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!

too many characters to start with?

for me, an audible book with too many characters at the beginning is hard to follow. I had a hard time getting into this story. stopped with 7 hours to go.

Great story!

Although the accent of the narrator took some getting used to, it’s something I really grew to love and really adds a lot to the story! Trust me when I say that it is easier to understand the more you listen.
The plot is wonderfully written; I loved the anticipation of if the characters’ story’s will collide!

LOVE LOVE LOVE this book

I just listened to this book for the 3rd time! I love the children, I cry and truly wonder how on God’s earth these people survived such horrific pain and memories. Tante Truss is a Saint, as are all those who helped . Please make a movie!

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.

I loved it!

It was honest, rich, spellbinding, heartbreaking and yet not actually violent or sexually explicit.
I am going to recommend it to my teenage granddaughter . Thank you!

slow

slow and boring. I almost just turned it off and didn't finish listening to it.

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.