
Thunderstruck
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
3 months free
Buy for $20.25
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Bob Balaban
-
By:
-
Erik Larson
Set in Edwardian London and on the stormy coasts of Cornwall, Cape Cod, and Nova Scotia, Thunderstruck evokes the dynamism of those years when great shipping companies competed to build the biggest, fastest ocean liners; scientific advances dazzled the public with visions of a world transformed; and the rich outdid one another with ostentatious displays of wealth. Against this background, Marconi races against incredible odds and relentless skepticism to perfect his invention: the wireless, a prime catalyst for the emergence of the world we know today. Meanwhile, Crippen, "the kindest of men", nearly commits the perfect crime.
With his superb narrative skills, Erik Larson guides these parallel narratives toward a relentlessly suspenseful meeting on the waters of the North Atlantic. Along the way, he tells of a sad and tragic love affair that was described on the front pages of newspapers around the world, a chief inspector who found himself strangely sympathetic to the killer and his lover, and a driven and compelling inventor who transformed the way we communicate.
Thunderstruck presents a vibrant portrait of an era of séances, science, and fog, inhabited by inventors, magicians, and Scotland Yard detectives, all presided over by the amiable and fun-loving Edward VII as the world slid inevitably toward the first great war of the 20th century.
Gripping from the start, and rich with fascinating detail about the time, the people, and the new inventions that connect and divide us, Thunderstruck is splendid narrative history from a master of the form.
©2006 Erik Larson (P)2006 Random House, Inc.Listeners also enjoyed...




















Critic reviews
"Larson has a knack for creating genuine suspense in his writing, and his latest is thoroughly enthralling." (Booklist)
"Splendid, beautifully written.... Thunderstruck triumphantly resurrects the spirit of another age." (Publishers Weekly)
People who viewed this also viewed...


















very good
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
While the narrator starts out speaking quickly at the very beginning (and only the beginning), I had no other issues with the narration. It was clear and never detracted from the story.
Excellent Book, Narration is fine
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Perfect History Story with Intrigue!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Good History without boring you with detail Larsen never writes a bad book.
Well presented to maintain you're interest.
Great story.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
Yes, if you like science and like murder mysteries. It got a little long in the parts about the telegraphy and I think there could have been less detail with the same results.What was one of the most memorable moments of Thunderstruck?
The disappearance of Belle and the investigation of her disappearance.Which scene was your favorite?
The scenes on the ship at the end of the novel, when they are catching up with the Doctor.Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
No. It took a while to get through. You really have to pay attention. The detail on the telegraphy and that history could have been shorter. It tended to get long and boring, especially at the beginning.Any additional comments?
The Devil in the White City is my favorite Erik Larson book, and this one was good, but not as good.Good book. Well written, but less is more.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Very well written, fabulous use of language. All read. No skipping or noise in the recording.
Almost as good as "Devil"
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Solid historical tale
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Narrator
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Interesting murder
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Excellent mystery history!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.