The Polish Officer

By: Alan Furst

Narrated by: George Guidall

Length: 11 hrs and 43 mins

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

Slow paced.

I like Alan Furst stories for the historical backgrounds portrayed. However, I found this story to be pretty dull. I quit listening to it several times, but finally decided to slog through it. Done.

Captivating story

Your interest is immediately captured and you are drawn into this exciting tale. The narration is superb as well as the professional performance. Outstanding.

Gloomily Atmospheric Early WWII Spy Story

What made the experience of listening to The Polish Officer the most enjoyable?

Getting a real feel for the troubles of Eastern Europe during the early part of WWII. Not as familiar to Westerners as the occupation of France and the battle of Britain

Which character – as performed by George Guidall – was your favorite?

The protagonist

A Different View

Would you listen to The Polish Officer again? Why?

Yes The historical perspective and motivations of the French. The book is well written and one is forced to go over certain parts.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Polish Officer?

The scenes and atmosphere in the jumbing off point of the German preparation for their invasion of England.

I love the love stories and how war can make us more noble and willing to sacrifice our wills

What does George Guidall bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The story comes to life.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Not the Polidh officier /but something to do with resistance.

Any additional comments?

I almost didn't get into it. I started many times but the beginning just didn't take off.
I love to read about the war and wonder why the germans didn't win the war. This book gives me another view point.

The books human interations gives it the punch.

My grandparents came from Poland and my grandmother never liked it there. From what I read, they seem to have had poor leaders and one can sort of understand their patriotic will and their misteps.

Historical Literature at its Finest

Would you consider the audio edition of The Polish Officer to be better than the print version?
George Guidall is the master of audio narration. In novels such as Furst's, where intonation is crucial and the unspoken in dialogue is as or more important than words said aloud, Guidall is at his apex.

What did you like best about this story?
The Polish Officer is not just one of the finest historical novels ever written, it is a true piece of literature. Furst's earlier night soldier novels are excellent, but in his depiction of a complex slavic man confronting the cruelty and complexity not only of the entire human race but his own mind and personality, the author surpasses Hemingway early and takes the war novel to a new dimension. Makes For Whom the Bell Tolled feel overwrought and obvious.

Which character – as performed by George Guidall – was your favorite?
Like in most of his other novels, ancillary characters supply much of the narrative's color. Poles, Russians, and French, men and women, nobility to those inhabiting the lowest levels of society: each character expands the reader's understanding of the setting both time and place. Furst's most interesting characters in his night soldiers novels are the nebbishy "losers" who nibble around the edges of war-torn Europe (Louis Fischfang, the screenwriter in Red Gold; S. Rosen in many of the novels, the short, fat, bald fatalistic covert agent with the shadowy past). In this novel he creates an ensemble cast of interesting bit players with whom you may fall in love. He even makes you like a German officer. Kind of.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?
World War Two: This Time It's Personal.

Any additional comments?
If you ever listened to a performance of Albert Camus' The Stranger and enjoyed it, you will enjoy this book immensely. If not, you will still enjoy this book immensely.

Tedious, but worth the read.

Sometimes confusing, but mostly very interesting and informative. George Gadell is a brilliant narrator and I love his voice.

Well crafted characters, contexts in WW2 story

Another humane, compelling story by this author who defies stereotypes of what a WW2 “spy novel” should be. The narrator does a good job, never interfering and capturing mood well. The story seems to sag in the middle but the end was worth staying for. I really enjoyed the Polish context for this novel.

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.

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.

Disappointing

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

After listening to the three Furst books read by Daniel Gerrol which I really enjoyed, this was a disappointing experience. I did not enjoy Guidall's preformance.

If you’ve listened to books by Alan Furst before, how does this one compare?

I did not find either the story or characters as engaging as in the other Furst books I have listened to, however Guidall's preformance may have tainted my view of the book.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Guidall is apparently very popular and I find this hard to understand. There is little range in his voice and it lacks any vitality. After Gerrol, who is superb, Guidall's preformance seems dull and tiresome. He has a very grandfatherly voice.

Was The Polish Officer worth the listening time?

If you like Guidall you will likely like this as well.

Any additional comments?

I will give Guidall another chance on another Furst novel, but if his preformance is as lack-luster as it is here I'll likely give up on the series. I do hope that Gerrol narrates future Furst books.