An Officer and a Spy

By: Robert Harris

Narrated by: David Rintoul

IN THE HUNT FOR A SPY, HE EXPOSED A CONSPIRACY

'Seriously riveting . . . a testament to Robert Harris's storytelling power' The Times

'Taut and exciting' Guardian

Paris, 1895: an army officer, Georges Picquart, watches a convicted spy, Alfred Dreyfus, being publicly humiliated in front of a baying crowd.

Dreyfus is exiled for life to Devil's Island; Picquart is promoted to run the intelligence until that tracked him down.

But when Picquart discovers that secrets are still being handed over to the Germans, he is forced to confront the dangerous truth that Dreyfus may be innocent.

Soon Picquart is being drawn into a labyrinth of deceit and corruption that threatens not just his honour but his life . . .

'Menace and suspense twist tight in a narrative of tremendous tension' Sunday Times

Critic reviews

The fact that this novel is seriously riveting is a testament to Robert Harris's storytelling power; he conjures knuckle-blanching suspense from a very well-known piece of history. (BOOKS OF THE YEAR)

Harris’ retelling of the Dreyfus case is as taut and exciting as anything by Forsyth or Follet. (BOOKS OF THE YEAR)

Menace and suspense twist tight in a narrative of tremendous tension. (BOOKS OF THE YEAR)

Superb . . . Harris demonstrates his unique ability to recreate historical events and turn them into spellbinding thriller . . . Written with scalpel-like precision and the elegance we expect of Harris, there is a passion here that justifies calling it a masterpiece. (BOOKS OF THE YEAR)

A brilliant retelling of a scandal that became one of the most famous miscarriages of justice . . . the most gripping book I've read this year. (BOOKS OF THE YEAR)

A gripping tale, its shocking power heightened by Harris’s narrative skills.

A master storyteller at the top of his game

A compelling tale of power, cover-ups and idealism.

Many readers prize him as our supreme exponent of the “literary” thriller. His novels are not difficult – they are whizzing page-turners… They also combine masterly suspense and mystery with historical insight and political shrewdness. His latest novel is no exception: it is a cracking read from start to finish… It offers a bravura display of Harris’s fictional skills. The first is sureness of historical touch. In both general and specific terms the period comes alive… There is no need to wait for the film: it can scarcely be more exciting than the book.

Harris is committed to the belief that you can get at a truth as a novelist that you can’t as an historian… and he does give us the look, sensations, sounds and smells as no historian could… it is informative, accomplished and highly enjoyable

Light reading material with historical facts

The story is well described and one can imagine how it was. Having no military knowledge or much of an interest it managed to keep me interested for 2/3 of the part. I believe I'm not the main target audience for the book as I would prefer a little more romance. However I think it's a great book for people with an interest in history and how France's military/ court work in the late 1800 onwards.

Excellent Read / Listen

If you could sum up An Officer and a Spy in three words, what would they be?

I wish I had this this all those years ago in O level history. At times I felt I was trapped in Kafka's "The Trial" such was the claustrophobic feel of the book.

What did you like best about this story?

The narration was like fabulous acting, excellent.

If you could rename An Officer and a Spy, what would you call it?

J' accuse !

Pure pleasure

A pure audio book pleasure experience. Well written story which the narrator brings to life.

A really good listen transporting the listener to France in the late 1800’s

Beautifully narrated, this story is an evocative picture of society and the culture of the French army before the Great War.

History in colourful

Would you listen to An Officer and a Spy again? Why?

Possibly, in many years time. Knowing the story would lessen the experience. .
A larger part of this book’s quality is the story line rather than the characters. I’m not suggesting the characters do not have “character”, they do. But the actual story and relevance in a tense pre-war Europe is remarkable.

What did you like best about this story?

This is a dramatization of history “The dreyfus affair”. It’s a spy thriller and a courtroom thriller. The key points of the book are true. In between the author has made a gripping story with the main character having an admirable personality. If not a bit overdone towards the end

Have you listened to any of David Rintoul’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not heard a better narrator than David Rintoul. .
I often wonder if he has to rehearse or if he can do this off the bat.In my opinion this is one of his best performances. Also because there are few female characters and no love scenes. They always sound sickly from any male narrator

Any additional comments?

Don’t research the history of the The dreyfus affair before listening. .
Surprised the author didn’t lean more on what a flash point Alsace Lorraine was and the paranoia between France and Germany before WW1