The highly anticipated sixth and final book of the Earth�s Children � series, The Land of Painted Caves will be an international publishing event. Auel�s series is one of the most celebrated in publishing history. The first five books in the series show total sales of over 45 million copies worldwide, and include The Clan of the Cave Bear (1980), The Valley of Horses (1982), The Mammoth Hunters (1985), The Plains of Passage (1990), and The Shelters of Stone (2002). With The Land of Painted Caves, Auel gives fans the finale they�ve been looking for. She does not disappoint as she continues the story of Ayla, Jondalar, and their little daughter Jonayla. In this page-turning continuation of the beloved saga, Ayla is training to become a Zelandoni, one of the community�s spiritual leaders and healers. Ayla becomes the acolyte to the Zelandoni for the Ninth Cave and begins the series of intensive journeys that are part of the sacred training. But as she struggles to find a balance between her calling and her duties as a new mother, her pursuits begin to take a toll on her relationship with Jondalar. Once again Jean Auel combines her brilliant narrative skills and appealing characters with a remarkable re-creation of the way life was lived thousands of years ago. The terrain, dwelling places, longings, beliefs, creativity, and daily lives of the Zelandoni are as real to the reader as today�s news. The Land of Painted Caves is a brilliant achievement by one of the world�s most beloved authors.