The World at Night

Jean Casson Series

By: Alan Furst

Narrated by: George Guidall

The World at Night is an edge-of-your-seat World War II tale of intrigue and espionage, set in the shadowy back streets and glittering salons of occupied Paris. Film producer Jean Casson, a Paris sophisticate, struggles to come to terms with the uncomfortable realities of life under German occupation, as he becomes caught up in the initial actions of what was to become the French Resistance.

©2007 Alan Furst (P)2012 Recorded Books

exciting at times, slow start, let down at end

liked the character, as he showed vulnerability and weakness not found in other Furst's novels. Very disappointed with ending which left questions, and was vague. This lack of description at the end scene does not match the thrillingly written adventures that make up the story.

George Guidall makes a good book amazing!!

Descriptive, loving, captivating and SO well narrated. If you enjoy World War 2 history, romance, heartbreak and human nature--you will enjoy this book

Tension

Alan Furst has the lock on the tension and turmoil of Europe under the threat and under the control of the Naxis during the period from 1933 to 1941.

Furst maintains the sense of reality

The characters seem more real because of their uncertainty. A good addition to his cannon.

A solid Furst novel, just not a great one

Furst's fourth Night Soldiers' novel switches narrators to Jean Casson, a French movie producer. He is a reluctant hero who is drawn into the secret war against the Nazi occupiers of France.

With 'The World at Night', Furst is able to again relate the way WWII impacted typical Europeans in ways that most fiction and nonfiction writers who focus on Europe's second world war seem to often miss or overlook.

A solid Furst novel, just not a great one. But take that with a grain of salt. Minor Furst novels (like le Carre) are often miles better than 9/10 of the historical spy fiction out there

very slow …

narrator was very good.
story seemed to jump around a bit.
ending seemed
abrupt to me.

The Incomparable Alan Furst

Furst’s depictions of Europe in the pre-war and early war years feel totally authentic and are riveting. In the World at Night he makes us feel the grinding horror of the Nazi occupation of the City of Light, the day-to-day struggle of subsistence and resistance. Guidall’s knowing, world-weary narration is the perfect tone for this story of endurance, espionage, and survival. Well done!

Enjoyable !!!!

No writer can -like Alan Furst- describe the unique atmosphere of France during the second world war and create characters that are complex, credible and engaging. This book is more than just a spy story: is about the second world war, about Paris , about adventure with a zest of romantics . The plot itself is not particularly surprising nor breathless, but the pleasure of reading is intact till the very end.
Geoge Guidall does a fabulous job (and his French pretty good)

Great feel to the story, enjoyed

I really like George Guidall narrating, so that made this an easier choice. I usually pick police procedurals, but have to say, i enjoyed the feel of this story. You really got a sense for how casson loves his country and hurts for what it's going thru. Good characters and story. I quite liked. In fact, it lead me to get book 2, which i did not enjoy as much, but still, i'm not sorry i got to meet this author and his characters.

Brilliant story. Terrible ending!

Any additional comments?

Alan Furst is brilliant putting the listener into this era and really bringing Paris alive and making you feel like you are in Paris. What a wonderful book but what a terrible ending. Did Furst suddenly have a bus to catch? It made no sense yet the rest of the book made perfect sense. I will give Furst the benefit of the doubt and perhaps the publisher made him change the ending!
George Guidall is yet again amazing because if I hadn't been listening to him tell the story I would have never finished this book if I had been reading it.