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The Magic Army

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The Magic Army

By: Leslie Thomas
Narrated by: Martyn Read
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Summary

Brought to you by Penguin.


The war, they said, would be over by Christmas. That was in 1939, and it is now January 1944. An exhausted Britain faces another year of conflict.

Meanwhile, small coastal villages in Devon are facing an invasion from an army just as foreign as that of the Germans. The Americans are smart, well-fed and well-equipped, and they have swept the bewildered citizens of South Devon from their homes in deadly earnest rehearsal for D-Day.

As the beaches echo to the sound of bullets and the local church to the strains of Glenn Miller, Americans and English are thrown together with sometimes hilarious, sometimes painful and puzzling results.


© Leslie Thomas 1981 (P) Penguin Audio 2010

 Crime Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Mystery Fiction Crime War Witty Suspense
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Critic reviews

It's bawdy, funny, sad and sometimes sorry and it brought those times vividly back
All stars
Most relevant
So Leslie Thomas, the true to life atmosphere, no sugar coated overdramatised Hollywood style for Thomas. Just great relatable characters and believable storylines. His characters are so real, they could be neighbours. You just want the story to last forever

thoroughly entertaining

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This was a happy surprise. A favourite,beautifully read. As soon as it was done I was tempted to begin again.

Brilliantly presented

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I've been a Leslie Thomas fan for so long and The Magic Army has always been a favourite. The narrator has a really lovely voice but his mastery of American accents is poor and hard to listen to at times. I like the characters, both UK and American and it's a great insight into how the young GIs with no warfare experience compare to the weary British soldiers and civilians after many years of war. Leslie Thomas writes with great wit and compassion and it's a book I would recommend.

Leslie Thomas at his best

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Loved every moment of the book great sadness at the end…wonderful writer and very well read

The whole story …Fabulous

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What made the experience of listening to The Magic Army the most enjoyable?

Leslie Thomas writes in a style that can easily be put down and picked up again at a later date. The plot is simple but for persons of a certain age believable, a past way of life.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Magic Army?

The captain of the transport boat after being injured epitomises the "stiff upper lip" of the time.

Which character – as performed by Martyn Read – was your favourite?

All in their way.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The loss of the boy when his curiosity with the grenade blew him up.

Any additional comments?

A great listen or read that is quite compulsive.

old style writing at its best

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