Transcription

A Novel

By: Kate Atkinson

Narrated by: Fenella Woolgar

Length: 11 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's summary

A dramatic story of WWII espionage, betrayal, and loyalty, by the number one best-selling author of Life After Life.

In 1940, 18-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.

©2018 Kate Atkinson (P)2018 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"Atkinson never fails to take us beyond an individual's circumstances to the achingly human, often-contradictory impulses within. And, as all of Atkinson's readers know, she is an exquisite writer of prose, using language with startling precision whether she is plumbing an inner life, describing events of appalling violence, or displaying her characters' wonderfully acerbic wit. Evoking such different but equally memorable works as Graham Greene's The Human Factor (1978) and Margaret Drabble's The Middle Ground (1980), this is a wonderful novel about making choices, failing to make them, and living, with some degree of grace, the lives our choices determine for us." (Booklist, starred review)

"There is intrigue. There are surprises. But the unknowns aren't always what we think they are. The deepest pleasure here, though, is the author's language. As ever, Atkinson is sharp, precise, and funny.... Another beautifully crafted book from an author of great intelligence and empathy." (Kirkus, starred review)

"If you loved Atkinson's Life After Life, you're in luck. If you're one of the, say, five people who didn't read it: You're still in luck - Atkinson is a master at the top of her game. A quiet, moving portrait of a guy navigating life's small pleasures and painful failures." (Marie Claire)

"Fenella Woolgar's masterful narration transforms Juliet Armstrong into a friend who is confiding a lifetime of secrets.... Woolgar's interpretations of Juliet's wry asides and commentary, peppered throughout the text, are hilarious, and she convincingly portrays a broad cast of characters, from plucky Cockney-accented errand boys to elderly women conspiratorially sharing their shocking views. Woolgar's melodious voice and dry wit carry listeners through the decades as Juliet's secrets race to catch up with her." (AudioFile)

Meh...well written, but lacks excitement

This is the first book I’ve read by the author, and I suspect that as other reviewers have point out she is a splendid novelist, but I can’t vouch for that based on Transcription. Brilliantly written at times, I was never engrossed in the story itself. As one who prefers a cozy, intellectual mystery (a la Perry Mason) over a shallow sex-filled spy novel, I found the story generally lacking. Excellent read though!

Story and narrator are fantastic

I loved two books, by this author/narrator duo and this latest book did not disappoint. It was beautifully written and so well narrated. I am sad that it is over.

World War ll, MI5, London...What could be better?

I love books written about world war 2 in London. The novel was well-researched and beautifully written. Fenella Woolgar's narration was skillful. Her mastery of voices and accents added so much. I wish I hadn't finished it already.

Transported

Both story and teller captivate your imagination; letting you slip satisfyingly into this timepiece.

I will now seek out more Kate and more Fenella.

Somewhat tedious

It took a long time to get into the flow of this book and I felt like my interest only really started picking up the final third of the book. Nice descriptive passages and good narration, but a far cry from Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy.

Outstanding narration.

Atkinson's twists should have been expected, but it was the narrator who saved me from confusion! I truly believe her ability to retain character voices was necessary for me to survive the permutations of names in this tale of double lives. My favorite part, and don't know how Atkinson does it, is how she captures the conversations we have within our own heads. the humor in the sarcasm from her main characters; I chuckle out loud everytime.

fascinating historical novel

fascinating historical novel. in the end Juliet is a cypher, a surprise. great to hear the wonderful performance. truly great. MI5 is more than an institution of spy's, much more.

story ok. good narator.

i love the narator. the story kinda average. i stay because it's enjoyable to listen to.

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.