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Act of Oblivion

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Act of Oblivion

By: Robert Harris
Narrated by: Tim McInnerny
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

'From what is it they flee?'
He took a while to reply. By the time he spoke the men had gone inside. He said quietly, 'They killed the King.'

1660, General Edward Whalley and Colonel William Goffe, father- and son-in-law, cross the Atlantic. They are on the run and wanted for the murder of Charles I. Under the provisions of the Act of Oblivion, they have been found guilty in absentia of high treason.

In London, Richard Nayler, secretary of the regicide committee of the Privy Council, is tasked with tracking down the fugitives. He'll stop at nothing until the two men are brought to justice. A reward of £100 hangs over their heads - for their capture, dead or alive.

ACT OF OBLIVION is an epic journey across continents, and a chase like no other. It is the thrilling new novel by Robert Harris.

© Robert Harris 2022 (P) Penguin Audio 2022

 Crime Thrillers Historical Mystery Suspense Thriller & Suspense Crime Fiction Thriller Exciting Scary

Critic reviews

One of Harris's most compellingly paced to date . . . it is his best since Fatherland
Act of Oblivion is a belter of a thriller. It will be compulsive reading for those who loved An Officer and a Spy, Harris's book about the Dreyfus affair. Like that novel, the research is immaculate. A chewy, morally murky slice of history is made into a thriller that twists and surprises. The characters are strong and we care about their predicament. The story stretches over continents and years, but the suspense feels as taut as if the three main characters were locked in a room with a gun.
Act of Oblivion is a fine novel about a divided nation, about invisible wounds that heal slower than visible ones . . . it feels like an important book for our particular historical moment, one that shows the power of forgiveness and the intolerable burden of long-held grudges
Harris's books are always supremely readable - he has practically trademarked the term 'master storyteller' (Alex Preston)
[Harris] writes with a skill and ingenuity that few other novelists can match
A lightning-quick thriller, the tension cranked right up throughout, and Harris' 17th century New England is so real you can almost smell it (Tim Weaver, author of BLACKBIRD)
Harris (Munich) again turns a historical event into a canny page-turner. . . Harris humanizes the hunter and the hunted, and brings to life an obscure chapter in colonial American history. This further burnishes Harris's reputation as a talented author of historical suspense
Gripping . . . Thoroughly enjoyable. . . . [This} deeply researched story is the author's brilliant reimagining of real historical events, with sympathetic characters and a compelling plot
Harris's cleverness, judgment and eye for detail are second to none (Dominic Sandbrook)
The master of the intelligent thriller
All stars
Most relevant
It is 1660 and General Edward Whalley and his son in law Colonel William Goffe cross the Atlantic to Massachusetts, they are on the run, they are wanted for murder, they killed the King. The King they killed was Charles I and they are being hunted under the provisions of the Act of Oblivion. In London Richard Nayler, secretary of the regicide committee of the Privy Council, is given the task of tracking them down.

The 1660 Act of Oblivion was an order given in the aftermath of the fall of the English Commonwealth. It pardoned all those who took up arms against the king except those directly involved in his execution. By 1660 most of those regicides were dead, Cromwell himself had died two years previously. Colonel Edward Whalley however, a cousin and childhood friend of Cromwell and Colonel Will Goffe are not.

Richard Harris’ novel is a fictitious account of the hunt for Whaley and Goffe, however apart from Richard Nayler most of the other characters in this account are factual which adds authenticity to the story. It’s an epic story covering continents and twenty years, it takes in the Great Plague, the Fire of London, and with flashbacks, the English Civil War. It is meticulous in detail and is well researched. But despite the scale Harris manages to portray a deeply personal story too, he does this by populating his novel with strong well defined characters, I felt both empathy and sympathy for the two fugitives and also for Richard Nayler. Harris also paints a vivid picture of 17th century London and Massachusetts. The descriptions of some of the executions are particularly graphic and harrowing.

Act of Oblivion is a highly entertaining and engaging historical thriller. Placing his fictitious account of the hunt within a accurate historical framework is the main reason for this, it feels, as I have said, authentic and if you wish to separate the fiction from the factual Harris provides further reading at the end of the book.

An entertaining historical thriller

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I am a fan of Robert Harris and enjoy his weaving of history into his novels. While it is an interesting story, very well constructed and written, it is not his best work. An Officer and a Spy being my favourite.
It does beautifully frame the evil cunning of the zealot righteous in the form of Mr Naylor with the humanity, profound belief and devotion, however misplaced, of common folk and soldiers in the form of Whalley and Goffe.
A performance by Tim McInnerney which brings the story to life as you listen.

A not well known piece of history illuminated.

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Firstly, this is a masterclass in audio narration by the brilliant Tim McInnerny who really brings the novel alive. In less skilful hands the story could have been ruined but he captivated me throughout and he never faltered in bringing the characters and action alive. What struck me most was the way Harris conveyed the absolute certitude of both parties that their cause was just. The depictions of London at the time, of life aboard a transatlantic voyage, of executions, plague and all the other horrors of the age were superbly rendered. I can see this making an excellent long form TV series.

Epic of Obsession, Loyalty, Pursuit and Revenge

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A fascinating story excitingly told and perfectly narrated by Tim McInnerny with all requisite accents.

Fascinating story perfectly narrated

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I could of easily listened for many hours more. First Robert Harris book I have read or listened to, but it won't be the last! Pick it up if you have any interest in historical fiction

All around excellent book

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