Munich

A Novel

By: Robert Harris

Narrated by: David Rintoul

Length: 9 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

From the best-selling author of V2 and Fatherland - a WWII-era spy thriller set against the backdrop of the fateful Munich Conference of September 1938. Soon to be a Netflix film.

With this electrifying novel about treason and conscience, loyalty and betrayal, "Harris has brought history to life with exceptional skill" (The Washington Post).

Hugh Legat is a rising star of the British diplomatic service, serving at 10 Downing Street as a private secretary to the Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain. Paul von Hartmann is on the staff of the German Foreign Office - and secretly a member of the anti-Hitler resistance. The two men were friends at Oxford in the 1920s, but have not been in contact since. Now, when Hugh flies with Chamberlain from London to Munich, and Hartmann travels on Hitler's train overnight from Berlin, their paths are set on a disastrous collision course.

And once again, Robert Harris gives us actual events of historical importance - here are Hitler, Chamberlain, Mussolini, Daladier - at the heart of an electrifying, unputdownable novel.

©2018 Robert Harris (P)2018 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Vocally dexterous narrator David Rintoul guides listeners through this spy thriller by the bestselling author of Fatherland with a sure hand.... There are a plethora of fascinating characters for Rintoul to portray, and he depicts each one with individuality and personality." (AudioFile)

Good men trying to do SOMETHING.

"Yet still he could not act. And if he couldn't do it, who would? In that moment, in a flash of clarity, he saw that nobody--not him, not the Army, not a lone assassin--that no German would disrupt their common destiny until it was fulfilled."
- Robert Harris, Munich

I'm a fan of Robert Harris. He writes smart historical ficiton (sometimes, as was the case with, Fatherland alternative-historical fiction). His areas of interest primarily revolve around Nazi Germany and the Roman Empire. I've read several of his books. His prose is never quite at the John le Carré-level of fiction. But, if you like history and are OK with utilizing fictionalized minor characters to tour you around certain times, his books are certainly not a waste of time or money.

'Munich' focuses on Fall of 1938, specifically the time when Hitler and Chamberlain (and France and Italy) are meeting in Munich to appease Hitler by basically giving Germany the Sudetenland. The primary characters are two old friends from Oxford: Hugh Legat works at 10 Downing Street, Paul von Hartmann is a secretary in Germany's foreign ministry. The book ends up being a bit of a bureaucratic cat-and-mouse, while Chamberlain's "Peace at all Costs" basically gives the game away. The book doesn't lead one to walk away with a positive view of Chamberlain, but puts his actions in context (both politically and militarily). It fleshes out the man who will ever be associated with appeasement, political ineptness, timidity, and the phrase: “Peace for our time.”

Great story, superb narration!

This is a well crafted historical fiction novel with excellent attention to history. The narrator is the best I have experienced.

The full story of Munich

This is a retelling of the actual details of the Munich Conference, before and during, recreating the personalities, attitudes and motivations of all the players. It is very skilfully written. David Rintoul’s narration is wonderful, and I will search him out for other books just to enjoy his fine voice and skills.

Not the best I've listened to, but not bad.

This was by no means the best book I've ever listened to but no where near the worst either. It's was as the 3 stars would suggest, just OK. I'm not sure how much actual history is in the book versus fiction. But it is an interesting premise and entirely plausible. Worth the listen but shouldn't be at the top of the list.

Really compelling performance

Would you consider the audio edition of Munich to be better than the print version?

I would have to say absolutely, yes. And I have the book. I cannot give enough praise to David Rintoul's narration. It really grabs you and holds you.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

I think the plot sometimes gets subverted to the richness of detail and character. I find that fascinating.

Have you listened to any of David Rintoul’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

My first Rintoul. Won't be my last.

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

Not really.

Any additional comments?

I recommend this audiobook to all, without reservation. A great experience.

It’s not the writing

I don’t double this was a big deal for a moment in history. However considering how this story not to mention the rest of the story turned out, I’m not sure of the point. It would be reading about how the titanic almost put life boats onboard.

Both underexamined History and a Novel

With the backdrop of 1938 European "Great Powers" - preparing for War with a "time out" for the Munich Agreement to assuage Hitler's demands - Robert Harris' "Munich - A Novel" - has both this background and the foreground containing details of the diplomatic meetings, some espionage and dialogue.

Very interesting to listen to; very interesting to "rethink" Munich and Chamberlain's label of "Appeasement" - actively used as a derogatory term as is today's U.S. political analysis and custom. My insight gained is that while Great Britain was in its second year of rearming - it simply wasn't prepared for war; it's Dominions wouldn't have supported a war; so Chamberlain's actions were what was necessary to gain even a day/week/month of peace.

There's a saying that "For every complex problem - there is a simple solution.....and its usually wrong...." That's where I am after reading this Novel - and rethinking the contemporary political name-calling about Chamerlain and "Appeaser".

Carl Gallozzi
[e-mail]

Riviting

Great history, great suspense, and a remarkable performance. I felt that I knew personally each of the characters. I would have listened for either the history or the plot; the two together make this one of my favorite audible books ever.

Superbly crafted

What did you love best about Munich?

Harris has meticulously researched historical facts and woven the two fictional protagonists into the lives of real people. He is an excellent writer.

What did you like best about this story?

Suspenseful and real. Also, the book shows how Chamberlain had little choice but to give in to Hitler's demand for the Sudetenland. Chamberlain has been vilified ever since the 1938 deal he made with Hitler, but the book, though its characters, makes a compelling argument why going to war with Germany in 1938 was not possible for Britain.

Historical Fiction

I enjoyed this book but it is revisionist. If you don’t know your history treat it as a good spy story.