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Appeasement
- Chamberlain, Hitler, Churchill, and the Road to War
- Narrated by: John Sessions
- Length: 22 hrs and 3 mins
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Publisher's summary
A New York Times Editors’ Choice • Sunday Times (UK) best seller
A gripping new history of the British appeasement of Hitler on the eve of World War II
On a wet afternoon in September 1938, Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain stepped off an airplane and announced that his visit to Hitler had averted the greatest crisis in recent memory. It was, he later assured the crowd in Downing Street, "peace for our time." Less than a year later, Germany invaded Poland and the Second World War began.
Appeasement is a groundbreaking history of the disastrous years of indecision, failed diplomacy, and parliamentary infighting that enabled Hitler's domination of Europe. Drawing on deep archival research and sources not previously seen by historians, Tim Bouverie has created an unforgettable portrait of the ministers, aristocrats, and amateur diplomats who, through their actions and inaction, shaped their country's policy and determined the fate of Europe.
Beginning with the advent of Hitler in 1933, we embark on a fascinating journey from the early days of the Third Reich to the beaches of Dunkirk. Bouverie takes us not only into the backrooms of Parliament and 10 Downing Street but also into the drawing rooms and dining clubs of fading imperial Britain, where Hitler enjoyed surprising support among the ruling class and even some members of the royal family.
Both sweeping and intimate, Appeasement is not only an eye-opening history but a timeless lesson on the challenges of standing up to aggression and authoritarianism - and the calamity that results from failing to do so.
“An eye-opening narrative that makes for exciting but at times uncomfortable reading as one reflects on possible lessons for the present.” (Antonia Fraser, author of Mary Queen of Scots)
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Critic reviews
“It is refreshing that Tim Bouverie, a bright young British historian, should devote his debut book to debunking many of the pro-appeasement myths and reminding us that, in fact, it should be the anti-appeaser Winston Churchill who deserves the laurels.... Mr. Bouverie has been diligent in researching the sources and has an eye for the telling anecdote and aperçu.... The appeasement story and its lessons are ones for the ages.” (Andrew Roberts, The Wall Street Journal)
“Comprehensive and immersive.... This is well-paced narrative history: intelligent, lucid, riveting - even while possessing the terrible knowledge of what happened next.” (Jennifer Szalai, The New York Times)
"An astonishingly accomplished debut. Bouverie writes with a wonderful clarity and we will no doubt hear a lot more of his voice in the future." (Antony Beevor, author of Stalingrad)
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Hailed as the most compelling biography of the German dictator yet written, Ian Kershaw's Hitler brings us closer than ever before to the heart of its subject's immense darkness. From his illegitimate birth in a small Austrian village to his fiery death in a bunker under the Reich chancellery in Berlin, Adolf Hitler left a murky trail, strewn with contradictory tales and overgrown with self-created myths. One truth prevails: the sheer scale of the evils that he unleashed on the world has made him a demonic figure without equal in the 20th century.
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An Excellent Read
- By Rodney on 09-19-13
By: Ian Kershaw
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The Ambassador
- Joseph P. Kennedy at the Court of St. James's 1938-1940
- By: Susan Ronald
- Narrated by: Victor Bevine
- Length: 12 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
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Acclaimed biographer Susan Ronald reveals the truth about Joseph P. Kennedy's shockingly controversial tenure as ambassador to Great Britain on the eve of World War II.
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Needs a bit of editing
- By Mike From Mesa on 09-02-21
By: Susan Ronald
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Five Days in London, May 1940
- By: John Lukacs
- Narrated by: Geoffrey Howard
- Length: 6 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
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In the days between May 24th and 28th, 1940, the British War Cabinet held a historical debate over whether to negotiate with Hitler or to continue the war. In this magisterial work, John Lukacs demonstrates the decisive importance of those five days. Lukacs takes us hour by hour into the critical unfolding of events at 10 Downing Street, where Churchill, who had only been prime minister for a fortnight, painfully considered his war responsibilities.
