The Illusionist
The True Story of the Man Who Fooled Hitler
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The Illusionist
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Narrated by:
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Al Murray
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By:
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Robert Hutton
About this listen
Clarke thought of himself as developing a new kind of weapon. Its components? Rumour, stagecraft, a sense of fun. Its target? The mind of Erwin Rommel, Hitler's greatest general. Throughout history, military commanders have sought to mislead their opponents. Dudley Clarke set out to do it on a scale no one had imagined before. Even afterwards, almost no one understood the magnitude of his achievement.
Drawing on recently released documents and hugely expanding on the louche portrait of Clarke as seen in SAS: Rogue Heroes, journalist and historian Robert Hutton reveals the amazing story of Clarke's A Force, the invention of the SAS and the Commandos, and the masterful hoodwinking of the Desert Fox at the battle of El Alamein. The Illusionist tells for the first time the dazzling tale of how, at a pivotal moment in the war, British eccentricity and imagination combined to thwart the Nazis and save innumerable lives - on both sides.©2024 Robert Hutton (P)2024 Orion Publishing Group Limited
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous User
- 29-12-24
Interesting and well narrated.
An interesting book, well researched and narrated. It gives not only an insight into the minds of the intelligence staff but just how tolerant they were towards others if they did their job well (something we don't think of from 80 years ago.) It also put right a myth that others have taken as true when it comes to "hiding" the Suez Canal. Not so much smoke and mirrors as telling a story that the Germans wanted to hear.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Jon Smith
- 09-05-24
Fascinating storyline
Very well-written and the use of the magician conceit helped rather than hindered the narrative. The voicing was also good
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Nick Le Huray
- 06-01-25
Fascinating
Excellent book on a fascinating subject which I knew a little about beforehand but this was a great listen.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Mr Alex P
- 05-12-24
A fascinating tale
This is a great book full of intrigue. Superbly researched and brilliantly written. A fascinating insight into one way Britain was able to win the war.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- H Buckner
- 30-08-24
OK, but not as good a I hoped it would be
I had to slow the narration to 90%▪︎ I found it a bit dull whilst the writer can't change history it needed a little more pep.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 26-04-24
Great story well told
This is a story that touches on many familiar stories of WW2. It brings insight to these and stands as its own story well told. Performance let down by poor editing
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- DSLR enthusiast
- 01-10-24
Riveting!
Great account and thrillingly read by Mr Murray. I couldn’t stop listening to this great account of deception during the war. Lots of great insights and clever linking to magic tricks to illustrate points. Al Murray adds to the whole production with his enthusiasm and character to make it unmissable. Give it a read/listen you won’t regret it!🏆👍😃🫡
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Ben C.
- 19-05-24
a fantastic book well read
al Murray reads this book very well. the book is interesting and very entertaining as is Dudly Clarke
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- Mr. C. Mumby
- 02-09-24
excellent, informative book
Really well read by Al Murray.. enthralling history of deception in WW2... especially in North Africa. recommeded
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- John Moran
- 28-04-24
He had a bad week
Great story going into some of .the more obscure bits of World War Two. Wonderfully written, and Al Murray is superb as the narrator.
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