Transcription

A Novel

De: Kate Atkinson

Narrado por: Fenella Woolgar

A dramatic story of WWII espionage, betrayal, and loyalty, by the #1 bestselling author of Life After Life

In 1940, eighteen-year old Juliet Armstrong is reluctantly recruited into the world of espionage. Sent to an obscure department of MI5 tasked with monitoring the comings and goings of British Fascist sympathizers, she discovers the work to be by turns both tedious and terrifying. But after the war has ended, she presumes the events of those years have been relegated to the past forever.

Ten years later, now a radio producer at the BBC, Juliet is unexpectedly confronted by figures from her past. A different war is being fought now, on a different battleground, but Juliet finds herself once more under threat. A bill of reckoning is due, and she finally begins to realize that there is no action without consequence.

Transcription is a work of rare depth and texture, a bravura modern novel of extraordinary power, wit, and empathy. It is a triumphant work of fiction from one of the best writers of our time.

Reseñas de la Crítica

"Endlessly devious... Atkinson loves her research, but she doesn't need much help concocting original stories that resemble no one else's and take the breath away. Even her literary allusions sparkle."—Janet Maslin, New York Times

"[Atkinson] occupies that rare cultural sweet spot wherein she scoops up awards for artistic excellence while also reliably hitting the best-seller lists. In her best work-a category in which her latest, "Transcription," certainly belongs-she maneuvers the tropes of the murder-mystery genre, of historical fiction, and of privileged white Britishness into a kind of critical salvage of women's work, women's lives..."—New Yorker

"Although engrossing from beginning to end, "Transcription" starts at a measured pace, with the tandem narratives only gradually gaining velocity. But when they are finally in sync and operating at peak capacity, the result is exhilarating...Transcription" is another triumph for Atkinson - suspenseful, moving, insightful and original."—The San Francisco Chronicle

"Atkinson is brilliant. Her characters are brilliant. Her command of the back-and-forth narrative, the un-fixedness of memory, the weight that guilt accrues over time and how we carry it is remarkable."—NPR.org

"In her novel's complex web of fiction and fact, copies and originals, Atkinson shows that transcription can take us closer to the truth."—Financial Times

"Atkinson's style is singular and delightful. No matter the genre, Atkinson displays more wit and word play, more delight in the fecundity of the English language, than just about any contemporary novelist."—The Boston Globe

"Kate Atkinson has carved out a niche as a stylistic interloper, elevating seemingly grimy crime fiction with her mordant wit and skipping from family sagas to speculative fiction. She returns to radiant form with her latest, Transcription, a deceptively subversive spy novel..."—Vogue

"Atkinson's writing is, as always, heaven to read... Atkinson has that gift, throughout her detective novels (the splendid Jackson Brodie series) and her recent wartime fiction -- she's both telling us a story and pulling back the curtain just a bit, showing us how she tells the story, how she builds this delicate house of cards. It's mesmerizing, from every angle."—Seattle Times

"Transcription is historical fiction at its best. Atkinson enjoys her research and uses it creatively to charm and inform her readers. She's not a pedant, but an accomplished storyteller with history as her background."—Dallas Morning News

"A sharp, witty espionage tale from best-seller and true lieterary master Kate Aktinson...It's thrilling and darkly funny."—Marie Claire

"The acclaimed author of Life After Life, Atkinson brings her trademark shar, insightful writing to this fascinating tale of intrigue."—Good Housekeeping

Doesn't propel

The narrator was very good but I didn't find the story line very compelling overall.

An engaging spy novel

I had never read or listened to Kate Atkinson before and as I started Transcription, the first thing that struck me was the elegance of her prose. Words are carefully chosen and placed in each sentence, and the result is rhythmic and melodious, qualities that were especially enhanced by the engaging performance of Fenella Woolgar, as the narrator. We get into Juliet Armstrong’s life through a series of flashbacks and forwards, mostly between the 1940s and 1950s, when the bulk of the plot takes place. Juliet is a spy during WWII but her work doesn’t have any of the glamour of James Bond’s. Her job borders boredom, consisting primarily of transcribing the conversations that happen behind closed doors in the room next to hers. Several other characters, spies or otherwise, are introduced along the way and, as it’s so common in the world of espionage, it’s hard for Juliet, and for us, to tell friend from foe. We never really find out whether Juliet’s and her colleagues’ work contributed at all to the allied victory in the war. But we are reminded that spying is a dangerous undertaking and it doesn’t provide an easy way out for those who enter the profession. Surprisingly, but not at all disappointedly, the most crucial revelations only come to light in the last few pages of the book, before the story ends right where it had begun.

Dragged quite a bit

Enjoyed the performance and the story brought characters to life, but it seemed to drag on and on as well as become repetitive. However, the author’s note gave me great respect for the research that went into it.

Disappointing

This novel is an office intrigue set during WWII and the cold war; there is not much action and the only evolution of characters that occurred for me was figuring out who was suing on who. I was expecting more on the basis of Ms Atkinson's previous works, A God in Ruins, and Life After Life.

I was sorry to see it end!

I was wary about this book after reading some of the more negative reviews. However, I enjoy reading about this time period and I like this author. I am glad that I took a chance on this book. The narrator was excellent and I look forward to more recordings by her. The story was complicated at times and I would have to rewind, but I am so glad I stuck with it. I enjoyed the characters so much and the twists and turns to the plot.

Could listen to this narrator read the phone book.

Loved this book just as much as Life After Life and Fenella Woolgar is just absolutely lovely to listen to!

Wonderful story

I loved this audiobook! The narration is crisp and perfect for the character. The story itself was fascinating because of the war/post war time periods. It isn’t non stop action or something like that; it’s just a great story that is worth your time to explore.

Exceptional

Exceptional naration or an exceptional story. Atkinson is outstanding and the narrator really brings this story to life.

awesome

I love this story. the narrator is perfect. this is historical fiction nonpareil, well researched with a wiley protagonist

Read this.

I adore everything by Kate Atkinson. Transcription merges the shape-shifting of her two WW II novels (Life after Life and A God in Ruins) with a bit of John Le Carre tradecraft that you don't see coming right away. And of course, there's a dog. Two, actually. The narration by Fenella Woolgar was perfect. As soon as I finished it last night, I wanted to start all over again, to savor the bits I may have missed on the first go-round.