Step into a world we would never know otherwise.

Alan Furst writes a slice of life in prewar France, Germany and Italy in the first half of 1939. A well-travelled Italian journalist, a German heiress in Berlin, and a group of immigrants in Paris who publish an underground newspaper, conspire to defeat the Fascists no matter the risk. They don't know what's coming, but we do. This book is like watching an old film noir spy movie. The narration is George Guidall at his best but, well, he's always at his best.

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Spy Novel Fan

Would you listen to Foreign Correspondent again? Why?

No. I very rarely listen or read novels more than once. In addition, the story didn't enthrall me. I did enjoy the atmospheric details and the real sense of time the story created.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

The novel seemed to just stop. I generally read spy fiction for the thrilling aspect of it. Furst seems more interested in setting up the stage and making the reader feel, quite successfully I might add, as if he is living in the period with his characters.

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

I listened to Night Soldiers (also by Alan Furst). I thoroughly enjoy Mr. Guidall's performances. He is easy to listen to and creates characters that are distinguishable and lively. His voices really seem to belong to separate people.

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

No, the book was more about creating a sense of time than suspense.

Any additional comments?

While the book did not satisfy the needs I usually have for spy fiction, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it. the book really immersed you in the period and I found that extremely appealing. There were some elements of suspense, but on a smaller scale than some might expect from a spy novel. The story appealed to me more as a fan of historical fiction and history in general than as a spy novel.

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8 people found this helpful

Furst is masterful. another powerful wartime novel

CAPTURES WARTIME EUROPE AND THE DARKEST DAYS OF THE FIGHT AGAINST FASCISM. PAGE TURNER OF HIGH QUALITY.

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Not Furst's Best

Any additional comments?

George Guidall is a genius, but not even he can turn this into an Alan Furst classic. I love Furst's rambling style and that he doesn't hew to the cookie cutter outline that dominates all fiction today. But. . . the characters here just aren't interesting to sustain Furst's style of writing. I never connected with any of the characters, least of all the main character, Weiss.

If you read Enid Blyton as a child, the "board"--who publish a subversive paper aimed at undermining Mussolini's regime--are about as sophisticated as The Famous Five, possibly less so.

I'm disappointed, but I'm going to try the next in the series. I just wish Furst could bring back the excitement and complexity of the first books in Night Soldiers, especially the first. If you haven't read/listened to it, download it right now! You won't be disappointed.

Did I say that George Guidall is a genius?

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1 person found this helpful

Best in Series

Another great story but I am hooked on the series. Simply the historical descriptions and characters keep me coming back for more.

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One of the best in the series so far

I first read about the Night Soldier series and Furst through a list of "Best spy novels" or some such. On the list was a book in the middle of the series, perhaps this one. But I saw the first book was free and now I'm at book ten.

Furst's style has varied some over the series but in general it's a bit like Le Carre, and I'm always looking for more like Carre whom I adore.

George Guidal narrates the series including this one and then another narrator, equally good, takes over.

This one is about a group of Italian ex-pats in Paris. They publish an anti fascist underground newspaper. Many problems ensue. It gets pretty tense at times and we're being manipulated quite a bit by Furst, in a good way.

As with the other books, characters from before make appearances and a cameo in the last book becomes a main character here.

I recommend the whole series and not least this one.

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1 person found this helpful

Best ww2 origin fiction.

Wonderful characters. Realistic circumstances. Sexy women. Seemingly powerless people fighting fascist nationalism. A lot like 2017.

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Another excellent story

Love Alan Furst stories. The narrator sets the mood perfectly at just the right tempo.

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One of the best of a great series

If you could sum up Foreign Correspondent in three words, what would they be?

All Time Great!

What other book might you compare Foreign Correspondent to and why?

The other eight in Alan Furst's first nine in the series that were narrated by George Guidall.

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

Many, many times over the years. Been a recorded book listener for almost 20 years. George Guidall is one of the all time great narrators and I consider his performance of the Furst's novels to be a highlight of his career. I've actually read a couple of the Furst novels in this series and they rate a 4. George elevates them to a 6. It saddens me that he stopped narrating Furst's novels. The subsequent recorded novels were, at best, a 2. A case, that is all too common, of the narrator ruining the novel.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

A story of real resistance spies in World War II. They were scared, tired and bored most of the time.

Any additional comments?

The saddest part of the book and narration is "The End"I've listened to all the first 9 novels in the series at least 3 times and a few like "The Foreign Correspondent" 5 times.

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8 people found this helpful

Passes the time

The writing and the narration were quite adequate. But this is liked easing a week old newspaper. Maybe you don't have much excitement and this seems like a thoughtful escape. I personally did find it very interesting. People saw war coming and didn't do enough to stop it. The common people weren't made out to be foolish just powerless. The 1/10th of the book that was exciting was down played. I have listened to worse stories and narrators. This was ok for being on sale. I won't ask for a refund. I'm sorry I bought two books on sale by this author.

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