• The Polish Officer

  • By: Alan Furst
  • Narrated by: George Guidall
  • Length: 11 hrs and 43 mins
  • 4.1 out of 5 stars (796 ratings)

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The Polish Officer

By: Alan Furst
Narrated by: George Guidall
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Publisher's summary

New York Times bestselling author Alan Furst is internationally renowned as master of the European espionage thriller. Unfolding in September of 1939 as Hitler’s Wehrmacht ravages Warsaw, the Polish Officer discloses the clandestine existence of Polish Military Intelligence.

Captain Alexander de Milja understands that his life, as he knows it, is over. But even in this bleakest of circumstances, all need not be lost. At a decimated cavalry stable under the droning of German bombers, Alexander is offered a choice: die in a last stand, or accept a new appointment—and discover a way to keep on fighting even in the face of defeat. His first mission: lead the final refugee train south from doomed Warsaw.

With delicately wrought prose and a historian’s eye for detail, Alan Furst offers a powerful, emotionally challenging addition to his stellar catalogue.

©1995 Alan Furst (P)2005 Recorded Books

What listeners say about The Polish Officer

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

Insight into a dark era

I have listened to all of Furst's unabridged novels and wish there were more. All of his books are very well written, with none of idiotic, unrealistic dialogue that plagues most spy/mystery books.
If there is a better reader than George Guidall, I have not found him. One of many reasons to admire him is his ability to pronounce correctly French, Russian, Polish and other languages, instead of the Anglicized versions which are the usual and customary fare.
But most importantly, Furst affords the listener a clarifying view of one of the most shrouded and inhuman (we like to think anyway) eras in history. Europe from 1933 to 1945, described not via battles, generals or politicians, but by men and women doing what they could despite being terrified and alone. The characters are wonderful, the deviousness of the leaders horrific, and the dialogue some of the most clever, insightful, and at times funny, that I have ever read.

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46 people found this helpful

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

Certain historical truths only teased w/ fiction

There are certain historical truths that can only be teased out of the past with a fiction narrative build on the skeleton of the past. There are hidden truths that are exposed only with a story, with fiction, with literature. Alan Furst's war and pre-war espionage novels do that. His novels flesh out more about the people who fight, suffer and die in war than most straight academic histories can even hope to give to the reader.

You finish an Alan Furst novel tasting the blood and the smoke, body black with soot, blinded by the fiery lights, frozen by the cold, heart sick by all the death of war. Into this setting, Furst inserts little glimmers of caritas, humor, and love. He isn't prepared to make the entire world, even a world that is mewed in the machinery of war, devoid of humanity. There are flowers to smell, food to enjoy and even soft women to touch. It is sad but beautiful and that is sometimes just enough.

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22 people found this helpful

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

spies as poetry

I love Alan First. But, pay close attention to the little things. As you listen there are times you want just to savour the language. For instance approx 4:30, there is a moment in the mind of a country dog as it passes a city dog and says " ...this little white fluffy thing that thinks he is a dog, the things you see when you travel...". The moment is sad , a family walking the escape the Germans and this little slice of whimsy. Furst's stories abound with these little moments that you may want to rewind. The novel is great besides, but savour the journey as well. These novels are very noir, but don't blink and miss the poetry. George Guidall gets it and will transport you in to the world of war time Europe in a way you will never forget. Enjoy.

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19 people found this helpful

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

A good read

This book is well written and well narrated. If you’ve read other Furst WWII spy novels, such as Night Soldiers, then you’ll find little well placed hints that tie the stories together. Also, the author has a bit of humor in his writing that brings a healthy smile. Highly recommended, and well enjoyed.

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19 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

A Rewarding Journey Through History...

While telling the story of a Polish officer on assignment, the listener is treated to new insight on the struggles of a country torn apart by WWII. The historical aspect of the period makes this a thoughtful listen.

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17 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

No story.

Perhaps this deserves more than one star. But after five hours of listening, I gave up. There is no overall plot or story. It's a series of events taking place during the Nazi occupation, but I just didn't find it interesting. It's well read. Decently written. Just not very involving.

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14 people found this helpful

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

Another Excellent Book in an Excellent Series

The spies in Alan Furst's Night Soldiers series aren't James Bond. They don't have incredible weapons nor do they wear designer suits. They just have their wits and their luck to try to somehow survive a landscape strewn with the remnants and horrors of war.

The violence is, if anything, understated, and the focus is on the individual, doing whatever he can to survive.

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6 people found this helpful

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

My first Alan Furst novel

I'd planned to read "A Hero of France" but several reviews were unenthusiastic and one suggested starting with "The Polish Officer" which is how I chose this book. This genre isn't a top choice for me and, while I was glad I read it, I probably won't read any more Furst. He's very good at details regarding weapons, equipment, etc. and the details of WWII resistance ploys was sort of interesting but I found the abundance of characters a little confusing for an audible book.

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4 people found this helpful

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

Disappointing, Boring, Flat

Would you try another book from Alan Furst and/or George Guidall?

I might try Furst, but definitely with another narrator. It's hard to know how good an author or story might be, when Guidall drones from the first paragraph and never picks up. I might say this book will put you to sleep, but the slurring words (do I detect poorly fitted false teeth?) and lack of any crisp emphasis is more likely to make you tear off your earphones!

Has The Polish Officer turned you off from other books in this genre?

No, I like a good historical spy novel. The genre, my definition, is supposed to be intriguing. This was a new genre that could be called "A grandfather story once told, and everyone wished he would stop."

How did the narrator detract from the book?

I'm amazed at the 4 and 5 stars! The voice sounds old and tired. The slurring is annoying and, not to be mean, but it's possible his teeth need adjusting.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from The Polish Officer?

I didn't get that far. Torture should be cut off as soon as possible.

Any additional comments?

The editor and producer should have caught the flaws here. I hold them responsible for my off and on thoughts of dropping Audible altogether. Recently, I have found that no one is paying attention to the overall products being released. I don't like sending books back; but right now I have at least 5 in my library that I should have dropped and gotten another. Unfortunately my last 3 were disappointments, and at this I'm embarrassed to add them all to my "yuck" list.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Unfocused , almost boring

Few writers can capture the spirit of the second world war , describe characters and atmosphere like Alan Furst. However at times -and this happens too often in this book- he lets the story plot wander without direction, gets lost in useless details (three minutes to describe the content of the library of a minor character without any relevance in the actual development of events) and goes on and on without getting anywhere. My hearth bleeds , but this time, no matter how much i usually like his books , i have to give him a rating of two stars.

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3 people found this helpful