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

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.

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1 person found this helpful

Excellent, spellbinding historical thriller

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!

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3 people found this helpful

Excellent

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.

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3 people found this helpful

Frustrating but engaging!

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.

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2 people found this helpful

Outstanding

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

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Epic in scale, highly entertaining.

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

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Why am I only discovering Alan Furst now?

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

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Brilliant

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.

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Classic Furst espionage Epic

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.

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Superb listen

Loved it. And read by the best narrator out there, George Guidell. An absolute, informative treat.

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