The Unfortunate Englishman audiobook by John Lawton
The Unfortunate Englishman by John Lawton is an unabridged English audiobook narrated by Lewis Hancock. Set around Cold War Berlin, the story follows Joe Wilderness through a spy-exchange operation, with a scheme involving Bordeaux running alongside the mission.
At a glance
- Cold War espionage story involving Joe Wilderness and a planned prisoner exchange in divided Berlin.
- The listing describes a parallel scheme involving 10,000 bottles of Bordeaux.
Reference price: $24.47
Price checked: 12 Nov 2026
View offerAhead of Black FridayExplore the selectionPros and cons
Pros
- Unabridged narration gives the story a stated listening length of over 11 hours.
- The historical setting combines espionage, political figures and a personal side scheme.
Technical specifications
8 specifications| Format | Audiobook |
|---|---|
| Version | Unabridged |
| Listening length | 11 hours and 26 minutes |
| Language | English |
| Author | John Lawton |
| Narrator | Lewis Hancock |
| Publisher | Oakhill Publishing |
| Publication date | 12 May 2016 |
What to know before buying
- Customer feedback describes the story as involving complex plotting, and some listeners may find its time jumps confusing.
Who is it for?
A good fit for
- Listeners seeking an unabridged historical espionage audiobook set around Cold War Berlin.
- Fans of character-led political fiction and spy-exchange plots.
Less suited to
- Listeners who prefer straightforward, linear plotting or shorter audio titles.
Customer reviews on Amazon
- 5 stars
48% 48% - 4 stars
39% 39% - 3 stars
10% 10% - 2 stars
2% 2% - 1 star
1% 1%
Customer feedback is broadly positive about the believable plot, developed characters, writing and readability. Some listeners find the story complex, including concerns about confusing time jumps. That trade-off matters in a long, unabridged audiobook, where following the historical setting and plot turns may take sustained attention.
Positive themes
- Customers praise the believable plot and intriguing, well-developed characters.
- Feedback also highlights readable writing and the way historical information is woven into the story.
Negative themes
- Some customers find the book complex, with confusing time jumps mentioned as a concern.
Frequently asked questions
Who wrote and narrates The Unfortunate Englishman?
The listing names John Lawton as the author and Lewis Hancock as the narrator.
How long is the audiobook?
The listed listening length is 11 hours and 26 minutes.
What is the story about?
Joe Wilderness is sent back to divided Berlin for an operation connected to a planned prisoner exchange, while pursuing a scheme of his own.
Is this an abridged edition?
The listing identifies the audiobook version as unabridged.
