by Viet Thanh Nguyen
Published 2015
*** WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE FOR FICTION 2016*** WINNER OF THE EDGAR AWARD FOR BEST FIRST NOVEL 2016 WINNER OF THE CARNEGIE MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE IN FICTION 2016 'A fierce novel written in a refreshingly high style and charged with intelligent rage' Financial Times It is April 1975, and Saigon is in chaos. At his villa, a general of the South Vietnamese army is drinking whiskey and, with the help of his trusted captain, drawing up a list of those who will be given passage aboard the last flights out of the country. The general and his compatriots start a new life in Los Angeles, unaware that one among their number, the captain, is secretly observing and reporting on the group to a higher-up in the Viet Cong. The Sympathizer is the story of this captain: a man brought up by an absent French father and a poor Vietnamese mother, a man who went to university in America, but returned to Vietnam to fight for the Communist cause. A gripping spy novel, an astute exploration of extreme politics, and a moving love story, The Sympathizer explores a life between two worlds and examines the legacy of the Vietnam War in literature, film, and the wars we fight today. 'A bold, artful and globally minded reimagining of the Vietnam war . . . The Sympathizer is an excellent literary novel, and one that ends, with unsettling present-day resonance, in a refugee boat where opposing ideas about intentions, actions and their consequences take stark and resilient human form' the Guardian 'Beautifully written and meaty' Claire Messud '[A] remarkable debut novel . . . In its final chapters, The Sympathizer becomes an absurdist tour de force that might have been written by a Kafka or Genet' New York Times 'This debut is a page-turner (read: everybody will finish) that makes you reconsider the Vietnam War ... Nguyen's darkly comic novel offers a point of view about American culture that we've rarely seen' Oprah's Book Club Suggestions
These are AI narrators you can listen to with your own EPUB on ElevenLabs or Fish Audio. How does it work?
Top voices for narrating this book
Male · Middle-Aged · Narration · Deep · Raspy · Serious · +3 more
“This deep, serious, and mysteriously measured voice is perfect for the Captain's observant, cynical, and sharply intellectual internal monologue, fitting the thriller genre's tone.”
American · Middle Aged · Male · Narrative Story · Modulated
“Reuven's thoughtful, wise, and measured delivery conveys the weight of the Narrator's dual identity and sophisticated intellect, making it an excellent narrative choice.”
American · Middle Aged · Male · Narrative Story · Serious
“With a deep, smooth tone and dramatic presence, this voice captures the intense, conflicted nature of a spy caught between loyalties, enhancing the book's thriller elements.”
American · Middle Aged · Male · Narrative Story · Deep
“The gritty, gravelly texture and dark resonance of Obsidian are ideal for portraying the Captain's cynical outlook and the grim realities of his espionage, offering a distinct textural interpretation.”
Indian · Middle Aged · Male · Narrative Story · Serious
“A deeply measured tone with subtle intensity, this voice builds tension effortlessly, reflecting the Narrator's internal struggles and the suspense inherent in his spy activities.”
For listeners: use the Best Narrator voice above in ElevenReader or Fish Audio. Character casting is for authors producing audiobooks with studio tools.
A seasoned, authoritative leader of the South Vietnamese army, weary but still commanding. His voice reflects his long history of power and ultimate defeat.
Male · Old · Narration · Deep · Character-Voice · Raspy · +6 more
“Its deep, raspy texture perfectly conveys a seasoned leader's weary authority and dramatic gravitas, fitting the General's long history and ultimate defeat.”
Male · Old · Narration · Advertisement · Deep · Serious · +3 more
“This voice offers a commanding presence and serious, deep tone, ideal for a leader who is both powerful and aware of impending doom.”
Male · Old · Narration · Deep · Character-Voice · Authoritative · +4 more
“Delivering with a serious and dramatic intensity, this voice embodies the General's unwavering, almost cinematic, presence despite his weary state.”
Male · Old · Medium · Narration · Character-Voice · Deep · +4 more
“The gravelly quality and serious tone would excellently portray the General's weathered experience and profound sense of duty.”
Male · Old · Deep · Professional · Narrative · Anime · +6 more
“A deeply professional and authoritative voice that captures the commanding essence of a military leader, even in defeat, with its cinematic quality.”
The Captain's mysterious and unwavering Viet Cong handler. His voice is firm, ideological, and conveys a sense of controlled power.
American · Middle Aged · Male · Narrative Story · Mature
“Its calm, composed, and mysterious tone, combined with measured pacing and subtle tension, perfectly embodies the Man's controlled power and enigmatic presence.”
Male · Middle-Aged · Narration · Deep · Serious · Measured · +3 more
“This deep, serious, and measured voice captures the unwavering, ideological authority of the Man, suggesting hidden depths and quiet intensity.”
Male · Middle-Aged · Narration · Deep · Calm · Serious · +5 more
“A voice with deep, smooth, and professional delivery that exudes a calm but absolute authority, mirroring the Man's controlled and serious demeanor.”
Male · Middle-Aged · Educational · Narration · Deep · Serious · +3 more
“The measured pace and deep, professional timbre convey an intellectual yet firm command, fitting for a handler with ideological conviction and seriousness.”
American · Middle Aged · Male · Narrative Story · Deep
“Its deep, monotone, and commanding quality works well for the Man's unwavering, almost unfeeling, ideological stance and powerful presence.”