For most of human history, stories were spoken before they were written. Epics, legends, and histories passed from one generation to the next through voice, shaping cultures and preserving memory long before ink touched parchment. The rise of the written word did not replace this oral tradition—it expanded it. Today, audiobooks continue that legacy, allowing stories to be heard as they once were, bringing narratives to life through tone, rhythm, and voice. At Gateway Books by Crestance, we see audiobooks as a bridge between past and present, reconnecting us with the earliest way stories were shared—by ear, not just by eye.