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  • Hannibal Fogg and the Supreme Secret of Man

  • By: Tahir Shah
  • Narrated by: Alec Brooks
  • Length: 11 hrs and 11 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (20 ratings)

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Hannibal Fogg and the Supreme Secret of Man

By: Tahir Shah
Narrated by: Alec Brooks
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Summary

Through a life cloaked in mystery, Edwardian polymath Hannibal G. Fogg pushed the boundaries of exploration, science, and code-breaking - producing feats of unrivaled cerebral dexterity. Hailing from a landed family, Fogg was a confidant to world leaders, a soldier, swordsman, prolific author, inventor, collector, and quite probably the most extraordinary man ever to have lived.

But, while such genius won him accolades and fame, it also fanned the flames of envy. Unable to take Fogg's triumphs any longer, the British establishment sought to have him discredited. His life work was publicly destroyed in what was to become known as the "Great Foggian Purge". Banished from England, he lived out his days in secrecy - before disappearing on an expedition to Manchuria in the winter of 1939.

Almost eight decades passed.

Then, one morning, William Fogg receives a letter from a legal firm in London, claiming he's the sole inheritor to his great-great-grandfather's estate. Knowing almost nothing of his forebear, he takes possession of the single object left in the bequest - a large rusty iron key...the key to a door in Marrakesh.

And there begins the treasure trail of mystery, danger, and uproar, as William pieces together the clues left for him by Hannibal Fogg. Zigzagging through five continents, the quest reveals how Alexander the Great was never beaten in battle. By completing the life work of Hannibal, William Fogg strives to lift the veil on the Supreme Secret of Man.

First in a series of ground-breaking adventure novels from master storyteller Tahir Shah, Hannibal Fogg and the Supreme Secret of Man is unlike anything published in recent times. Ten years in the making, it's as worldly and wise as the indefatigable Hannibal Fogg.

By the celebrated author of The Caliph's House, a Time top-ten book of the year.

©2018 Tahir Shah (P)2018 Tahir Shah
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What listeners say about Hannibal Fogg and the Supreme Secret of Man

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A great adventure

This was a very enjoyable listen the story is interesting, the chapters are short and the pace is good. There were some nice twists regarding events and characters.

I liked most of the characters and Hannibal Fogg most of all what an amazing man. I was invested in what happened to him and the fate of his family.

I loved the old technology and how it was used, the use of things like google add to the story rather than take the listener out of it. I really enjoyed the old world feel to the story at times and the use of things like steamer trunks as now people usually try to pack light or to the minimum.

There are lots of nice details regarding items and places that help the listener imagine what is going on.

My favourite part of the book involved a robbery.

The narrator did an excellent job his voice, pace and performance were spot on. I hope Alec Brooks does more audio books.

I hope there will be another book. This was a credit well spent and a refreshing change.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

super story

like all the indianna Jones takes in one and this is just the start...all hell's about to break loose.
great fun, Los of historic/imaginary details of a globetrotting romp.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Enthralling, lavish and exiciting story telling

I am about to listen to Hannibal Fogg for the 4th time, as the story keeps its freshness and interest throughout the eleven hours. A whodunnit and travel book laced with magic and romance that remain firmly credible, yet draw you into the fantastic realms of myths and legends. I return to Hannibal Fogg to re-adjust my mind to more realities, just as if I were picking up a pair of glasses that turned the everyday black and white spectrum of life back to vibrant full colour. Of course, it also makes me want to wear Barcelona Red lipstick, have a pair of Lobb shoes and stay at the Crillion hotel in Paris, as well as finding out about the Supreme Secret of Man.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Engaging and fun

I've liked all of Tahir What's books. This is the first fiction book of his that I've read and I enjoyed it just as much as the others. Looking forward to the next instalment.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Much more than a Great Story

'Hannibal Fogg' is a great story. I read it twice before listening to Alex Brooks narrating it, and still enjoyed every sentence. What made me decide to buy the Kindle-Audible package was a recently published book based on a ten year investigation of the generic drugs industry. Reading it, the gory chess match in 'Hannibal Fogg' kept coming into my head. What people committing fraud in the pharmaceutical industry and Nawab Jaswant Singh had in common was enjoying playing deadly games with other people's lives.
This is a book which confronts the many dangers threatening our species, not least from within ourselves, but it does so, not in a piecemeal way, but by getting to the root of our problems. Tahir Shah offers great hope in a book where humour lightens the darkest moments.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

love the adventure!

loved this.. was like adventure stories I used to read years ago! has some interesting cultural and historical references too which expans ones view. The story is well structured and kept me listening - in fact I tried to pace myself as I was listening in bulk! I wish I had spread out my listening as it was over too quickly!

no spoilers, but would love a sequel!

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Strangely dull despite being action packed

This book should have been great because it hits all my buttons. Steampunk-ish elements, crazy adventures and clever world building. Except it's utterly tedious.

It might be better on the printed page because the reader is the dreadful. Not in the usual dreadful reader type of way in that they have an annoying voice or do the characters all wrong. No, this guy just doesn't do any characters at all. All of them are read as generic British in the same voice, despite at least half of them being American or Indian or Australian etc. And they're all read in the same voice regardless of the emotion they're supposed to be expressing.

That said it's not all the reader's fault. The main character doesn't 'do' anything. It's all handed to him on a plate and he goes through the motions. That would be okay if you liked any of the characters, but they're possibly the most one dimensional characters I've ever read.

I wanted to like this book, but really I can't.

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