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  • Tunnel 29

  • Love, Espionage and Betrayal: the True Story of an Extraordinary Escape Beneath the Berlin Wall
  • By: Helena Merriman
  • Narrated by: Helena Merriman
  • Length: 9 hrs and 32 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (94 ratings)
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Tunnel 29 cover art

Tunnel 29

By: Helena Merriman
Narrated by: Helena Merriman
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Summary

The true story of the most remarkable escape tunnel under the Berlin Wall, from the creator of the acclaimed BBC podcast.

He's just escaped from one of the world's most brutal regimes.

Now, he decides to tunnel back in.

It's summer 1962, and Joachim Rudolph, a student, is digging a tunnel under the Berlin Wall. Waiting on the other side in East Berlin - dozens of men, women and children, all willing to risk everything to escape.

From the award-winning creator of the acclaimed BBC Radio 4 podcast, Tunnel 29 is the true story of the most remarkable escape tunnel dug under the Berlin Wall. Drawing on hundreds of hours of interviews with the survivors and thousands of pages of Stasi documents, Helena Merriman brilliantly reveals the stranger-than-fiction story of the ingenious group of student-diggers, the glamorous red-haired messenger, the American News network which films the escape and the Stasi spy who betrays it. For what Joachim doesn't know, as he burrows closer to East Germany, is that the escape operation has been infiltrated. As the escapees prepare to crawl through the cold, wet darkness, above them, the Stasi are closing in.

Tunnel 29 is about what happens when people lose their freedom - and how some will do anything to win it back.

©2021 Hugely Ltd (P)2021 Hodder & Stoughton Limited

Critic reviews

"A fantastic story, exceedingly well told...more gripping than a thriller. The story arc, through betrayal and disaster to triumph, is perfect...a cracking tale that deserves retelling." (The Times)

"Captivating.... Ms. Merriman’s well-crafted book does justice to the extraordinary bravery of her characters." (Economist)

"This new book...allows readers to slip into Joachim’s shoes as if living this extraordinary experience.... This is a remarkable tale, beautifully told and utterly compelling." (BBC History Magazine)

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What listeners say about Tunnel 29

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  • Overall
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    5 out of 5 stars

A fascinating listen

I’m a German teacher and teach my A Level pupils about the division of Germany and life in the GDR. This audio book gives a fascinating and extremely detailed account of how the wall came into being without losing any of the human aspect of the story. I haven’t got to the bit where they finish the tunnel yet but I have listened to the podcast on BBC sounds so I know how the story ends! I have recommended this book to my friends family and pupils as I feel it is one of the most accessible and relatable records of this period in German history. I also love how it is narrated by the author. This brings an extra dimension to the story as you know that she has spent so many thousands of hours interviewing the people concerned, going through Stasi files and drafting and redrafting to make this true story a really easy but informative listen. It really brings it to life for me and I know that I will listen again and again.

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  • Overall
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Powerful, moving, gripping

A fascinating book, which I thoroughly enjoyed listening to. Incredible to think this was only 60 odd years ago. A really gripping, moving and powerful account

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Very moving

Makes you wonder what walls in our own lives we need to tunnel under. Physical and political

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Fascinating and moving story

This is a really interesting account of such resilience in the face of oppression. Hugely recommend it.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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You have to listen to this!

I honestly can’t rate this highly enough, This is the best seven hours I’ve spent in a long time. The subject is interesting, emotional, thought provoking and inspiring. Give it a good!

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Likely the best book I have ever ‘read’ - incredibly moving with beautiful ups and crushing downs.

Would recommend to anybody interested in social history. Some of the attempts are so heroic and daring that many fiction lovers will also enjoy.

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An excellent presentation of events

I first became aware of this story via a BBC audio drama and decided to read the book but eventually picked the audio version instead. The book does an excellent job of laying the backstory before delivering the account of digging the tunnel and escape, which is then drawn to a neat conclusion with some after story. The fact that it is read by the author makes it all the more engaging to listen too and I thoroughly recommend it.

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Excellent account of a tragic & remarkable story

This is an extremely good account of a truly remarkable tale. The sheer determination and courage of those involved is so commendable. Overall, the author reads her work well. But I was surprised that a journalist who has spent so much time and effort researching this German story makes so little attempt at correct pronunciation of German words. I guess she must have conducted the interviews in English because she shows no evidence of knowing any German. This was my only gripe (and it's a small one). I can highly recommend this title.

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Gripping and insightful

A beautifully written and narrated story, inspiring. Impossible to stop listening. Of you are interested in history, espionage, suspense and bravery I highly recommend this book.

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Extremely interesting and moving

Very well written and read. Extremely interesting and very moving. Well worth buying. Thank you

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