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The Secrets We Kept cover art

The Secrets We Kept

By: Lara Prescott
Narrated by: Carlotta Brentan, Mozhan Marnò, David Pittu, Cynthia Farrell, Saskia Maarleveld, James Fouhey, Jonathan Davis
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Summary

Random House presents the audiobook edition of The Secrets We Kept by Lara Prescott.

A banned masterpiece.

1956. A celebrated Russian author is writing a book, Doctor Zhivago, which could spark dissent in the Soviet Union. The Soviets, afraid of its subversive power, ban it.

But in the rest of the world it’s fast becoming a sensation.

Two female spies.

The CIA plans to use the book to tip the Cold War in its favour.

Their agents are not the usual spies, however. Two typists - the charming, experienced Sally and the talented novice Irina - are charged with the mission of a lifetime: to smuggle Doctor Zhivago back into Russia by any means necessary.

A book that changed history.

It will not be easy. There are people willing to die for this book - and agents willing to kill for it. But they cannot fail - as this book has the power to change history.

Sold in 25 countries and poised to become a global literary sensation, Lara Prescott's dazzling first novel about the women in the CIA's typing pool and the fate of Boris Pasternak's banned masterpiece is the most hotly anticipated debut of the year.

©2019 Lara Prescott (P)2019 Penguin Audio

What listeners say about The Secrets We Kept

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So good, such a good listen.

About the story of Zhivago that so many of us know, but is it true? A rare very good listen that is enhanced by different voices playing the various characters. Just loved it.

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Not morish

really struggled to finish this book. in the beginning, I found it a little hard to follow... the whole book was just ups and downs of being interesting vs not....then became a lot about sexual preference and the other sub stories were just depressing. wouldnt recommend or miss.

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Great story, shame about Boris.

Something didn’t quite click for me in this story. Told from various viewpoints, it lays out the story of how Dr Zhivago was smuggled west then back to the USSR. It takes places in Russia and America and for me the Russian chapters became increasingly frustrating because of the character of Pasternak himself. He’s such a cowardly, selfish and narcissistic man with no regard for anything but his own sense of genius, one starts to feel sympathy with all the members of the Writers Union who refused to back him.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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A wonderful book

This is the best book I’ve read for ages. Beautifully written and narrated with a gripping story.

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Great yarn, very well read and written

Very entertaining fascinating tale of the role of women in society at the time of the cold war

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Thoroughly good story, well told

I really enjoyed this book. I need say no more, but Audible insisted on at least ten words 😉

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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Jumps about

I found this book difficult to get in to as it jumps about a lot. The story in the east pulled me in but I found it all quite disjointed. It’s set in an interesting era and has left me wanting to research some of the historical facts mentioned in the various story lines.

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