Pied Piper (1942) - Nevil Shute

Written by Nevil Shute
Read by David Rintoul
Format: MP3
Bitrate: 64 Kbps
Unabridged

· Length: 8 hrs and 44 mins
· Release date: 12-13-12
· Publisher: Audible Studios

John Howard is determined to brighten up his old age by taking a fishing trip to France, but during his stay the Nazis invade. Howard must try to escape back to England with the two small children of some friends who are forced to stay behind in order to help the Allied war effort. .

Crossing France with his young charges seems simple enough at first—until the Germans invade, rendering them fugitives. As Howard struggles to sneak across France, he picks up several more helpless children of various nationalities. They walk for miles in an endless river of refugees, strafed by German planes and hiding in barns at night.

By the time Howard and his flock of little ones reach the Channel, his plan of escaping on a fishing boat has become utterly impossible, and in their final confrontation with the invaders, all their lives are at stake

The author weaves together smaller story lines throughout the book. Nevil Shute developes John Howard into a selfless man, a true hero.

The narrator, David Rintoul, did a fine job. The author begins the Pied Piper as if a man in a pub was telling others what John Howard had done. The narrator captures that feeling and makes you want to pull your bar stool closer to hear this amazing tale.

Pied Piper has twice been adapted for feature film, with Peter O’Toole playing Howard in the 1990 version and Monty Woolley in the 1942 version.

This book is Public Domain.