
Hark
How Women Listen
Alice Vincent(Author)
Canongate Books (Publisher)
Published on 7. May 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
320 pages
978-1-83726-124-6 (ISBN)
Description
'Alice Vincent is on song' KATHERINE MAY
'Stimulating and humane' AMY LIPTROT
'A quiet and profound kind of miracle' CLOVER STROUD
Like so many of us, Alice Vincent had become overwhelmed by the sensory overload punctuating her every moment. Then a baby's heartbeat arrived. A rapid, pulsing whoosh of white noise. An undeniable rhythm. Suddenly, Alice's life changed. With the birth of her son came a new experience of the sensory world around her.
From the phantom crying heard by mothers across the world to the nightingale's song and the crackle of the Aurora Borealis, Hark is a journey into sound and the changing seasons of a life that will ring true for many women.
'Stimulating and humane' AMY LIPTROT
'A quiet and profound kind of miracle' CLOVER STROUD
Like so many of us, Alice Vincent had become overwhelmed by the sensory overload punctuating her every moment. Then a baby's heartbeat arrived. A rapid, pulsing whoosh of white noise. An undeniable rhythm. Suddenly, Alice's life changed. With the birth of her son came a new experience of the sensory world around her.
From the phantom crying heard by mothers across the world to the nightingale's song and the crackle of the Aurora Borealis, Hark is a journey into sound and the changing seasons of a life that will ring true for many women.
Reviews / Votes
Meditative * * New Statesman * * A luminous account of motherhood and music * * iPaper * * An ardent recommendation . . . Hark offers a heartfelt, powerful exploration of the importance of sound and how it lands for women. It is a book whose themes will surely echo with many readers * * Independent * * A book about listening, being heard and the author's shifting relationship with sound in the early years of motherhood * * Guardian * * I loved this exploration of the ways that sound lands in female bodies. Alice Vincent is on song -- KATHERINE MAY Stimulating and humane, Hark is vibrating with interesting people and fresh ideas and made me hear with greater attention -- AMY LIPTROT Immersing myself in the beautiful, deeply thoughtful pages of Hark has a profound effect on me. Reading it has been an incredibly emotional experience, and has made me look at, and listen to, my own world in bright new ways. This book is a quiet yet profound kind of miracle -- CLOVER STROUD A beautiful book, which left me thinking deeply and intimately about my own sonically-charged life. Hark will make you feel more alert to sound, silence and everything in-between and will leave you more curious about what it means to listen and be listened to -- AMY KEY Tune out the world for a moment and tune in to these beautiful musings on music, moments, magic and matrescence -- EMMA GANNON Hark not only made me cry, it opened my ears to new kinds of understanding. Gorgeously written, truly sensuous, gut-wrenchingly powerful, heartfelt and real, this is a deeply important book, alive and tuned in to the beautiful cacophony of the world. Hark is Alice Vincent's best book yet -- CHARLOTTE RUNCIEMore details
Edition
Main
Language
English
Place of publication
Edinburgh
United Kingdom
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 197 mm
Width: 129 mm
Thickness: 22 mm
Weight
214 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-83726-124-6 (9781837261246)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Person
Alice Vincent is a writer. She is the author of four books, including Why Women Grow and Rootbound, both longlisted for the Wainwright Prize and named as 'Books of the Year' by the Financial Times, Independent, Stylist and others. Alice is a columnist for the Guardian and New Statesman and writes for titles including Vogue, Financial Times and the Sunday Times. She writes savour, a newsletter dedicated to the delicious things in life, and hosts the Why Women Grow and In Haste podcasts. She lives in South London.
@alicevincentwrites | @alice_emily
@alicevincentwrites | @alice_emily