Listen free for 30 days

Listen with offer

Preview
  • Darkest Hour

  • How Churchill Brought Us Back from the Brink
  • By: Anthony McCarten
  • Narrated by: Sean Barrett
  • Length: 6 hrs and 40 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (141 ratings)

£0.00 for first 30 days

Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Darkest Hour

By: Anthony McCarten
Narrated by: Sean Barrett
Try for £0.00

£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £12.99

Buy Now for £12.99

Pay using card ending in
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.

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
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Listeners also enjoyed...

The Second World War: Milestones to Disaster cover art
King's Counsellor cover art
Franklin and Winston cover art
Blood, Toil, Tears, and Sweat cover art
The Generals cover art
Commander in Chief cover art
Churchill's Legacy cover art
Alone cover art
The Collapse of the Third Republic cover art
Five Days in London, May 1940 cover art
The Zimmermann Telegram cover art
Churchill cover art
The General vs. the President cover art
Six Months That Changed the World cover art
The Storm Before the Storm cover art
The Accidental President cover art

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

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    111
  • 4 Stars
    21
  • 3 Stars
    8
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    1
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    99
  • 4 Stars
    19
  • 3 Stars
    4
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    95
  • 4 Stars
    20
  • 3 Stars
    5
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A different account of a well known story

Well researched and written, fine narration, Churchill made some very difficult choices. The author gives good analysis of the three monumental speeches that Churchill made in the first three months of his premiership and the sources of his oratory. He also gives some detail of Churchill's eccentricities which brought a smile to my face. The author draws some interesting conclusions, was Churchill prepared to negotiate a peace treaty with Hitler or was he simply trying to keep Halifax and Chamberlain on side? Highly enjoyable listen

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Captivating

A book that truly defines "success as the result of many failures" Simply a great book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

inspiring and unforgettable

This is a wonderful book about a great man.
The author explains how history must rank Churchill as truly great.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Good accompaniment to the film

If you've watched the film then this is a great addition to pad out the story further.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent read. Seems well researched

It says on this input screen "optional" but then won't let me submit without minimum 15 words. Book was excellent feedback system needs work and gets 1 star

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

amazing book!! true leadership

I thought this book us an amazing example of a leader that through unbelievable pressure put himself 2nd and the great good of the nation first!! amazing

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Narration

Sean Barrett brought the story to life: an outstanding performance as always. From Jackson Lamb to WSC is quite a range but Mr Barrett excels - again. A good man to follow… thank you.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Astounding book. Listened to it three times...

This is a really good read/listen. Factual and exciting. Beautifully narrated, bringing this incredible true tale alive. Will read a fourth time, no doubt....

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

History brought to life

Great story, splendid narration, the machinations of politics, the futility of war and the power of speech at its best.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Awesome insight into

Churchill’s humanity

If the film is as half as good as this book it’s going to be a corker!!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful