Audiobook12 hours
The Caves of Perigord
Written by Martin Walker
Narrated by John Lee
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
3.5/5
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About this audiobook
Walker's richly interwoven novel opens with the arrival of a mysterious package for a young American woman working in a London auction house. Brought by a British officer, it contains a 17,000-year-old fragment of a cave painting left to him by his father, a former World War II hero.
The fragment, significant and stunning in itself, is also the key to the existence of an unknown cave that may be more important in the history of art and human creation than the world-famous one at Lascaux. It triggers a storm of publicity and commands the attention of the French authorities all the way up to the President of the Republic, who seems to know more about the painting's origins than anyone else . . .
As the young American woman, the British officer, and a French government art historian explore the ancient province of Perigord to determine the painting's origins, their search serves as backdrop for three compelling stories.
The fragment, significant and stunning in itself, is also the key to the existence of an unknown cave that may be more important in the history of art and human creation than the world-famous one at Lascaux. It triggers a storm of publicity and commands the attention of the French authorities all the way up to the President of the Republic, who seems to know more about the painting's origins than anyone else . . .
As the young American woman, the British officer, and a French government art historian explore the ancient province of Perigord to determine the painting's origins, their search serves as backdrop for three compelling stories.
Author
Martin Walker
Martin Walker is a former foreign correspondent in USSR, USA, Europe, and Africa for The Guardian (UK), author of histories of the Cold War and 20th century USA, and of studies of Gorbachev, Clinton, the extreme right, and more.
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Reviews for The Caves of Perigord
Rating: 3.4181818109090907 out of 5 stars
3.5/5
55 ratings5 reviews
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5An interesting novel covering prehistory, WW2 and current times. An excellent story creating a vivid and coherent mystery tapestry from relevant skeins of history. And a wonderful precursor to the Chief Bruno mystery series set in modern times.
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Ein Fragment einer Höhlenzeichnung, vermutlich aus den Höhlen des Perigord taucht in London auf. Die Recherche nach seiner Herkunft fördert zugleich ein Stück prähistorischer Geschichte und eine bislang unaufgeklärte Episode aus der Zeit der Résistance zutage. Das Buch wird auf drei Zeitebenen erzählt: Die Entstehungsgeschichte der Höhlenzeichnung, die Geschichte der Résistance im Perigord im Kontext des alliierten Landung in der Normandie sowie die Gegenwart.Trotzdem ist das Buch lähmend konventionell und psychologisch so einfältig geschrieben wie bei Ken Follett oder Sebastian Fitzek. Mich hat die Geschichte kalt gelassen, und ich war froh, als ich das Buch endlich fertig gelesen aus der Hand legen konnte
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Tough to pick shelves for this book: it has several timelines/plot lines, and so a protagonist for each; the times are current, WW2, and pre-history all dealing with the same area of France. There is a mystery - several really - but the main focus to the book is the art.
I have always wanted to see the parietal art of southern France. This book deals with that area and the caves, brings in thoughts of yet-unknown art from un (re) discovered caves. The story begins in current times, when the son of a WW2 vet asks for an assessment of a piece of art, obviously cave art, possessing such is now a crime, so many questions needed answering.
This leads to asking experts, a visit to the Dordogne region, and introduces the pre-stories. One is 15,000 years BCE, when the art was created, the other during 1943-44, when UK & American governments assisted the French Resistance fighters.
I enjoyed it (again, a fan of the art), and would recommend it to those looking for a slightly different, non-formulaic novel. - Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5This novel is a tripartite narration. It begins in the present with a sort of romantic mystery about a stolen piece of Paleolithic art. Then there is the story of those who created the art at Lascaux and other caves in the Perigord. Finally we have the tale of how the piece of art was taken from a Perigord cave by a WWII Resistance fighter when he and others attempted to sabotage the Nazi war effort as the Allies were about to launch their D-Day attack on Normandy. The contemporary mystery/romance is a bit lame. The Paleolithic tale is somewhat intriguing but ends in a rather cliche fashion. It is obvious that the author is most interested in the exploits of the Resistance in the face on the Allied invasion -- and his after-notes indicate that the characters are based on the exploits of Andre Malraux, Francois Mitterand, Baron Phillipe de Gunzbourg, Jacques Poirier and George Hiller -- all vital to the Perigord Resistance.
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Verwickelte Geschichte auf drei Zeitebenen. Keine der drei Geschichten wird richtig ausgearbeitet. Geschichte tröpfelt ohne Spannung dahin, Figuren bleiben eher flach. Die Steinzeit-Erzählung wirkt unglaubwürdig und etwas kindisch.