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  • Darkest Hour

  • How Churchill Brought Us Back from the Brink
  • By: Anthony McCarten
  • Narrated by: Sean Barrett
  • Length: 6 hrs and 40 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (24 ratings)

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Darkest Hour

By: Anthony McCarten
Narrated by: Sean Barrett
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Publisher's Summary

Penguin presents the audiobook edition of The Darkest Hour by Anthony McCarten, read by Sean Barrett.

From the prize-winning screenwriter of The Theory of Everything, this is a cinematic, behind-the-scenes account of a crucial moment which takes us inside the mind of one of the world's greatest leaders - and provides a revisionist, more rounded portrait of his leadership.

May, 1940. Britain is at war, European democracies are falling rapidly and the public are unaware of this dangerous new world. Just days after his unlikely succession to Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, faces this horror - and a sceptical King and a party plotting against him. He wonders how he can capture the public mood and does so, magnificently, before leading the country to victory.

It is this fascinating period that Anthony McCarten captures in this deeply researched, gripping day-by-day (and often hour-by-hour) narrative. In doing so he revises the familiar view of Churchill - he made himself into the iconic figure we remember and changed the course of history, but through those turbulent and dangerous weeks he was plagued by doubt, and even explored a peace treaty with Nazi Germany. It's a scarier, and more human story, than has ever been told.

©2017 Anthony McCarten (P)2017 Penguin Audio

Critic Reviews

I learned things from the script I didn't know. I just thought, "Can that be right? Were we that perilously close?" And so it just grabbed me. (Gary Oldman)
This is history written with the verve of a novel. Compelling and provocative (Piers Brendon, former Director, The Churchill Archives)
Pacy, refreshing, intimate and clear-eyed (Sonia Purnell, author of 'Clementine')

What listeners say about Darkest Hour

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brilliant story of history, brilliantly narrated

this is a wonderful, really well researched account of an incredible man and a turbulent time in history. it is superbly narrated by possibly the best narrator ever.

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a national hero

fascinating insight into the political background of the events leading up to the outbreak of WW2 as well as the critical first few months of hostilities. Thank you Sir Winston for your determination and dogged will which saved the free world from Nazi domination. The narrator was excellent and added drama to a well told account of the unfolding events.

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