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  • Colditz

  • Prisoners of the Castle
  • By: Ben Macintyre
  • Narrated by: Ben Macintyre
  • Length: 13 hrs and 25 mins
  • 4.9 out of 5 stars (915 ratings)
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Colditz cover art

Colditz

By: Ben Macintyre
Narrated by: Ben Macintyre
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Summary

Brought to you by Penguin.

In a forbidding Gothic castle on a hilltop in the heart of Nazi Germany, an unlikely band of British officers spent the Second World War plotting daring escapes from their German captors. Or so the story of Colditz has gone, unchallenged for 70 years. But that tale contains only part of the truth.

The astonishing inside story, revealed for the first time by bestselling historian Ben Macintyre, is a tale of the indomitable human spirit, but also one of class conflict, homosexuality, espionage, insanity and farce. Through an astonishing range of material, Macintyre reveals a remarkable cast of characters, wider than previously seen and hitherto hidden from history, taking in prisoners and captors who were living cheek-by-jowl in a thrilling game of cat and mouse.

From the elitist members of the Colditz Bullingdon Club to America's oldest paratrooper and least successful secret agent, the soldier-prisoners of Colditz were courageous and resilient as well as vulnerable and fearful—and astonishingly imaginative in their desperate escape attempts. Deeply researched and full of incredible human stories, this is the definitive book on Colditz.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2022 Ben Macintyre (P)2022 Penguin Audio
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

What listeners say about Colditz

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great book.

Pleasantly surprised. Not the usual account of how different people escaped (which I don’t mind reading about) but instead, a more in-depth description of a he events surrounding many of the escapes, the psychology, the effects of failure and of death, and a lot more history. Not what I first expected but glad I listened to the book. Definitely a good 8.5 - 9 out of 10. Well written and narrated. A definite thumbs ip.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A well read interesting listen

This book blew the head off much I had assumed about colditz after reading a few other books and the boys own TV and movies. This book is well crafted and tells it how it is , from enlisted to the most famous of inmates. No rose tinted glasses.
The author is a I great orator and brings the book to life.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Superb!

Ben Macintyre has done it yet again, well researched and well told.
As others have said, shattered a few myths, not least that surrounding Douglas Bader, although I am not in the least bit surprised.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • Ab
  • 08-01-23

Done it again

Started listening after realy enjoying the spy and the tractor and foud that this to is a brilliant book. Sheer perfection.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

fascinating!

so informative - well written, researched and performed. such an insight into 'colditz' - so many surprises - pleasant and otherwise.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent

Ben at his best. He brings then history to life and tells the personal stories of all involved.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

amazing story

fantastic depiction of life inside Colditz. very well written and narrated. would listen again happily

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful!

So great to hear Ben MacIntyre read his own book! As one old enough to remember seeing Escape from Colditz on a black and white tv, it has been wonderful to hear that part of history again, so well written and carefully researched. I am really glad that Ben is writing these histories and that new generations will get to hear some of the greatest feats of courage and endurance that the wartime generation ever achieved. It’s not that long ago, less than 100 years, recent history. Keep writing Ben!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic!

Seriously good: funny, sad, informative and full of suspense. I’m a huge Macintyre fan. It’s a cracker!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

The best audio book I have ever listened to...

...probably. but Oh I loved this book. I learnt, laughed, cried, was shocked, appalled, amazed, and gripped. i could listen to it all again, right now!

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