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The Paris Architect

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The Paris Architect

By: Charles Belfoure
Narrated by: Mark Bramhall
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About this listen

Like most gentiles in Nazi-occupied Paris, architect Lucien Bernard has little empathy for the Jews. So when a wealthy industrialist offers him a large sum of money to devise secret hiding places for Jews, Lucien struggles with the choice of risking his life for a cause he doesn't really believe in. Ultimately he can't resist the challenge and begins designing expertly concealed hiding spaces - behind a painting, within a column, or inside a drainpipe - detecting possibilities invisible to the average eye. But when one of his clever hiding spaces fails horribly and the immense suffering of Jews becomes incredibly personal, he can no longer deny reality.

Written by an expert whose knowledge imbues every word, this story becomes more gripping with every life the architect tries to save.

©2013 Charles Belfoure (P)2013 Random House Audio 20th Century Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Jewish Literary Fiction War & Military World Literature Military War

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Critic reviews

"Words like 'riveting' and 'compelling' aren't strong enough to describe this remarkable novel narrated by Mark Bramhall and set in Nazi-occupied Paris in 1942." (AudioFile Magazine)
"A beautiful and elegant account of an ordinary man's unexpected and reluctant descent into heroism during the second world war." (Malcolm Gladwell)

"Belfoure writes like an up-and-coming Ken Follett... There's plenty of detail to interest architecture buffs, too." (Booklist)
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I have enjoyed listening to this dramatic story.
It was uncomfortable listening at many points, reliving the horrors of the Nazi occupation. I have read other reviews about the language used and yes it was quite Americanised but only as much as a movie script would have been so it did not bother me at all.
Overall it was a great story, and was narrated well. I would recommend it.

Gripped me to the end

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Well developed characters, great story - well written and narrated. This one will stay in my mind for a while.

Highly recommended

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I really enjoyed the shameless thoughts and feeling described of the characters - very real.

Thrilling story about nazi-occupied Paris

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What would you do if your country was occupied by Nazis? Lucien is an architect in Paris and doesn't particularly care for Jews, but he is asked to help build them hiding places. This pacy novel follows Lucien and his interactions with friends, colleagues and the occupying forces. Slowly his viewpoint changes and as a reader, we find he has become an unlikely hero. The narration was excellent although at times the German accents were a little dodgy. I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.

Fascinating Listen -wow

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Narration was brilliant I loved the entire story Its in my top ten I recommend it to anyone who's interested in WW2 To me it's up there with The Nightingale and Beneath a Scarlett Sky

Fabulous book

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This was a great read...loved the characters and the descriptions of Paris. can see this been made into a film.

Thrilling

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Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes - it's harrowing and moving but very clever and beautiful too

Who was your favorite character and why?

All characters were beautifully written and read - there wasn't a weak link

Any additional comments?

Thank goodness I didn't try to read the book - I would have been torn between covering my eyes and being desperate to read on! Lovely, gentle paced book, beautifully written and read.

Brilliant and heart breaking

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The context and story is good but the ending seems a bit too much. Editor???

Good read but happy ending, I can see the film already!!

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My life's experiences and studies have left me well informed and hugely interested in both the German occupation of Paris and the awful fate of so many Jews at he hands of inhuman Nazis. But -- I can't help feeling the character so in the story aren't really caricatures and that the twists and turns of the plot are Frankly unbelievable! Separate It from the truth of the Holocaust and it is a good yarn. Offered as a part of its story, I'm sorry it lacked something vital.

A good well told story - but...

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I could not put it down loved every page!!! Thrilling, well written so good!!!
I was so sad as I got closer to the end...

Best book in ages!!!

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