Story of a Secret State cover art

Story of a Secret State

Penguin Modern Classics

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Story of a Secret State

By: Jan Karski
Narrated by: Janusz Guttner
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About this listen

I do not pretend to have given an exhaustive picture of the Polish Underground, its organisation and its activities. Because of our methods, I believe that there is no one today who could give an all-embracing recital...This book is a purely personal story, my story.

Jan Karski's Second World War memoir is a heroic act of witness: the courageous testimony of a man who risked everything for his country. First published in 1944, the book became an instant best seller in the US while the war still raged in Europe. At times overwhelming in the details it reveals of the suffering of ordinary people, it is an unforgettable and deeply affecting record of brutality, courage, and survival under conditions of extreme bleakness.

During the first four years of World War II, Karski worked as a messenger for the underground, risking his life in secret missions. He was captured, tortured, rescued, smuggled through a tunnel into the Warsaw ghetto and, finally, disguised himself as a guard to infiltrate a Nazi death camp. Then, travelling across occupied Europe to England, with his eye-witness report smuggled on microfilm in the handle of a razor, he became the first man to tell the Allies about the Holocaust - only to be ignored.

©1944 Jan Karski (P)2011 Penguin Audio Military War Prisoners of War Imperialism Hungary Holocaust

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Critic reviews

"His account of his missions is an electrifying tale of false identities, near captures, spies and secret film capsules ... in human terms, Karski's account is invaluable." ( Daily Telegraph)
"It deserves its status as a Penguin Classic, not only because it is a great historic document, but also because it's a cracking good read: Karski's adventures are worthy of the wildest spy thriller." ( Nigel Jones, Telegraph)
"The bravery of the man who risked all to tell the world about the Holocaust is truly staggering ... an extraordinary testament to Man's inhumanity to Man, and the even more remarkable courage required to resist it." ( Ben McIntyre, The Times)
"Story of a Secret State is now viewed as a classic insider's account of the Resistance in occupied Europe...After all the harrowing descriptions of Holocaust horrors there have been over the years from survivors of Auschwitz, Belsen, and Ravensbruck, Karski's vivid account of what he saw back in 1942 is still deeply moving. We feel his shock and incredulity that this could really be happening in 20th century 'civilised' Europe." ( Tony Rennell, Daily Mail)
All stars
Most relevant
Jan Karski is my hero, listening to this book was like listening to Karski, the narrator was perrfect, Karski would have loved this, I'm sure of it.

Hero

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True story, about WWII Europe and various societies facing German terror. Most importantly the sad reality about western allies indifference towards Holocaust.

A must read for every human

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Do not get me wrong this book is so interesting - given the subject I cannot say enjoyable -and I would recommend it to everyone. It is let down though by the narrator with his heavy accent. Okay I know it was written by a Pole but does it have to be read with this accent. The first part of the story, where things move slower I dropped off a couple of times because of his almost hypnotic slow reading. Later it the book that is no problem but you are left with his mispronunication. Sometimes I just wondered what on earth he had said. Apart from that, the book gives a clear and awful view of what Poland and the underground, and the Jews from that country went through. When he describes visiting one death camp I was crying and had to stop reading for a while. Having visited several concentration camps I thought I had an idea about the fate of these poor people but the description of the train from that camp stays in my mind.

the accent lets it down

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Would you consider the audio edition of Story of a Secret State to be better than the print version?

Couldn't comment as haven't read print version.

What did you like best about this story?

Jan Karski himself. Sounded such a brave and noble man.

What about Janusz Guttner’s performance did you like?

Yes it was as if Jan Karski was himself telling the story to you in a conversation.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

His visit to the Warsaw Ghetto and the concentration camp. His visit to his sister and the fate of the liaison women.

Any additional comments?

This is a remarkable story by a remarkable man. It really should be read.

Courage beyond Calling

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