Book description
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - The author of The Devil in the White City and Dead Wake delivers an intimate chronicle of Winston Churchill and London during the Blitz--an inspiring portrait of courage and leadership in a time of unprecedented crisis "One of [Erik Larson's] best books yet . . . perfectly timed for the moment."--Time - "A bravura performance by one of America's greatest storytellers."--NPR NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY The New York Times Book Review - Time - Vogue - NPR - The Washington Post - Chicago Tribune - The Globe & Mail - Fortune - Bloomberg - New York Post - The New York Public Library - Kirkus Reviews - LibraryReads - PopMatters On Winston Churchill's first day as prime minister, Adolf Hitler invaded Holland and Belgium. Poland and Czechoslovakia had already fallen, and the Dunkirk evacuation was just two weeks away. For the next twelve months, Hitler would wage a relentless bombing campaign, killing 45,000 Britons. It was up to Churchill to hold his country together and persuade President Franklin Roosevelt that Britain was a worthy ally--and willing to fight to the end. In The Splendid and the Vile, Erik Larson shows, in cinematic detail, how Churchill taught the British people "the art of being fearless." It is a story of political brinkmanship, but it's also an intimate domestic drama, set against the backdrop of Churchill's prime-ministerial country home, Chequers; his wartime retreat, Ditchley, where he and his entourage go when the moon is brightest and the bombing threat is highest; and of course 10 Downing Street in London. Drawing on diaries, original archival documents, and once-secret intelligence reports--some released only recently--Larson provides a new lens on London's darkest year through the day-to-day experience of Churchill and his family: his wife, Clementine; their youngest daughter, Mary, who chafes against her parents' wartime protectiveness; their son, Randolph, and his beautiful, unhappy wife, Pamela; Pamela's illicit lover, a dashing American emissary; and the advisers in Churchill's "Secret Circle," to whom he turns in the hardest moments. The Splendid and the Vile takes readers out of today's political dysfunction and back to a time of true leadership, when, in the face of unrelenting horror, Churchill's eloquence, courage, and perseverance bound a country, and a family, together.
Trigger Warming
This app's sleek design and intuitive navigation have made audiobook listening a seamless experience. This app's convenience has made reading a consistent part of my life. This served its purpose as background listening while I worked. I probably missed some details but the narrator's voice was pleasant enough.
Palomino Cake
Audiobooks have become my companions during daily chores, making them enjoyable. Navigating through chapters is a breeze. It's like having a personal reading guide. ListenBookβs playback is silky-smooth. The app never glitches.
General Finish
ListenBook's commitment to providing a smooth and enjoyable listening experience is evident in every detail. I'm grateful for this app β it's made reading a part of my everyday life. π₯ Spicing up my routine with this app β it's like having a personal storyteller on hand at all times! β¨π ListenBook has redefined how I enjoy audiobooks. It's an essential tool for my literary pursuits.
Fatsy Bear
π± My secret to staying well-read β this app ensures that I'm never without a book, no matter where I am! ππ± πΆπ The harmony between simplicity and functionality in this app is truly impressive. Audiobooks have never sounded this good! π΅π§ No more hassle with file conversion. This app handles all formats effortlessly.
QuantumQuill
ListenBook has revolutionized my audio experience, making it both personalized and engaging. π‘ Seamlessly weaving audiobooks into my daily routine β this app's functionality has redefined how I enjoy books. π±π Finally, an app that lets me enjoy audiobooks without worrying about file formats!
Sun Leo
ListenBook has made managing and enjoying audiobooks, lectures, and speeches effortless and enjoyable. Sharing books with friends via AirDrop is so convenient. Thanks, ListenBook!
Minty Devil
I've found hidden gems in genres I never thought I'd be interested in. Sharing audiobooks with friends through AirDrop is a fun way to connect over shared interests. Noise reduction and voice tone changing are brilliant features.
Easy Sweep
The sound quality is outstanding β it's like having a movie theater in my ears! Makes listening to audiobooks so easy and enjoyable. Thank you, ListenBook!
Crazy Eights
Now I can enjoy my favorite books anytime, even during workouts. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is a fantastic addition that enhances my audio experience. This app has transformed my daily routines into immersive storytelling experiences.
Lightening Trip
This app has reignited my love for literature in the most delightful way. Downloading audio from network devices is a brilliant feature. It's incredibly convenient. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature has significantly improved the audio quality of my recordings. The ability to download audio from various sources without syncing is fantastic. ListenBook makes it so easy.
Electric Saturn
Being able to adjust playback speed suits everyone's preferences β a thoughtful feature. π§ Carrying a world of literature in my headphones β this app's convenience is truly remarkable. ππ« Looping playback has revolutionized my study sessions. I'm learning faster than ever. Noise reduction and voice tone adjustment enhance the listening experience significantly.
