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Lázár audiobook vs book: which should you choose?

The rise and fall of an aristocratic Hungarian family across three generations, from the turn of the 20th century through two world wars.

Read vs Listen·Verdict last reviewed 30 October 2026·5 min read

Short answer: for the Lázár audiobook vs book choice, we say read it on Kindle (65% confidence, leaning). Kirkus says the time jumps disorient the reader, which favours print. That is the only confirmed check on either side, so confidence is held at 65%.

The verdict

Read it on Kindle

Time jumps across three generations point to print; little else is confirmed yet.

Definitely readDefinitely listen

65%

Read

Get it on Kindle272 pages (US edition)Listen on Audible7h 48m, read by Justin Avoth

Affiliate links: we may earn a small commission, at no cost to you. It never changes a verdict.

Confidence 65%, which puts it in the leaning band. Bands run from close call at 50 to 64, through leaning at 65 to 79 and clear at 80 to 94, up to clear cut at 95 and above.

The audiobook at a glance

Recording	UK edition, our verdict	US edition
Narrator	Justin Avoth	Justin Avoth
Length	7 hours 48 minutes (7h 48m), unabridged	7 hours 49 minutes (7h 49m), unabridged
At 1.5x	about 5h 12m	about 5h 13m
At 2x	about 3h 54m	about 3h 55m
Audio publisher and date	MacLehose Press, 26 March 2026	Simon & Schuster Audio, 14 April 2026
Audiobook price	£17.94 on Audible UK	$19.49 on Audible US
Kindle price	£9.99 on Amazon UK	Not confirmed
Print	MacLehose Press hardback, 26 March 2026 (page count not given)	Summit hardcover, 272 pages, 7 April 2026
Listener rating	Performance 4.8 from 25 ratings	Performance 4.76 from 93 ratings

Audible UK also sells the Simon & Schuster Audio listing (7h 49m, 14 April 2026), read by Justin Avoth. Whether they are one recording or two is not confirmed. Recordings in other languages are not counted.

Ratings and prices checked 30 October 2026. They change often. Amazon US does not show Kindle prices outside the US, so US Kindle prices are not given.

Lengths checked 30 October 2026. Speed times are calculated.

Why this verdict What it is Case for reading Case for listening The audiobook Who should ignore it Questions

Lázár

Nelio Biedermann

Genre: Historical fiction
Translated by: Jamie Bulloch, from German
First published in the UK: 26 March 2026 (MacLehose Press)
Length: 272 pages (US edition)
On audio: 7 hrs 48 mins, Justin Avoth
Shortlisted: Waterstones Book of the Year 2026

On this page

Why we reached this verdict
What this book actually is
The case for reading it
The case for listening to it
The audiobook in detail
Who should ignore this verdict
Questions people ask

Why we reached this verdict

Every book on this site is checked against the same thirteen questions. They are based on research into what most people find easier to follow in each format, not on whether the book is any good.

One criterion points to reading

✓

Jumping timelinesKirkus says the time jumps, and characters who vanish for long stretches, disorient the reader.

–

Narration criticisedThe Audible Performance rating is 4.8 from 25 ratings on Audible UK and 4.76 from 93 on Audible US, and no named critic criticises the reading.

–

Three or more points of view, one narratorProspect says the novel focuses on three generations of Lázár men, Sándor, Lajos and Pista, but no source counts them as viewpoint characters outright, so it does not count yet.

–

Story depends on images or layoutNo source describes images or layout the story depends on, so it does not count.

–

Many similar-sounding namesThe cast is large and Hungarian, but no source says the names blur, so it does not count.

–

Literary or dense proseProspect calls it “grand and sometimes mythic” but also criticises its clichés, so no named source settles it as dense, and it does not count.

–

Maps, family trees or footnotesNo source mentions a family tree, and no PDF is listed, so it does not count.

No criteria point to listening

–

Full cast or produced audioJustin Avoth reads it on his own, with no cast or music listed.

–

Read by the authorIt is a novel, read by a narrator rather than the author.

–

Single point of view and narratorProspect says three generations of Lázár men carry the story, so it is not one point of view.

–

Long book272 pages in the US Summit edition, under 400. The UK publisher does not give a page count.

–

Award-winning or praised narrationNo critic has reviewed the recording and no award was found, so it does not count.

–

Unfamiliar names or dialectThe cast has Hungarian names, but no named source says they are easier heard than read, so it does not count.

