The Day of the Jackal Audiobook by Frederick Forsyth. Read by George Sewell. Abridged
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France in 1830, under King Charles X (the tenth), invaded the North African country of Algeria, in order to colonize (rule, exploit) it. The war with its subsequent uprisings and reprisals eventually led to the death of 825,000 Algerians and 95,000 Frenchmen. In 1954, the Algerian war for independence began. In 1959, French President Charles de Gaulle declared that Algeria should determine its own destiny. French militants who opposed Algerian Independence carried out many lethal terrorist attacks in Algeria and France. This included assassination attacks against President de Gaulle. In 1962, under the direction of a military engineer named Jean Bastien-Thiry, an assassination attempt was made on the President’s life. It nearly succeeded, but the assassins were caught and the leader, Bastien-Thiry, was executed by firing squad one week after being sentenced. The Day of the Jackal is a novel set-in motion by this incident.* Enjoy!
Frederick Forsyth (1938 – ) served in England’s Royal Air Force as a pilot flying the double tailed jet de Havilland Vampire (there’s a drawing of one at 54 minutes). After his service he became a journalist and wrote an unsuccessful nonfiction book. These experiences helped him learn to research and write. He wrote his first novel since he was broke. That novel was The Day of the Jackal and it was a great success. It was made into a movie in 1973. He books have sold over 70 million copies worldwide. Though retired, his books are enjoyed to this day and will be, I believe, enjoyed well into the future.
George Sewell (1924-2007) is a London born actor who has performed in a wide variety of television shows including: The Detectives 1993-97, Home James! 1987-90, a four-part Dr. Who 1988, the highly rated Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy 1979 (I think I have that audiobook cassette lying around here somewhere) and the science fiction anti-masterpiece UFO 1970-1 (I tried to like it but the women crew have to wear purple wigs while on the job… WHY? The enemy spaceships stay still so they will be hit…WHY?) Maybe the show was made for the very young or inebriated. According to IMDB, George’s father was a boxer known as “The Cobblestone Kid” which sounds like a fine title for a novel or film. Mr. Sewell, like the author, also served in the Royal Air Force, though during the second world war. RIP
*Because of poor sound quality that persisted even after restoration efforts were made, I cut the first 10 minutes off cassette 2, side 4. This part is not essential to know but basically it was a scene where the investigative team spoke with a suspect’s former boss to find out if the suspect was indeed The Jackal. And was he? One way to find out…
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Thanks!
Is that an abridged version. I read it a long time ago and for some reason I though it was longer.
The Original film was rare in that it was just as good as the book. Love both. Believe it or not the film is my 'Feel good movie' :/
It's a shame they cut so much of this out. I'm sure there was more than this. The interrogation part for example. I'm sure the whole tjing was explained in the book.
Colonel Freeman from UFO!!
George Sewell… such a brilliant actor….😊
I enjoyed the movie with Edward Fox as the Jackal many years ago.
I like both movies the American and the English one,
Both are good!
The Jackel is one of my favorite stories!
They should have the version with David Rintoul. It’s not a performance, it’s a tour de force! His French is impeccable, welsh accent of Brin Thomas, H e performs w different Doctors and they all sound different. It’s fabulous! He is fabulous!
How do you sit still long enough for this.
I must have ants in my pants.
Just wow!!!
Thanks for the upload! Loved it!
Hello. Does anyone know if there are other movies on this subject besides Jackal's Day (1973) and Jackal's (1997)? Possibly a link. I understand that there are many moviegoers who are passionate about the subject. That's why I want to know if Jackal's Day has two options, or if there were censored scenes later. There is a movie in which the entrance to Paris is made with the help of a school bus (not by train), after the driver was taken out, the city being blocked. It may be another movie, but it's about the same time. I saw it in the late 90's, so not newer. The name of the movie is different, but the subject is the same. Thanks for the accurate information
Read this one awhile back and enjoyed it. Thanks for the reading here!
A serious mistake or three with firearms, which always drives me crazy, but still an excellent story.
An abridged mockery of the full book!
George Sewell, great voice
narrator needs decaf.
Viewed the Edward Fox film, found it superb! Well acted, directed and cinematography perfect. Highly reccomend. Very provocative,,,,,Sewell a very gifted narrator indeed! For those who engaged in the audio book…
I don't think this audio book or the movie made on Fredrick Forsythe's famous novel, is able to do justice to the literary caliber of the author.
The real wonder is in reading it, and conjuring everything up in your mind.
One of the great audiobooks. Thank you so much for this. And the 1973 movie, starring Edward Fox and Michael Lonsdale, is not to be missed.
They don't make them like they used to excellent movie
Watching the movie (1973) now as it happens. Enjoying it tremendously.👍🏻
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I read this book in 1971or 1972 and saw the movie when it came out. …… both are excellent!!
I can dip into the book at any point and savour the characters, even in scenes not involving the Chacal.
Each is fleshed out and a story in itself. So educational. The film is true to the book though it turns the Welsh detective into a Northerner. If the film had been made a decade later then Charles Dance would have been perfect in the title role.
I’m confused as to how the discover that the jackal is using Dugan as his cover, Calthrope is the name given to the Service agent so where does the discovery of the Dugan identity occur.
Can't imagine soldering a rusty old Alpha in my opinion
Very enjoyable. Michael Lonsdale, who was superb as Lebel in the 1973 film version, would also have been a good choice to read this. Likewise Derek Jacobi, who appeared in it as well in a minor role.
Today, Lonsdale’s performance would lead to a series of movies about Lebel.
Fabulous, so well read. The voice was perfect for the book. I think I'll listen to it again, so much information in it too.. Thank you.
Thanks for this. I had these tapes years ago, when I was a kid. George Sewells versatile voice made it thrilling.
This is a thoroughly abridged adaptation. It's not an audiobook.
I have it on dvd and have watched it many times. It never gets old! I love the untrigue, the mystery, the chase. Is a Foresigh Masterpiece! Kudos to the Author!
Too many interesting parts about the Jackal evading capture cut out. I think the unabridged audiobook would be 25 hours long.
I have the Audio book read by David Rintoul, its just over thirteen hours long, Its a great yarn, a great film which unusually follows the book quite accurately. The actors were brilliant, Edward Fox who plays the contract killer..cold, calculating and utterly ruthless…and Micheal Lonsdale trying to find him hampered by political expediency..
Nice, as far as it goes but so many parts are missing. Thanks
0:48:00
yeah somehow about 20-30% of the story is missing. The search through british records, the counterfeiter, the death of the woman, the turkish baths.
Up there with that other Great voice, Mr Burton…..
Huge chunk missing ruined the whole recording
Great novel, and brilliantly read by the late George Sewell.
Thank you for posting this. 👍
This is very well read but heavily abridged. A number of memorable episodes are totally cut out. Here is just the bare narrative of the mission. A shame considering how good the reader is.
I was just a bit disappointed that The Jackal missed! Otherwise it was a thoroughly enjoyable listen.
Good story thanks
Such a brilliant book. And this was narrated perfectly. But some fantastic scenes have been cut – Kowalski's fight with the French intelligence heavies, for one.