Act of Oblivion

A Novel

By: Robert Harris

Narrated by: Tim McInnerny

Length: 15 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's summary

"A galloping adventure.” — The Wall Street Journal

From the bestselling author of Fatherland, The Ghostwriter, Munich, and Conclave comes this spellbinding historical novel that brilliantly imagines one of the greatest manhunts in history: the search for two Englishmen involved in the killing of King Charles I and the implacable foe on their trail—an epic journey into the wilds of seventeeth-century New England, and a chase like no other.

'From what is it they flee?'

He took a while to reply. By the time he spoke the men had gone inside. He said quietly, “They killed the King.”

1660 England. General Edward Whalley and his son-in law Colonel William Goffe board a ship bound for the New World. They are on the run, wanted for the murder of King Charles I—a brazen execution that marked the culmination of the English Civil War, in which parliamentarians successfully battled royalists for control.

But now, ten years after Charles’ beheading, the royalists have returned to power. Under the provisions of the Act of Oblivion, the fifty-nine men who signed the king’s death warrant and participated in his execution have been found guilty in absentia of high treason. Some of the Roundheads, including Oliver Cromwell, are already dead. Others have been captured, hung, drawn, and quartered. A few are imprisoned for life. But two have escaped to America by boat.

In London, Richard Nayler, secretary of the regicide committee of the Privy Council, is charged with bringing the traitors to justice and he will stop at nothing to find them. A substantial bounty hangs over their heads for their capture—dead or alive. . . .

Robert Harris’s first historical novel set predominantly in America, Act of Oblivion is a novel with an urgent narrative, remarkable characters, and an epic true story to tell of religion, vengeance, and power—and the costs to those who wield it.

©2022 Robert Harris (P)2022 HarperCollins Publishers

Gripping read

Always enraptured by Harris’ writing, this was stupendous. I really understood the research that went into this, and he gave the characters (in my amateur opinion) very reasonable human reactions to what we actually know of them. He made each a dynamic, complicated person—something we could all try to understand these days. Though I am frustrated by Will’s actions in chapter 32, despite thinking it’s what he would do!

Tim’s narration was flawless. I’m not sure I would listen to this book without it (in that case, physical reading!). Had me on the edge of my seat.

Fantastic and compelling

I loved the story. Yesterday’s heroes can be tomorrow’s villains. A story of England and America, Faith and hatred. This story has it all. I couldn’t put it down…

The tenacity of all the main characters

I enjoy the camaraderie of two regicides. The generosity and deep religious belief of the Puritans, who helped the main characters avoid capture.

Historical Fiction at it’s best

Very well researched and a tremendous adventure story With the exception of the two main character it is hard to like the Restoration characters nor the regicides and some of their helpers. Maybe there is no way or reason to like the Restoration court. This is a magisterial tour de force and very informative as well as be vivid It is easy - sometimes too easy - to visualize the scenes painted in the novel. Well worth the effort but exhausting.

Best story I've listened to in quite a while

What a well written, thoroughly researched and entertaining book. Tim McInnerny was masterful in telling the story and I couldn't help but feel I was there. I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!!!!

Another Harris masterpiece!

This story was fantastic from start to finish! I love how he kept us engaged on both sides of the Atlantic with so many characters and their individual arcs. When I heard the character list at the beginning, I worried that I would be lost. However, Harris never left us to wonder who was who. I also loved how he weaved history so nicely into the narrative, as he does so well in all of his novels.

Great story with great narration.

The type of book that makes you want to learn more about Cromwell and The Civil War in Britain. Great narration, with different voice inflections for each character. Highly recommend!!

Great story,well written and well performed

This is one of my favorite audible books ever. So well done. A fascinating insight into a period of American and English history that I did not know much about. I highly recommend it.

Wonderful historical novel

I bought this novel after seeing it listed as one of the best audiobooks of 2022 in The NY Times book review. It’s easy to see why their reviewer loved it. The writing and narration are both wonderful. The novel teems with fascinating historical detail about the earliest days of English settlement in America. And, living in New England, I particularly loved to hear about settlements in Boston and New Haven.

One note about the narration—it seemed excessively slow to me. I listened at 1.2x speed and VOILÀ—the narration was perfect. Of course, that’s just my preference, but something to consider.

Regicide Remembrance

Excellent historical recounting of a subject little known in America. I had ancestors involved on all sides of the conflict, both sides of ocean. The writing and performance tops.