Ceremony of the Innocent: A Novel

Written by Taylor Caldwell

Narrated by Kate Rudd

New York Times Bestseller: The quest for the American Dream soars to new heights in this coming-of-age story of a young woman and her country.

Living with her aunt in poor, rural Preston, Pennsylvania, thirteen-year-old Ellen Watson loves books and music and is completely oblivious to her own beauty. But her extraordinary looks arouse envy and malice in the female townspeople—and lust in the males. Hired as a housemaid in the palatial home of the village mayor, Ellen soon catches the attention of his son, Jeremy Porter, who captures her heart in turn. He offers to send her to school, and four years later he proposes marriage.

As the years pass, Ellen's life parallels the hopes, dreams, and fears of a no-longer innocent nation. As America's enemies gather, Ellen must face her own demons. The wife of the scion of a powerful political family, she has everything she could ever desire: security, children, and a successful, adoring husband. But when tragedy rips her life apart, Ellen will be forced to confront some terrible truths about her marriage, her family, and herself.

Played out against the backdrop of early twentieth-century America, Ceremony of the Innocent intertwines Ellen's personal journey with America's emergence from the devastation of World War I. It raises vital questions, such as: Are we as good as we believe we are? And is faith enough to keep us moving forward even in the face of unimaginable loss?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brilliance Audio
• Release date: Jul 9, 2019
• ISBN: 9781978657984

Taylor Caldwell

Taylor Caldwell (1900–1985) was one of the most prolific and widely read authors of the twentieth century. Born Janet Miriam Holland Taylor Caldwell in Manchester, England, she moved with her family to Buffalo, New York, in 1907. She started writing stories when she was eight years old and completed her first novel when she was twelve. Married at age eighteen, Caldwell worked as a stenographer and court reporter to help support her family and took college courses at night, earning a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Buffalo in 1931. She adopted the pen name Taylor Caldwell because legendary editor Maxwell Perkins thought her debut novel, Dynasty of Death (1938), would be better received if readers assumed it were written by a man. In a career that spanned five decades, Caldwell published forty novels, many of which were New York Times bestsellers. Her best-known works include the historical sagas The Sound of Thunder (1957), Testimony of Two Men (1968), Captains and the Kings (1972), and Ceremony of the Innocent (1976), and the spiritually themed novels The Listener (1960) and No One Hears But Him (1966). Dear and Glorious Physician (1958), a portrayal of the life of St. Luke, and Great Lion of God (1970), about the life of St. Paul, are among the bestselling religious novels of all time. Caldwell’s last novel, Answer as a Man (1981), hit the New York Times bestseller list before its official publication date. She died at her home in Greenwich, Connecticut, in 1985.  

Reviews for Ceremony of the Innocent

[James Hill · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This book did not present a real life experience like many of Taylor Caldwell's books. She has shown great insight into America's politics, great persons and history. In this novel the protagonist's evil children are too consistently evil and hateful toward their mother. What could have been an insightful story about the persons who caused the Depression and war was instead a story of the betrayal of a good woman by her children and supposed friends. I did not gain any insights; I found the story disappointing and dysphoric.

[Hunter Gates · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Caldwell, like Rand and others, exposes the corruption and dangers inherent in all forms of socialism and communism, while espousing the virtues of rugged individualism, personal liberty, limited government, and a strong and vibrant middle class.

The pure in heart today can learn much from Ellen Porter’s tragedy of a life lived well-intended, but blind to dark side of human nature.

I know I did.

[keylawk · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The author describes the crumbling of the American Dream in 1929. Caldwell's words are prescient for today. The American Dream then, and now, is a progressive one -- and conservatives then, and now, hate it and try to undermine it. In 1929, bankers and political conservatives caused and aggravated the Depression. In Ceremony of the Innocent, Caldwell displays insight into the ways of the world, with a well-told story about love, the marriage agenda of males and females, and tragedy. The theme of the book is how the American people have been lied to and launched into foreign wars, with many dying for the banking cartels and so-called "conservatives" who play games with the people. She writes of the betrayals by cartels of oligarchs. The grand plans for corporatist monopoly are covered in this one book, eloquently. Taylor Caldwell truly is one of the great writers. You will recognize America today, including the role of the Murdock/Ailes media and right-wing distraction radio.