Precipice Audiobook By Robert Harris cover art

Precipice

A Novel

Preview

Try for $0.00
Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Precipice

By: Robert Harris
Narrated by: Samuel West
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $25.19

Buy for $25.19

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel

About this listen

“Robert Harris is, simply put, masterful.”—Karin Slaughter

A spellbinding novel of passion, intrigue, and betrayal set in England in the months leading to the Great War from the bestselling author of Act of Oblivion, Fatherland, The Ghostwriter, and Munich.

Summer 1914. A world on the brink of catastrophe.

In London, twenty-six-year-old Venetia Stanley—aristocratic, clever, bored, reckless—is part of a fast group of upper-crust bohemians and socialites known as “The Coterie.” She’s also engaged in a clandestine love affair with the Prime Minister, H. H. Asquith, a man more than twice her age. He writes to her obsessively, sharing the most sensitive matters of state.

As Asquith reluctantly leads the country into war with Germany, a young intelligence officer with Scotland Yard is assigned to investigate a leak of top-secret documents. Suddenly, what was a sexual intrigue becomes a matter of national security that could topple the British government—and will alter the course of political history.

An unrivaled master of seamlessly weaving fact and fiction, Precipice is another electrifying thriller from the brilliant imagination of Robert Harris.

©2024 Robert Harris (P)2024 HarperCollins Publishers
Historical Literary Fiction World War I War England Fiction
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

What listeners say about Precipice

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    88
  • 4 Stars
    21
  • 3 Stars
    10
  • 2 Stars
    7
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    100
  • 4 Stars
    11
  • 3 Stars
    4
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    79
  • 4 Stars
    21
  • 3 Stars
    7
  • 2 Stars
    6
  • 1 Stars
    3

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

outstanding in every way


First, this reading was superb. I am admirer of Samual West an actor in many different roles, brilliant as an admirable character and equally good as a despicable one.
The story was as well written as all Harris' books and has the added value of being historically accurate. It is a wonderful insight into a terrible period of British history.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

untold story

liked it all. Robert Harris' novels have terrific pace. I learn so much in each one. great storyteller. If I could write a book, this is how I'd do it. thank you Mr Harris

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Early death throws of imperial Britain in the onset of modern warfare

As always, Robert Harris has produced an extremely insightful novel focused on actual moments of history. Great book! Highly recommend.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Understanding History

I have read several nonfiction history books which address the events leading toward WWI. Precipice provides the most memorable as it conveys not just dates, locations and historic characters but feelings and emotions. “The Prime”,Asquith, has never lodged in my memory. Now he will, but not just his name but the emotional stresses of world events and personal conundrums. Thank you Mr. Harris.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Eloquent storyteller

Such a fine writer. Abundance of historical detail, maybe too much for some, but I felt transported into a very consequential moment in time through the private torments of these few characters.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

An excellent work of historical fiction

Knowing little about the opening days of World War 1, this is an excellent, though fictional look at what those days were like. The PM at the time is a figure I've not researched. His research and attention to accuracy is incredible.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Everything!

Brilliantly researched and mesmerizing and narration superb. A combination of history, fiction and perfect writing

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Interesting historical novel, not gripping

The history is quite interesting, the historical setting an interesting time. The story is good, but not gripping. I’d recommend it, but don’t expect it to be at the level of the best of Robert Harris, not because it isn’t written well or told well, but because the story of a kind of pathetic character as Prime Minister is not such an impressive story. The narrator did a fine job.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A shocking and gripping historically accurate novel.

A devastating and shocking look at the incompetence of the self absorbed, hubristic British aristocracy, the irresponsiblity of its elected officials, and the corruption of its civil service as they failed to prevent WWI and utterly botched the conduct of the war effort.

Harris has outdone himself with this history, based on the actual letters of Prime Minister HH Asquith to his paramor, Venetia Stanley. Eye opening and relevant even today.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Beautiful narrator voice

A fascinating look into British WW1 history. Accurate, never before known. Astonishing security lapses and a love story.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!