The Miracle Typist cover art

The Miracle Typist

The powerful true story of one soldier's long journey home

 Preview
Try Premium Plus free
1 credit a month to buy any audiobook in our entire collection.
Access to thousands of additional audiobooks and Originals from the Plus Catalogue.
Member-only deals & discounts.
Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The Miracle Typist

By: Leon Silver
Narrated by: Robbie McGregor
Try Premium Plus free

Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $26.99

Buy Now for $26.99

About this listen

 In the tradition of THE TATTOOIST OF AUSCHWITZ, a heartbreaking true story of love, loss and survival against all odds during the Second World war.

Conscripted into the Polish army as Hitler’s forces draw closer, Jewish soldier Tolek Klings vows to return to his wife, Klara, and son, Juliusz. However, the army is rife with anti-Semitism and Tolek is relentlessly tormented. As the Germans invade Poland, he is faced with a terrible dilemma: flee home to protect his family – and risk being shot as a deserter – or remain a soldier, hoping reports of women and children being spared by the occupying forces are true.

What follows is an extraordinary odyssey that will take Tolek – via a daring escape from a Hungarian internment camp – to Palestine, where his ability to type earns him the title of ‘The Miracle Typist’, then on to fight in Egypt, Tobruk and Italy. A broken telegram from Klara, ending with the haunting words, ‘We trouble’, makes Tolek even more determined to find his way home and fulfil his promise.

This heartbreakingly inspiring true story is brought vividly to life by Tolek’s son-in-law, Melbourne writer Leon Silver.

‘Incredible, heart-wrenching and inspirational.’ Better Reading 20th Century Military Military & War Modern Political Science Politics & Government World War II Middle East War Holocaust

Critic Reviews

‘Incredible, heart-wrenching and inspirational.’ (Better Reading)
All stars
Most relevant
A dark story. There was little humour. We felt the narrator overplayed the storytelling. We listened to the whole incredible story on a long road journey. There was a lot of repetition. Could have been shortened.
At least "Ted" was happy to end up in Australia!

Maybe True but Not Enjoyable

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I rarely write a review, but this story moved me to tears, both of sadness and horror, but also joy, that Ted found happiness. I hope his grandchild went back to see where it all began.

A must read

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Excellent, very moving in every way.
Gives detailed insight into the saddest of times .

Truthful Tale brilliantly told

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I found this book very well written, very sad at times but easy to listen to. It made me think about how lucky I am living in Australia. I felt for Ted and everything he went through but he came out of it and had a full life filled with love, hope and prosperity

Interesting read

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
In spite of the appalling hardship and desperation this Jewish man from Poland succeeded. He escaped Europe and built a new life, a true story about hope and determination. Well worth reading.

A Must Read experience about surviving WWll

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Heart wrenching in parts of course but an absolutely incredible story.... could not turn it off.

amazing

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Wow what an an education! I thought I knew it all but I didn’t. There isn’t a person on earth who should not read this book. Even though it’s a biography it reads like a novel. I was captivated to the end!

Brilliant moving and amazing

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This book has an excellent storyline and I never lost interest at any point. Very eye opening and interesting - I learnt lots, though some details are depresding and sad which is to be expected I guess. I would highly recommend!

Intriguing and powerful story

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
The story was amazing but the narrator was awful and I didn’t enjoy this rendition at all. It really put me off at times.

Enjoyed the story, narrator was awful

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