Summary of Transcription: A Novel Transcription: A Novel: Conversation Starters

By Paul Mani

Transcription: A Novel Transcription: A Novel by Kate Atkinson: Conversation Starters 

In the 1940s, women clandestinely worked to transcribe five thousand recordings every week at the BBC's basement rooms. Juliet Armstrong was one of them. In 1950, when she achieves the position of BBC producer, she sees Godfrey Toby, otherwise known as John Hazeldine, with whom she worked within an operation during the war. Toby pretended to be a Nazi agent and Juliet assisted him by transcribing the chatter and gossip that were recorded as Toby socialized with the Germans. Juliet's past war involvement implicates her in a horrifying event that remains undisclosed. She gets anonymous letters warning of revenge even as she is forced to help provide secret housing for people escaping Russia.

Transcription: A Novel is written by Kate Atkinson who is the bestselling author of Life After Life.

A Brief Look Inside:

EVERY GOOD BOOK CONTAINS A WORLD FAR DEEPER

than the surface of its pages. The characters and their world come alive,

and the characters and its world still live on.

Conversation Starters is peppered with questions designed to

bring us beneath the surface of the page

and invite us into the world that lives on.

These questions can be used to create hours of conversation:

Foster a deeper understanding of the book

Promote an atmosphere of discussion for groups

Assist in the study of the book, either individually or corporately

Explore unseen realms of the book as never seen before

Disclaimer: This book you are about to enjoy is an independent companion resource of the original book, enhancing your experience. If you have not yet purchased a copy of the original book, please do before purchasing these unofficial Conversation Starters.

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• Language: English
• Publisher: BH
• Release date: Apr 1, 2019

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Introducing Transcription

T

ranscription: A Novel, is the latest novel of the multi-awarded novelist, Kate Atkinson. It is a story about truth and lies, deception and spying, set in historical Europe. It seemed that the broadcasting outfit BBC could not tell a lie even though lying was needed to help the country survive. But behind the scenes, at the BBC's basement rooms, women clandestinely work to transcribe five thousand recordings every week. The women create a close-knit group that helps them survive the challenges of war, affairs, pregnancies, war-related deaths of boyfriends and husbands, and the daily uncertainty of living through the Blitz. The main character, Juliet Armstrong, is 60 years old as the story starts. She is hospitalized when a car hits her, and as she lies in the state between life and death, her consciousness goes back to her earlier life. She goes back to 1950 when she achieves the position of BBC producer. She sees Godfrey Toby, otherwise known as John Hazeldine, with whom she worked with in operation during the war. Toby pretended to be a Nazi agent, and Juliet assisted him by transcribing the chatter and gossip that were recorded as Toby socialized with the Germans. Hiding in an adjacent room, Juliet sorted out information that the British could use against the Nazis. Juliet, as Toby's co-agent, has become more involved in spying in her effort to assist in making Britain great again. Juliet's past war involvement implicates her in a horrifying event that remains undisclosed. She gets anonymous letters warning of revenge even as she is forced to help provide secret housing for people escaping