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The Wizard of the Kremlin

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The Wizard of the Kremlin

By: Giuliano Da Empoli
Narrated by: Alexander Terentyev
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About this listen

A thrilling exploration of the nature of power through the inner workings of Putin's regime.

Known as the "Wizard of the Kremlin," the enigmatic Vadim Baranov was a TV producer before becoming a political advisor to Putin, aka "The Czar." After his resignation from this position, legends about him multiply, with no one able to distinguish truth from fiction. Until one night, when he tells his story to the narrator of this book...

He immerses us in the heart of the Russian state, where sycophants and oligarchs have been engaging in open warfare, and where Vadim, now the regime's main spin doctor, turns an entire country into an avant-garde political stage. Yet Vadim is not as ambitious as the others. Entangled in the increasingly dark secrets of the regime he has helped create, he will do anything to get out, guided by the memory of his grandfather, an eccentric aristocrat who survived the Revolution, and the mesmerizing, merciless Ksenia, whom he has fallen in love with.

A compelling portrait of power and how it corrupts.

"Part fiction and part freewheeling analysis, an insider's look at the world of Vladimir Putin." --Kirkus Reviews

"A fictional wandering through the dark corridors of the Kremlin." --The Times

©2022 Giuliano Da Empoli (P)2023 W. F. Howes Ltd Biographical Fiction Espionage Genre Fiction Political Spies & Politics Thriller & Suspense Fiction Exciting Wizardry Magic Users

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All stars
Most relevant  
Brilliantly read and both amusing and informative . I listen on way to work and looked forward each morning to my next installment

very amusing

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The author manages to capture the intricacies of power though conversations and philosophical discussions, bringing to life the inner workings of a dictator’s mind.

Intimate insight into psychology of power

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Very odd to have a novelised biography and not know what really happened. I guess I’m not as up to date in Russian politics as

Slightly baffling in a good way

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That’s the candid assessment of Russia under Putin’s rule in this novel about one of the Kremlin’s top strategists - a kind of present-day Rasputin with the ear of the ‘Tsar’, as Putin is called here. It’s based on a real-life figure but it’s a work of fiction - seemingly firmly buttressed in fact. And it’s told almost as if it’s a kind of dark fairy tale. The narration is appropriately chilling. The thesis is that Putin talked a language the Russian people could understand - a tough guy keeping Stalin’s poisonous and deadly legacy alive. Russia became a ‘nightmare machine’ as it lurched back into a Soviet-style past and waged war on Ukraine in an insane bid to restore lost prestige. Putin is a reluctant leader who steps out of the shadows at a moment of crisis into the world of politics and then becomes autocratic and on a personal level an increasingly isolated and friendless figure, unable to trust anyone - apart from his dog. Does it work? Yes and no - a fairer rating might have been 3.5 stars purely as a listening experience. I found it easy to lose track of exactly what was happening at any one point and it could be a bit baffling at times - but overall I formed a fairly comprehensive picture of Putin’s Russia, and some of the historical context. But I found myself wishing it was a straight factual / historical book rather than a novel - it’s a clever idea but falls short of a completely satisfying listen. That said, it has led me to seek out more on the subject, and the closing sections looking ahead to the future of Russia and indeed the world - bleak as they are - are well worth tuning into.

The Nightmare Machine

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Some insights, perhaps best expressed like this in narrative. ... Puisque ces mystères nous dépassent, feignons d'en l'organisateur.

A realistic fiction

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Great story well written and read. Will recommend to others to listen or read. well done.

narrative

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Really enjoyed this book. I have a personal interest in Russian politics of this period, and liked the way the author weaved the various players into the main story. A word of praise also to the narrator: I often struggle to follow novels in audiobook format with the multiple characters and changes of speech, but this one was excellent and kept me engaged throughout while also capturing the tone of the novel perfectly.

Intriguing imagining of a fascinating period of politics

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in short there is nothing to dislike, there seemed to be a hum in the background of the reader. 5 Star

keeps you invested

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Some details of important events which still debated today some say it was fictional other can say happened and still going on!

Little trip back to the present events.

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The reader has an exaggerated monotone voice which is uninteresting and hard to listen to , it didn’t help that he was speaking endlessly without intonation or pause and most of the time about absolute nothing of interest ! There was no actual plot or storyline ! Give it a wide berth . I must confess to not to finishing the book because he still hadn’t got to the plot by chapter 6 .. I think my time is worth more than this utter drivel ! hence the 1 star ..it is a book after all . I think the author must have paid the publisher to print it !

Don’t waste your time on this one

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