Kingdom of Shadows

De: Alan Furst

Narrado por: George Guidall

In spymaster Alan Furst's most electrifying thriller to date, Hungarian aristocrat Nicholas Morath, a hugely charismatic hero, becomes embroiled in a daring and perilous effort to halt the Nazi war machine in Eastern Europe.

Morath is now part owner of an advertising agency in Paris, while his uncle, Count Janos Polanyi, is a minor diplomat stationed in Paris. Polanyi calls on Nicholas to take part in missions against the Hungarian Fascists: carrying letters or bringing individuals back across the border in the course of his business trips. As Nicholas's dinner parties, business deals, and dalliances with his mistress start to take a back seat to the escalating crisis in Europe, his tasks become more complicated, dangerous, and bewildering to him. He knows far less than the reader, who understands that his actions will have far-reaching consequences even beyond the fate of Hungary.

©2001 Alan Furst (P)2011 Simon & Schuster

More a Series of Vignettes

Rather than a connected story this is more a series of vignettes about Nicholas Morath, a part time Hungarian spy. The setting is Paris in the last year before the beginning of WWII.

The book tells of Nicholas Morath's various espionage missions - some very mundane like his trip to Amsterdam and others very exciting like his trip to see the Czech fortress emplacements. In between missions, we learn about Morath's misstress, a firendship with a bartender at the Balalaika bar etc.

There is the feeling of events spinning out of control as Hitler gobbles up more of Europe and a small coterie of Hungarian Aritocrats make futile efforts to spare their country from Hitler and the Arrow Cross boys.

This is a very atmospheric novel, like all of Alan Furst's book, but I did not find it quite as gripping as the more coherent books like Dark Star. Parts of the books, such as when Morath is imprisoned in Romania and the efforts made to release him, are thrilling in deed and hold the reader's attention. But the parts, especially dealing with Morath's personal life and mistresses, is not so interesting.

Neverthelss it is decent atmospheric book and it is not that long.But Furst has written better books which I would read ahead of this one. However, Furst is still the foremost writer about Europe on the eve of WWII. If you like that period and setting than Furst is a must read.

Thinnest of Furst's plots; great narration

Furst is better read than heard, though Guidall's narration lends period atmosphere. The plot is thin by the standards of other "Night Soldier" offerings, a tangle of loose threads and nuanced clues drawn together in a whimper of a climax. I found it difficult to follow - though I imagine it would be easier to spot the connections in text - and stayed with it only for the artful description and cleverly drawn characters. Was hoping for a bigger finish, but alas... I'll be reading Furst from now on.

Typical Furst — no plot, but oodles of atmosphere

This is the sixth Furst novel I’ve read. Obviously I’m something of a fan, and I’ve grown used to the fact that Furst’s books, while long on atmosphere, excellent writing, and colorfully cynical dialogue, tend to have little in the way of plot. And this one has even less; it’s really just a loose collection of scenes — on the surface, at least, unrelated — chronicling the protagonist's travels to assorted pre-war European locations on various murky clandestine missions, not all of them successful. The fact that we’re talking about 1938 and ’39, the years of the Anschluss, Munich, the fall of Czechoslovakia, and the start of war gives all the proceedings an intrinsic suspense and sense of approaching doom.

All of Furst’s books seem to have, along with the same strengths, the same faults (at least to my mind): too many descriptions of meals — mainly of interest to food snobs, no doubt — and too many intrusive, embarrassingly pulpy sex scenes. This time, typically, his protagonist is a brave, handsome, wealthy Paris-based Hungarian aristocrat, still fit in his forties, with a military background, a still-beautiful mother, and all sorts of handy international connections. Like other Furst fantasy figures, he’s a magnet for women and has a beautiful, glamorous, wealthy young mistress. (I find Furst’s sex scenes a bit creepy, especially having seen what he actually looks like.) Furst’s female characters are basically just compliant Bond women who hop readily into bed with the hero.

These early Furst books are narrated by the redoubtable George Guidall, and for better or worse, they all have the Guidall trademark style. He’s a terrific reader, always enjoyable, but all his foreign characters, from bartenders and taxi drivers to generals, tend to have the same accented voice: they all sound coarse, colorful, loud, and a bit low-class, like minor characters in a Hollywood film.

The War Continues

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

This book was well-written as all Furst's books are. I have read several.. But the one thing I do notice book to book is similarities between each plot, character, etc. Enter primary character. Somehow they float through the book being drawn into actions during a time of unrest and war. The risk their lives...but it is somehow or other not connected ...I continue to feel the character floats but does not choose these events. Book after book....then when the book is finished, I go on to another, Again, well-written and the character again floats from one thing to another, somehow feeling disconnected from a choice....then the book is over. I guess I feel a lack of connection with the primary characters in Furst's books because of this. Who exactly are they??????????? I don't think this is really clear.

Entertaining

A engrossing tale, one in which the listener is quickly caught up. I want to get a map of 1940’s Paris to aid in comprehending the movements of the characters. Engrossing and fascinating.

Historical facts

I read many reviews before I buy a book and even then get some rotten apples. But Mr Furst books are becoming a favorite & teaching me a lot about history. I fact checked this one all along & was amazed to learn many new true events of this period. He must have someone that lived these stories & then he is able to relay them back to us in wonderful prose. I know such a person whose story was never told and I thank Mr Furst in their behalf

This was a very very depressing book

When I reached the end of the book, I struggled to understand what the point of it all was.

Loved it

The story was not a total page turner but that didn’t bother me because Alan Furst is such a fine writer and the characters in his stories are so are vividly drawn and the plot in this one did captured my attention . I loved the narration which was arguably even more brilliant than the story. George Guidal has an extraordinary talent for making each character precisely their own recognizable person. He is the absolute master of dialect, personalities, and accents. I believe he could read the phone book to me and I’d be fascinated. I wish he narrated every single audiobook I buy. I have read or listened to many Alan Furst books and I can’t wait for my next one!

Another classic from Mr. Furst

What made the experience of listening to Kingdom of Shadows the most enjoyable?

The characters were believable and the narration by George Guidall was outstanding. We often found ourselves at our destination in the car, but unable to stop listening and the next part of the story unfolded.

What did you like best about this story?

The way the plot evolved is wonderful.

What about George Guidall’s performance did you like?

Guidall demonstrates what makes voice acting different from simply narrating a work of fiction. He inhabits the key characters fully.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No.

Any additional comments?

Hard to go wrong with the 1-2 punch of Guidall and Furst! Very enjoyable throughout!!

Missing a plot

The narrator is great, however this book was not up to the author's usual standards. There seems to be no plot and nothing driving the protagonist.