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Suite Francaise

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Suite Francaise

By: Irène Némirovsky, Sandra Smith - translator
Narrated by: Carole Boyd
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In June 1940 France fell to the Nazis. The effects of this momentous event on the lives of ordinary Parisians and the inhabitants of a small rural community under occupation are brilliantly explored in Irène Némirovsky's gripping and heartbreaking novel. Némirovsky herself was a tragic victim of the Nazi regime but she left behind her this exceptional masterpiece. In Suite Française she conjures up a vivid cast of wonderful characters who find themselves thrown together in ways they never expected. Amidst the mess of defeat, and all the hypocrisy and compromise, there is hope. True nobility and love exist, but often in surprising places. 20th Century Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction War & Military Heartfelt Inspiring Tear-jerking Thought-Provoking War Military
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Critic reviews

A beautifully observed, devastating critique of French society on the brink of war (Catherine Taylor)
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There has been a lot said about his book, it's author and how it came to be published. What many have failed to highlight was the story of the people displaced by war and those who would pilfer from a neighbour rather than ask. The story of how life is a struggle for the locals left to get on with an occupying force. Love. Hate. Murder. It's all in this book which has made the leap from paperback to audiobook beautifully.

A story of the people left behind

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Vivid characters, non judgemental account of how different French people responded to the Nazi invasion of France.

Learnt a lot

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I saw the movie a while a go and thought it was a bit pants, so I wanted to listen to the book it was adapted from. What you have to keep remembering is that this was only a first draft sp it was never a finished ornpolished book. I do think that if Irene had had time she would have turned this into possibly the best Holocaust book ever written. it has never made me hate the Nazis more that they destroyed such an incredible talent.

slow burner which keeps you thinking

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Occupied France in Second World War and the varied life experiences of the occupied and occupiers. A life that we can but imagine. A beautifully written novel.
Carole Boyd (Linda of The Archers fame) brought the experiences to life - the tone and variation of her narration was excellent.
After the narration we find out that the author experienced similar situations and was killed before the war was over making the story even more poignant.
Will look for more books by the author and more books narrated by Carole Boyd.

An excellent listen. One of the best that I have listened to.

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Would you consider the audio edition of Suite Francaise to be better than the print version?

Don't know - didn't read the print version, but generally, print is better.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

As the occupation of France continued, an uneasy peace broke out between the invader and the invaded, but the peace was fragile. There were too many characters for my linking, and I'd have preferred to focus in on a few of them.

A flavour of France during the Second World War

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