The Last Train to London

A Novel

By: Meg Waite Clayton

Narrated by: John Lee

Length: 11 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's Summary

The New York Times best-selling author of Beautiful Exiles conjures her best novel yet, a pre-World War II-era story with the emotional resonance of Orphan Train and All the Light We Cannot See, centering on the Kindertransports that carried thousands of children out of Nazi-occupied Europe - and one brave woman who helped them escape to safety.

In 1936, the Nazi are little more than loud, brutish bores to 15-year-old Stephan Neuman, the son of a wealthy and influential Jewish family and budding playwright whose playground extends from Vienna’s streets to its intricate underground tunnels. Stephan’s best friend and companion is the brilliant Žofie-Helene, a Christian girl whose mother edits a progressive, anti-Nazi newspaper. But the two adolescents’ carefree innocence is shattered when the Nazis’ take control.

There is hope in the darkness, though. Truus Wijsmuller, a member of the Dutch resistance, risks her life smuggling Jewish children out of Nazi Germany to the nations that will take them. It is a mission that becomes even more dangerous after the Anschluss - Hitler’s annexation of Austria - as, across Europe, countries close their borders to the growing number of refugees desperate to escape. 

Tante Truus, as she is known, is determined to save as many children as she can. After Britain passes a measure to take in at-risk child refugees from the German Reich, she dares to approach Adolf Eichmann, the man who would later help devise the “Final Solution to the Jewish Question”, in a race against time to bring children like Stephan, his young brother Walter, and Žofie-Helene on a perilous journey to an uncertain future abroad.

©2019 Meg Waite Clayton (P)2019 HarperAudio

Why the phony accents?

It is a given that most of the listeners are native English speakers. So, why the affected German accents? If the protagonists were speaking their native German or Dutch, they would be speaking without an accent, correct? This always ruins a great read, in my opinion. Also, in the case of this recording, it actually makes it hard to understand the storyline.

Good history

If I hadn’t been so interested in the subject of this book, I would have stopped listening on the first page. I absolutely abhor the affected speech of this reader, whom I have suffered through before. Please get someone who speaks the king’s English without sounding like Lord Haw Haw!

A very moving story

I had a little difficulty getting into the story because of the many moving parts and my listening for short periods of time. However, as the characters became people, I found myself drawn into the bravery of the people so horribly treated during this period of Nazi persecution. It’s a story where you can suspect the outcomes for the characters so you are thus drawn into their plight and live the journey with them. I plan to re-listen as I missed much along the way. I highly recommend this compelling book.

History brought to life through story.

Very well researched and written. Performed well. Describes relief events in a dramatic fashion which is memorable. Excellent

Heartbreaking

I’ve read many books about this time period and set in many different countries in Europe leading up to and including WW2. I’ve heard of the Kinder Transport also, but never read a book with this much detail. This story really touched me. The love and sacrifice of parents/ grandparents. The love and sacrifice of siblings too. It’s excellent and also based on true people. BUT, bring your tissues. You’ll need them.

children

It is so unimaginable to hear what people went thru at the hands of the Nazis. Thank the Lord for the brave & courageous people who tried to help not just the Jewish children but the Austrian children also & the English who took them in & gave them family & education. God Bless the Angels.

historical fiction about the kindetr transports

I learned a lot about the courageous transport of Jewish children out of Germany to England during the early part of WWII. Fascinating and well worth reading. The audible book is excellent since it pronounced the German words and names properly. Highly recommend... not depressing like so msny war stories. It follows history accurately.l

i loved it!!!!!

everything about it was wonderful, the reader, the story. I listened twice.. i have recommended it to everyone I know. thank you all. the author and reader and audible.

Something great came from some people so evil

The bravery,the self sacrifice and the kindness were a reminder that we can help if we just look around.

very worthwhile listen

probably not a book that would show up in my "recommended titles" but I enjoyed this book a lot