
Darkness at Noon
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Narrated by:
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Frank Muller
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By:
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Arthur Koestler
A fictional portrayal of an aging revolutionary, this novel is a powerful commentary on the nightmare politics of the troubled 20th century. Born in Hungary in 1905, a defector from the Communist Party in 1938, and then arrested in both Spain and France for his political views, Arthur Koestler writes from a wealth of personal experience.
Imprisoned by the political party to which he has dedicated his life, Nicolas Rubashov paces his prison cell, examining his life and remembering his tempestuos career. As the old intelligentsia is eradicated to make way for the new, he is psychologically tortured and forced to confess to preposterous crimes. Comparing himself to Moses, led to the Promised Land but refused entry, he sees only darkness at the end of his life, where once he saw such promise for humanity.Frank Muller's narrative expertise is perfect for this haunting work. Rubashov's personal agony becomes Muller's as he presents Koestler's relevant and important questions.
©1968 Mrs. F.H.K. Henries (P)1999 Recorded Books, LLCListeners also enjoyed...




















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Masterpiece-- Koestler and Muller
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an amazing glimpse into the human condition
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Beautifully Written, Terrifying Story
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very good
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A True Masterpiece!!
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Oh, but for a narrator!
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Very interesting
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"Darkness at Noon" is set during the 1938 Moscow Show Trials as Stalin was on a campaign to purge many of his co-founders of the Bolshevik Revolution. Though no names are
used- the USSR is merely referred to as The Party, Stalin as Number One and Hiltler as The Dictator- the characters are clear. Protagonist Nicholas Rubashov, Number Two of The Party, is arrested and interrogated at the direction of Number One under suspicion of conspiring with Western oppositional powers against The Party and The State. While the irony of being caught up in a byzantine prosecutorial system much of his own making isn't lost on him, Rubashov finds that his writings of the system's evolution as it passes from one generation to the next places himself in the uncomfortable position of trying to ascertain the most important role he can play to perpetuate a Party which he has dedicated the last 40 years of his life.
Written in 1940 while he was residing in Paris, Arthur Koestler was intimate with the story and circumstances on which the novel is based. Hungarian born and German raised, Koestler had been part of the Communist Party of Germany during the rise of Adolph Hitler. As Stalin and Hitler contested for control of Europe with competing totalitarian ideologies, Stalin's purges prompted Koestler to disavow the Communist Party and authoritarianism of which "Darkness at Noon" manifested. Originally written in German, its critical reception and timeliness led to global translation and blockbuster sales. Joining the French Foreign Legion after the Nazis invaded France but deserted and eventually made his way to England where he became a celebrated author made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire(CBE) in 1972.
While not previously familiar with Koestler his influence was obvious on the likes of Oriana Fallaci in her novel "A Man" about the prison ordeal of Greek resistance fighter Alexander Panagouli which is one of my all-time favorites. I plan to add "The Gladiators" and "Arrival and Departure" which bookend a trilogy along with "Darkness at Noon."
"Man counted in years, history in generations"
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Insightful picture of the cycle of corruption
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Although this is not a cheerful story I found it uplifting and strangely positive, as the protagonist cleanly faces the truth of the dark side of his friends and the communist movement. While reading Darkness at Noon I could not help but think that, although the Soviet Union is now defunct, the Soviet era totalitarians are still in control of Russia, and the lies and oppression continue. Just watch Russian News (RT) for a while and count the number of negative Putin stories (generally zero).
The narration was excellent, matching the tone and spirit of the book remarkably well.
Darkly Uplifting
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