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Story of a Secret State
- Penguin Modern Classics
- Narrated by: Janusz Guttner
- Length: 18 hrs and 15 mins
- Categories: History, Military
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Summary
I do not pretend to have given an exhaustive picture of the Polish Underground, its organisation and its activities. Because of our methods, I believe that there is no one today who could give an all-embracing recital...This book is a purely personal story, my story.
Jan Karski's Second World War memoir is a heroic act of witness: the courageous testimony of a man who risked everything for his country. First published in 1944, the book became an instant best seller in the US while the war still raged in Europe. At times overwhelming in the details it reveals of the suffering of ordinary people, it is an unforgettable and deeply affecting record of brutality, courage, and survival under conditions of extreme bleakness.
During the first four years of World War II, Karski worked as a messenger for the underground, risking his life in secret missions. He was captured, tortured, rescued, smuggled through a tunnel into the Warsaw ghetto and, finally, disguised himself as a guard to infiltrate a Nazi death camp. Then, travelling across occupied Europe to England, with his eye-witness report smuggled on microfilm in the handle of a razor, he became the first man to tell the Allies about the Holocaust - only to be ignored.
Critic reviews
What listeners say about Story of a Secret State
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Overall
- Margaret
- 01-07-12
the accent lets it down
Do not get me wrong this book is so interesting - given the subject I cannot say enjoyable -and I would recommend it to everyone. It is let down though by the narrator with his heavy accent. Okay I know it was written by a Pole but does it have to be read with this accent. The first part of the story, where things move slower I dropped off a couple of times because of his almost hypnotic slow reading. Later it the book that is no problem but you are left with his mispronunication. Sometimes I just wondered what on earth he had said. Apart from that, the book gives a clear and awful view of what Poland and the underground, and the Jews from that country went through. When he describes visiting one death camp I was crying and had to stop reading for a while. Having visited several concentration camps I thought I had an idea about the fate of these poor people but the description of the train from that camp stays in my mind.
4 people found this helpful
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- Purplelotus
- 29-06-17
Courage beyond Calling
Would you consider the audio edition of Story of a Secret State to be better than the print version?
Couldn't comment as haven't read print version.
What did you like best about this story?
Jan Karski himself. Sounded such a brave and noble man.
What about Janusz Guttner’s performance did you like?
Yes it was as if Jan Karski was himself telling the story to you in a conversation.
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
His visit to the Warsaw Ghetto and the concentration camp. His visit to his sister and the fate of the liaison women.
Any additional comments?
This is a remarkable story by a remarkable man. It really should be read.
1 person found this helpful
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- Jacek
- 13-05-15
A must read for every human
True story, about WWII Europe and various societies facing German terror. Most importantly the sad reality about western allies indifference towards Holocaust.
1 person found this helpful
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- Mrs F
- 10-08-20
Hero
Jan Karski is my hero, listening to this book was like listening to Karski, the narrator was perrfect, Karski would have loved this, I'm sure of it.
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- David
- 20-10-11
Outstanding
What a story ! The author was certainly a hero and deserved all the recognition given to him.
I would hope that this book will be listened to by many.
Highly recommended.The authors' modesty, courage,loyalty and dedication shine throughout the book.How proud I would be to have known him.
Excellent narration,the fact that the narrator has a mid-European accent to his English added flavour and reality,as though the author himself were relating his testimony from those dark days.Lest we forget.
6 people found this helpful
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- Marje
- 06-04-14
Magnificent, Spellbinding, Intriguing, Inspiring
In short, this is a thrilling read.
The former Foreign Minister of Poland Władysław Bartoszewski in his speech at the ceremony of the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the concentration camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau, 27 January 2005, said:
"The Polish resistance movement kept informing and alerting the free world to the situation. In the last quarter of 1942, thanks to the Polish emissary Jan Karski and his mission, and also by other means, the Governments of the United Kingdom and of the United States were well informed about what was going on in Auschwitz-Birkenau."
Among much recognition and adulation bestowed upon him, Jan Karski, posthumously, received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from U.S. President Barack Obama on April 23, 2012.
See the write-up at wikipedia under "Jan Karski."
The narrator, Janusz Guttner, was brilliant... the best choice to read this magnificent book.
I cannot recommend this listen enough.
2 people found this helpful
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- K. Green
- 07-01-21
Amazing look at the Polish Underground during WWII
The author takes you from start to finish during his time in the Polish Underground with detail and passion. Amazing story!
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- Amazon Customer
- 18-09-19
History will always repeat itself!
I loved this narrative. The truth and the atrocities of the Nazi regime should always be remembered never forgotten. this is a first-hand account of the Polish underground during World War II. a strong godly people not willing to be crushed,
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- Harold S. Geller
- 03-08-15
So much to learn about Poland and world war 2
Jan Karski was truly a hero of World War 2 his story gave me insights that make me want to continue the exploration of my Polish background, and the current efforts for Jews to better understand the role of Polish resistance during the war.
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- Freddy Bastiat
- 30-12-14
Excellent.
Exciting and gripping as well has heart breaking. I enjoyed the narrator as his Polish accent gave an extra level of authenticity when listening.