How the score adds up

Listening 0 points, reading 8

Listening: nothing confirmed, 0 points. Reading: jumping timelines (8), 8 points. 100% of the confirmed points favour reading, so the verdict is read it on Kindle at 65% confidence (leaning). Only 8 points could be confirmed, so confidence is held at 65% until more evidence is found.

The recording in detail

One narratorMulti-voiceFull castDramatised

Scored: Justin Avoth, MacLehose Press, 2026, 7h 48m, unabridged
Critic review: None found
Alternatives: Simon & Schuster Audio listing, also read by Justin Avoth
What you miss: Nothing confirmed

What this book actually is

Lázár is the English-language debut of the young Swiss writer Nelio Biedermann, translated from the German by Jamie Bulloch. It follows the rise and fall of an aristocratic Hungarian family over three generations, from the turn of the 20th century through two world wars and the Soviet takeover. The publisher says it is inspired by the author’s own family story.

It is on the Waterstones Book of the Year 2026 shortlist. The book deals with war, the Holocaust, sexual violence and revolution. What becomes of the family is not covered here.

The case for reading it

Kirkus says the time jumps, and characters who vanish for long stretches, can disorient the reader. In print, chapter openings and dates make it easier to find your place and turn back.

The cast spans three generations with Hungarian names, which some readers will want to see written down.

The case for listening to it

Justin Avoth’s reading is rated 4.8 on Audible UK and 4.76 on Audible US, and the book is short for a family saga.

At 7 hours 48 minutes it comes down to about 5 hours 12 minutes at 1.5x.

The audiobook in detail

MacLehose Press publishes the unabridged recording on Audible UK (26 March 2026), read by Justin Avoth at 7 hours 48 minutes. Simon & Schuster Audio publishes a 7 hour 49 minute listing, also read by him, on Audible US and UK (14 April 2026). Whether they are one recording or two is not confirmed.

No PDF companion is listed, and no source confirms a family tree in print.

Who should ignore this verdict

Lean towards audio if you are happy to let a family saga wash over you and enjoy a well-rated single reading. Lean towards print if you like to keep a family straight by turning back.

Get Lázár

Both editions, so you can go with the verdict or ignore it entirely.

Our pick

Kindle

272 pages (US edition)
Easier to keep three generations straight

Get the Kindle edition

Audiobook

Read by Justin Avoth
7h 48m, or about 5h 12m at 1.5x
Unabridged; rated 4.8 on Audible UK

Listen on Audible

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Read differently from most people? The app, coming soon, will let you switch off any of the thirteen checks. Get notified →

Related verdicts

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Also on the Waterstones shortlist.

Same verdict

Hamnet

Historical fiction, better read.

Opposite verdict

Demon Copperhead

One voice and one narrator, an Earphones Award and a long book, with nothing confirmed pointing to the page.

Opposite verdict

The Things We Never Say

Also on the Waterstones shortlist.

Start here

How we decide

The thirteen questions behind every verdict on this site.

Questions people ask

Who narrates the Lázár audiobook?

Justin Avoth, on both Audible UK and Audible US.

How long is the Lázár audiobook?

7 hours 48 minutes for the MacLehose listing, or about 5 hours 12 minutes at 1.5x.

Is it abridged?

No, it is listed as unabridged.

How many pages is Lázár?

272 in the US Summit edition. The UK publisher does not give a page count.

Is Lázár based on a true story?

The publisher says it is inspired by the author’s own family story.

What language was Lázár written in?

German. Jamie Bulloch translated it into English.

Should I read or listen?

Read, at 65%, leaning. The time jumps are the one confirmed check, and they point to print.

Do you agree with this verdict?

We said read it on Kindle. One tap, no sign-up.

Spotted a mistake on this page? Tell us and we will fix it. Or tell us how the site could be better.

How this verdict was reached

Every book on this site is checked against the same thirteen questions, set in advance and applied identically to every title. They are based on research into what readers and listeners generally find easier to follow in each format, not on personal preference, and they are published in full so you can check the reasoning yourself. Verdicts are never paid for, sponsored or influenced by affiliate partners.

The criteria: read the thirteen questions in full.
What we checked for this book: Audible UK and US, Amazon UK, MacLehose Press, Summit, Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, Prospect (28 May 2026) and The Dartmouth.
Verdict last reviewed: 30 October 2026. Editions and narrators change, so verdicts are rechecked annually.
Prefer different criteria? The app, coming soon, will let you change which of the thirteen questions matter to you.

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