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Winter in Madrid

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Winter in Madrid

By: C. J. Sansom
Narrated by: Simon Russell Beale
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About this listen

Abridged edition, narrated by Simon Russell Beale.

From the bestselling author of the Shardlake series, C. J. Sansom, comes Winter in Madrid, a standalone historical novel set in the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War.


1940: The Spanish Civil War is over, and Madrid lies ruined, its people starving, while the Germans continue their relentless march through Europe. Britain now stands alone while General Franco considers whether to abandon neutrality and enter the war.

Into this uncertain world comes Harry Brett: a traumatized veteran of Dunkirk turned reluctant spy for the British Secret Service. Sent to gain the confidence of old school friend Sandy Forsyth, now a shady Madrid businessman, Harry finds himself involved in a dangerous game – and surrounded by memories.

Meanwhile Sandy's girlfriend, ex-Red Cross nurse Barbara Clare, is engaged on a secret mission of her own – to find her former lover Bernie Piper, a passionate Communist in the International Brigades, who vanished on the bloody battlefields of the Jarama.

In a vivid and haunting depiction of wartime Spain, Winter in Madrid by C.J. Sansom is an intimate and compelling tale which offers a remarkable sense of history unfolding, and the profound impact of impossible choices.

© C.J. Sansom; (P) Macmillan Publishers Ltd
Espionage Historical Suspense World War II Fiction War Civil War Imperialism
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Critic reviews

"This multilayered novel is up there with Greene and Le Carré. War-torn Spain, the deadly forces of political intrigue and the passions of these enmeshed human victims are powerfully evoked and the narration is masterful."(Observer Review)

"Brilliantly read by Simon Russell Beale and his delivery completely enhances Sansom's superb creation of atmosphere and characterisation. A stunner." (Daily Express)

"Sansom adroitly draws the disparate strands of his ambitious saga together. His non-pareil evocations of time and place anchor his characters with satisfying precision." (Independent)

"Few authors have the ability, or capacity for research, which allows them to capture the mood and atmosphere of a period in history, so when one does, and does it as well as CJ Sansom in Winter in Madrid, then they deserve not only praise but success." (Tony Galvin, Dublin Evening Herald)

What listeners say about Winter in Madrid

Average customer ratings
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  • 4 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Good audiobook.

The book met my expectations. I particularly liked the narrator, who was able to mimick the different accents so well.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

C J Sansom can do no wrong

Would you listen to Winter in Madrid again? Why?

I really enjoyed it, but would like to listen to others from this author rather than listen to a story again.

Any additional comments?

Exciting and enjoyable.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

A good story reminiscent of Sabastion Faulks.

Excellent reader. Good pace which holds reader's attention. probably not as good as Faulks for characterisation

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Bleak yet compelling

A romance devoid of the romantic atmospheric to the point of sensual you can taste the dust of Spain's agony

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Outstanding performance, cornball story

The story moved along and it was very entertaining. But the simplistic action pitched very nearly at a child's reading level makes me think I probably won't much enjoy other books by this author. Wonderful performance.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Interesting historical context - Spanish Civil War

Great spy story in the Le Carre / Greene tradition but with a very interesting setting around the time of the Spanish Civil War, giving some insight into the suffering of the Spanish people after several years of war and with threats from many quarters with people determing their allegiances to the various factions fighting within the country and with ambiguity as to who's on whose side and where the threats are coming from. Interesting characters and good pace - I found this to be a compelling listen.

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13 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Abridged Version!

Average narration, but fairly interesting story - I was bemused upon finishing this audiobook to discover that since I purchased this one on Audible a new version has been released which is 14 hours longer. I felt the story was slightly rushed and, knowing now that an unabridged version exists, I would like to have listened to that without knowing the plot!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Important history

In parts horrific it is important to know what happened in the Spanish civil war and this book marries important history with a thrilling story of escape and intrigue.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Winter in Madrid

Very good. Pity that the villain did not have his comeuppance. Otherwise a very good story as well as interesting part of Spanish history

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Well written and enjoyable

Good story wanted it to continue for a little longer.narrators female voice made me chuckle.

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