Sarah Hall's "Helm" Audiobook Explores Wind's Impact

The audiobook "Helm" by Sarah Hall, featuring narration by Louise Brealey, presents a collection of interconnected stories centered around the powerful northeasterly gale known as Helm. This wind, unique to the British Isles, originates from the slopes of Cross Fell in the Pennines and is characterized by its distinctive cloud formations. Historically, Helm has been responsible for significant disruption, including dislodging roofs, haystacks, trees, and even riders from their horses. Hall's novel, which took twenty years to write, adopts an ambitious narrative structure that gives voice to the wind itself, alongside the human experiences of those who have been affected by its force across different eras.

The audiobook's narrative spans centuries, featuring a diverse cast of characters whose lives are intricately linked by the pervasive influence of the Helm wind. Among these figures is NaNay, a Neolithic seer engaged in the construction of a stone circle. Another character is an astrologer and exorcist, referred to as a "wizard priest," who navigates the wind's power. The story also follows a Victorian meteorologist who undertakes a journey across the Pennines, first by train and then by carriage, directly into the "onslaught" of the Helm. More recently, a climatologist is depicted measuring microplastics in the atmosphere from her observation hut situated in the fells. Despite the vast temporal distances separating these individuals, their individual narratives are woven together, bound by the shared experience of the weather.

Louise Brealey's narration is credited with drawing out the playful and poetic elements within these shapeshifting stories. The audiobook explores the multifaceted nature of the Helm wind, not only as a destructive force but also as a catalyst for human resilience and adaptation. The novel's exploration of weather as a unifying element across disparate historical periods offers a unique perspective on the relationship between humanity and the natural environment. The detailed descriptions of the wind's impact, from physical destruction to its influence on belief systems and scientific observation, contribute to the rich tapestry of the narrative. "Helm" stands as a testament to Sarah Hall's meticulous research and imaginative storytelling, offering listeners a profound engagement with a specific, yet universally understood, force of nature.