these universal elements while maintaining the specific cultural context of French Carmelite life.
The audiobook’s structure follows Thérèse’s original three-part composition: her childhood memories, her reflections on religious life, and her final, most personal meditations written near death. Boulais adjusts her tone subtly for each section – lighter and more narrative for the childhood recollections, more contemplative as the text deepens. Her handling of the famous ‘Christmas conversion’ passage (where young Thérèse experiences a spiritual awakening) is particularly poignant, conveying both the child’s perspective and the adult saint’s retrospective understanding.
Some listeners might find the 19th-century piety challenging at first, but Boulais’ performance helps bridge that gap. She avoids sentimentalizing the text while honoring its emotional sincerity. The sections on suffering – so central to Thérèse’s spirituality – are read with quiet dignity rather than melodrama, making them more powerful for their restraint.
Compared to other spiritual autobiographies I’ve encountered in my travels – from Augustine’s “Confessions” to modern memoirs like Thomas Merton’s “The Seven Storey Mountain” – Thérèse’s stands out for its radical simplicity. Where Augustine philosophizes and Merton analyzes, Thérèse simply loves. Boulais understands this distinction perfectly, letting the text’s humility speak for itself without unnecessary embellishment.
The audio quality (typical of LibriVox productions) is clean though not studio-perfect, which somehow suits this work’s unpretentious nature. There’s something fitting about hearing a saint’s words in a format that’s freely available to all, much like Thérèse’s ‘Little Way’ is accessible to everyone regardless of education or status.
For travelers of both physical and spiritual journeys, this audiobook makes an ideal companion. I found myself returning to certain chapters during long bus rides through the Mexican highlands, Thérèse’s reflections on trust and surrender taking on new meaning against the changing landscapes. The bite-sized nature of many sections (most under 15 minutes) makes it perfect for contemplative listening during transit or quiet moments.
If I had one critique, it’s that the very qualities that make this narration excellent – its restraint and fidelity to the text – might leave some listeners wishing for more dramatic interpretation in particularly emotional passages. But this is a minor consideration against the overall integrity of the performance.
In an age of constant noise and distraction, there’s profound gift in this free audiobook’s quiet wisdom. Whether you’re a spiritual seeker, a student of religious history, or simply someone who appreciates beautifully told life stories, “Story of a Soul” offers nourishment for the journey. As Thérèse herself might say, it’s not about grand gestures, but the small acts of listening with an open heart – and Ann Boulais’ narration provides the perfect vessel for that sacred encounter.
With gratitude for stories that travel across time and space,
Marcus Rivera