Handsome
ListenBook's variety of ways to download audio makes it incredibly convenient. πͺ Boosting my productivity with this app's efficient multitasking features β audiobook enjoyment while I conquer my to-do list! πΌπ§ ListenBook's extensive format support makes it the ultimate audiobook app for any audiobook lover. ListenBook's library organization keeps my audiobooks neat and accessible. A true organizational lifesaver! This audiobook exceeded all my expectations! The narrator's ability to convey emotion through voice alone was remarkable. I laughed, I gasped, I might have even teared up at points - all because of the incredible vocal performance. The story came alive in a way reading alone couldn't achieve.
Knock Out Star
I can't imagine my audio routine without ListenBook's seamless and user-friendly design. This app's ease of use has made my long drives educational and enjoyable. ListenBook's support for playlists in the CUE format makes organizing and enjoying audiobook series a delightful experience. Adjustable playback speed and volume control are top-notch.
Glyph
This app's user-friendly design makes navigating through books a breeze. This app has transformed my daily routines into immersive storytelling experiences. I'm hooked on this app's ability to make every moment a reading moment. My audiobook collection has never looked better. Thank you, ListenBook! The app is so easy to use. I was up and running in minutes.
StormCake
π Unveiling the joy of reading once again β this app is my gateway to literary wonders! ππ π± Accessing my favorite stories has never been this straightforward β this app's functionality is a bookworm's dream come true. ππ« πΆββοΈπ± I'm exploring new worlds while on the move, all thanks to this app's seamless functionality. ποΈπ The app's versatility in downloading audio is impressive. It streamlines the process and saves time. I can't get enough of the smooth playback experience. It's like a symphony for my ears.
TrixiePhany
ListenBook has transformed how I enjoy audiobooks. It's an indispensable part of my routine. ListenBook has enriched my life with a world of captivating stories and knowledge. It's not just an app; it's a portal to endless possibilities. The app is so easy to set up. I was listening to my books in no time. Iβve been using ListenBook for months, and itβs been a fantastic experience. The app is lightweight, doesnβt drain my battery, and works perfectly in the background. The equalizer and voice boost features are amazing. Highly recommend! This was a workmanlike audiobook that did the job without flair. The narration was clear and the pacing appropriate, though the delivery lacked some emotional depth. The production quality was acceptable with no major technical issues.
Knock Out Star
ListenBook's support for a variety of audio formats ensures that my audiobook collection is always accessible. Automatic artwork and metadata retrieval is a time-saver. My library looks fantastic. Noise reduction on ListenBook Pro is impressive. It's like getting a clear, immersive listening experience. The audio filters make a noticeable difference. ListenBook provides an excellent listening experience. An unobjectionable but unexceptional audiobook experience. The narrator's performance was serviceable and the audio quality was fine, but nothing about the production particularly stood out or elevated the material. It was decent background listening.
Innocent Ghost
β° Early mornings have become my favorite time to listen to audiobooks β energizing! π π§ An absolutely stellar production from start to finish! The narrator's command of pacing and tone was masterful, knowing exactly when to speed up for excitement or slow down for dramatic effect. The audio quality was pristine with no distracting mouth sounds or uneven volume.
Divine Quasar
I'm thrilled that ListenBook offers both basic and advanced features to cater to all types of users. This app's convenience and ease of use have transformed my screen time into productive learning sessions. Simplifying my audiobook experience β this app's design is a game-changer. Audiobook magic at my fingertips! This app's comprehensive features, from statistics tracking to enhanced audio quality, enrich my reading. πβ¨ ListenBook has become my go-to audiobook app. It's dependable, user-friendly, and enhances every listening session.
Whip Chu
My commutes to work have transformed into exciting journeys thanks to this app. ListenBook Pro's noise reduction feature is a game-changer. It enhances the clarity of recordings and makes my listening sessions more enjoyable. ListenBook has made my daily commutes so much more enjoyable. I look forward to listening every day! I love the statistics feature. Itβs fun to see how much Iβve listened.
Playing a wide variety of audio formats
Works on all devices with iOS 13 and newer
Huge amount of features for a small price
Frequent updates to add new features and improve existing ones
Advanced playback controls
Live sound processing
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice and noise reduction
Translated into more than 20 languages
If you love listening to fiction audiobooks, ListenBook has features to make the process easier.
Edit book data: title, author, cover
Use equalizer to make the sound comfortable for you
Adjust the playback speed
Enjoy dark and light app themes
Supported formats: MP3, M4B, AWB, FLAC, OGG audio files and many more (must be DRM free)
Auto-Bookmarks make it easy to find your place
AirPlay support allows redirection of audio output.
VoiceOver support
Dark mode for night owls
Convenient bookmarking system helps you mark the most important places.
Unlimited bookmarks for each audiobook
Put your own cover on the wager
Share your audiobook with friends
Lock-screen control
Customise app with extensive options
Sleep timer with shake to reset, set custom notification sounds, and a few unique options
Auto rewind depending on paused time, customize rewind times to your liking
Removing background noise from recordings made in classrooms and meetings
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice for a better listening experience