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Night Soldiers

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Night Soldiers

By: Alan Furst
Narrated by: George Guidall
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About this listen

New York Times bestselling author Alan Furst is widely recognized as master of the historical spy novel. Furst’s works are vivid evocations of long-forgotten heroes and feature plots that unfold to the inexorable cadence of history. Night Soldiers is a simultaneously thrilling and illuminating tale of espionage set in 1934.

In Vidin, Bulgaria, where the flow of the river Danube has always brought thieves and conquerors, Khristo Stoianev witnesses his younger brother kicked to death by fascist militia. These are simple men of a backwater town, costumed in fresh uniforms emblazoned with a flaming cross insignia. But behind their barbaric actions stands the swastika.

From the terror-plagued Balkans, Khristo, a virgin in the ways of the outside world, is drawn east, toward Moscow and a new life as a Soviet spy.

©1988 Alan Furst (P)2004 Recorded Books Espionage Genre Fiction Historical Mystery Spies & Politics Suspense Thriller & Suspense War & Military Fiction Military War

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Critic reviews

"Furst shows a remarkable talent in his fifth novel, integrating details about the cultures of Spain, France and Eastern Europe with a fascinating story." (Publishers Weekly)
"Night Soldiers has everything the best thrillers offer, excitement, intrigue, romance, plus grown-up writing, characters that matter, and a crisp, carefully researched portrait of the period in which our own postwar world was shaped." (USA Today)
"Intelligent, ambitious, absorbing....The history is deftly incorporated; the viewpoint civilized; the characters and the settings picturesque; the adventures exciting; the writing pungent." (The New York Times)
All stars
Most relevant  
Extraordinary attention to historical detail. Well told tale, very moving, yet ingenious and convincing. On top of that very well written.

Terrific characters

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I found that this novel contained many enjoyable features, detail, descriptive sequences, a successful evocation of a variety of locations, from the Danube to Moscow, to Spain, to Paris etc in the historic era of the 1930s and the years of world war 2, all skillfully achieved by Furst. However, the narrative seems to clunk along like a very long train journey, and at times my interest and attention waned or drifted. I found the plot details sometimes confusing, and needed more than once, to consult an online plot synopsis. One crucial plot device, when Kristos sees the crucial marking on the abandoned barge in the Danube, seemed contrived. These criticisms aside it is a superior historic espionage novel, and it is worth listening to, it is certainly worth the credits. I found the narrators rather overly accented dialogues somewhat distracting at times.

Detailed description and a skilled creation of atmosphere and historical era.

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If you could sum up Night Soldiers in three words, what would they be?

Avoiding Stalin's henchmen and fighting Hitler's goons

What does George Guidall bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

Guidall's voice resonates with human experience

Any additional comments?

I read this excellent novel when it came out twenty five years ago. Guidall's reading made it come alive, and made the author's strong, clear, moving prose shine. I strongly urge readers to give this book a try, it's miles above the usual "russian spy novel" fare. It's a work of art... and a damn good yarn too!

Excellent, spellbinding historical thriller

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What did you like most about Night Soldiers?

Excellently paced - after a rather slow start. Certainly makes you understand what was going on in Spain during the Civil War - this had always been a bit of a mystery to me, between POUM, PUP, etc. (I had read the Malraux novel and never made head or tale of the divisions - also of course I didn't really care......)

Who was your favorite character and why?

Naturally - our hero Christo! A man with a soul still alive despite his many tribulations

What does George Guidall bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

He articulates the characters so well you really feel you know them

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Certainly not laugh! Mainly rage at the sheer evil of the NKVD - first manifested when they removed the stray dog the students had sheltered (of course very minor misdeed by their standards, but indicative! - somewhat reminiscent of what happened in Catholic institutions, who patented the areas of spying and mind-control). The book also highlighted the hopelessness of the lives of people in Eastern Europe.

Any additional comments?

A very interesting book - like all Alan Furst's. The character of the American girl was very well drawn.

Excellent

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I bought this book because of the narrator: George Guidall, one of my favourite readers.
It has driven me mad. So many characters in different time frames, moving from the 1930s to 1945 but in no particular order and in what appeared to be dozens of unconnected events, with confusing names or " noms de guerre" added to the mix.
However, I applaud the quality of the writing.
Another reviewer mentioned the Spanish Civil War (featured in this novel) and I would warmly recommend "Winter in Madrid" by Sansom as an excellent read or listen.

Frustrating but engaging!

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Intelligent, complex and compelling. This is First at his best, although everything he produces is a treat.

Outstanding

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Hmmmm! How to describe this experience? Sixteen hours in a virtual reality headset designed by Ernest Hemingway and Samuel Beckett. Magnificent!

Why am I only discovering Alan Furst now?

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An extremely long and complicated story but very enjoyable in so many ways. Well narrated, characters reappearing in different locations over an extended time frame, my interest was kept up over the whole 17 hours.

Brilliant

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George Guidall really brings this to life, with a gripping narration. I cannot recommend this highly enough.

Epic in scale, highly entertaining.

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Night Soldiers sees Alan Furst revisit the Balkans, home of some of his most enjoyable tales. This one has greater ambition, spanning the first half of the 20th century. Complex, well woven protagonists reach accompany us on a journey, well narrated by George Guidall. Would especially recommend for fans of Eric Ambler or David Downing.

Classic Furst espionage Epic

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