Try free for 30 days

  • The Railway Man

  • By: Eric Lomax
  • Narrated by: Bill Paterson
  • Length: 8 hrs and 24 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (34 ratings)

1 credit a month to use on any title, yours to keep (you’ll use your first credit on this title).
Stream or download thousands of included titles.
Access to exclusive deals and discounts.
$16.45 a month after 30 day trial. Cancel anytime.
The Railway Man cover art

The Railway Man

By: Eric Lomax
Narrated by: Bill Paterson
Try for $0.00

$16.45 per month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $26.99

Buy Now for $26.99

Pay using voucher balance (if applicable) then card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions Of Use and Privacy Notice and authorise Audible to charge your designated credit card or another available credit card on file.

Publisher's Summary

A naive young man, a railway enthusiast and radio buff, was caught up in the fall of the British Empire at Singapore in 1942. He was put to work on the 'Railway of Death' - the Japanese line from Thailand to Burma. Exhaustively and brutally tortured by the Japanese for making a crude radio, Lomax was emotionally ruined by his experiences. Almost 50 years after the war, however, his life was changed by the discovery that his interrogator, the Japanese interpreter, was still alive - their reconciliation is the culmination of this extraordinary story.

©1995 Eric Lomax (P)2011 Random House Audio Go

More from the same

What listeners say about The Railway Man

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    26
  • 4 Stars
    7
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    25
  • 4 Stars
    4
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    24
  • 4 Stars
    3
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Incredible!

A harrowing story, beautifully written & narrated. I would highly recommend this book to everyone!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

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

Humbling listening.

I managed to catch the last half of the Railway Man screen adaptation on our local TV station a few weeks back. Curiosity got the better of me as I felt the book would do away with the screen dramatisation. I was not wrong and my heart goes out to our diggers that defended our shores against the Axis powers during the Second World War.
But the power of forgiveness from those that suffered at the hands of their tormenters speaks volumes at how consuming and futile the battles of man are. It struck me that Eric Lomax spent 50 of his years with hatred bottled up. And his tormenters accomplice, spent the same amount seeking forgiveness. How much of our lives have been wasted on similar follies? I dips me lid to the diggers past and present, from both sides for their suffering. And to their families that have carried the burden as well.
Rest in peace to all that have passed and survived those shocking times.
Ryan

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
  • AJ
  • 25-04-2020

for

a must read by everyone to highlight the futility of war and the cruelty that one person can inflict on another ,the strength of that mans endurance in a time of senseless cruelty and the atonement , forgiveness snd ultimate peace reached by two persons involved.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

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

An incredible story of hardship, survival and forgiveness

I read this book before traveling to Thailand to see Hellfire Pass and The Bridge on the River Kwai because I wanted to hear the story of someone who was there during WWII. This book has given me so much more than that!

Eric Lomax’s novel is a testament to his incredible story of hardship, survival, loyalty and forgiveness! Don’t hesitate to listen to this beautiful book!

Bill Paterson’s voice and beautiful accent brings the story to life

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

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

Excellent

I found this an excellent book.
My father had fought against the Japanese in WWII. I now understand in part maybe why he was the way he was. A rather difficult man.
This book does give a very true and graphic description of life of the men fighting in this part of the world also the horrendous way the captured men where treated.
I know both my father and grandmother took many long years to forgive or even talk to them. Sometimes I wonder if they ever did Georgie.
The narration of this book was I think what made it even better. Had I tried to read this myself I don't think I could have got through the torture. He somehow made it easier, don't think it that he was being gentle or anything, just I was able to hang in and listen.
An excellent book right to the end

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

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

A thought provoking book

Well read by Bill Patterson. A story of extreme courage and a will to survive.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.