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Less Than Meets the Eye
- By Michael Moore on 01-06-09
By: John Lukacs
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De Gaulle
- By: Julian Jackson
- Narrated by: James Adams
- Length: 41 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
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In a definitive biography of the mythic general who refused to accept Nazi domination of France, Julian Jackson captures this titanic figure as never before. Drawing on unpublished letters, memoirs, and resources of the recently opened de Gaulle archive, he reveals how this volatile visionary put a broken France back at the center of world affairs.
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Extremely British approach to de Gaulle
- By Keith on 05-31-19
By: Julian Jackson
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The Mantle of Command
- FDR at War, 1941–1942
- By: Nigel Hamilton
- Narrated by: Brad Sanders
- Length: 20 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
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Based on years of archival research and interviews with the last surviving aides and Roosevelt family members, Nigel Hamilton offers a definitive account of FDR’s masterful - and underappreciated - command of the Allied war effort. Hamilton takes listeners inside FDR’s White House Oval Study - his personal command center - and into the meetings where he battled with Churchill about strategy and tactics and overrode the near mutinies of his own generals and secretary of war.
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Great Book, Terrible Narration
- By Ross Mackey on 04-11-22
By: Nigel Hamilton
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The Duel
- The 80-Day Struggle Between Churchill and Hitler
- By: John Lukacs
- Narrated by: Grover Gardner
- Length: 9 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
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This is a day-by-day account of the 80-day struggle in 1940 between Hitler, poised on the edge of absolute victory, and Churchill, threatened by imminent invasion and defeat.
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The most aggravating history lecture ever
- By Sidney on 12-31-08
By: John Lukacs
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Japan 1941
- Countdown to Infamy
- By: Eri Hotta
- Narrated by: Laural Merlington
- Length: 13 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
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When Japan attacked the United States in 1941, argues Eri Hotta, its leaders, in large part, understood they were entering a conflict they were bound to lose. Availing herself of rarely consulted material, Hotta poses essential questions overlooked by historians in the seventy years since: Why did these men - military men, civilian politicians, diplomats, the emperor - put their country and its citizens in harm's way? Why did they make a decision that was doomed from the start?
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Japanese viewpoint
- By Jean on 01-01-14
By: Eri Hotta
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Goering
- The Rise and Fall of the Notorious Nazi Leader
- By: Roger Manvell, Heinrich Fraenkel
- Narrated by: Joe Barrett
- Length: 14 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
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In Goering, Roger Manvell and Heinrich Fraenkel use firsthand testimonies and a variety of historical documents to tell the story of a monster lurking in Hitler's shadows. After rising through the ranks of the German army, Hermann Goering became Hitler's right hand man and was hand-picked to head the Luftwaffe, one of history's most feared fighting forces. As he rose in power, though, Goering became disillusioned and was eventually shunned from Hitler's inner circle.
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From Fighter Pilot Ace to Cartoon Villain
- By aaron on 03-27-21
By: Roger Manvell, and others
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Darkest Hour
- How Churchill Brought England Back from the Brink
- By: Anthony McCarten
- Narrated by: John Lee
- Length: 6 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
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May 1940. Britain is at war, Winston Churchill has unexpectedly been promoted to prime minister, and the horrors of Blitzkrieg witness one Western European democracy fall after another in rapid succession. Facing this horror, with pen in hand and typist-secretary at the ready, Churchill wonders what words could capture the public mood when the invasion of Britain seems mere hours away. It is this fascinating period that Anthony McCarten captures in this deeply researched and wonderfully written new book, The Darkest Hour.
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Gripping
- By Jean on 12-06-17
By: Anthony McCarten
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I can't trust the author's account of these events
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Richard Evans, author of the acclaimed The Third Reich Trilogy and over two dozen other volumes on modern Europe, is our preeminent scholar of Nazi Germany. Having spent half a century searching for the truths behind one of the most horrifying episodes in human history, in Hitler’s People, he brings us back to the original site of the Nazi movement: namely, the lives of its most important members. Working in concentric circles out from Hitler and his closest allies, Evans forms a typological framework of Germany society under Nazi rule from the top down.
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Excellent presentation.
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Bloodlands
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a warning for the future
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Held my interest for 57 hours and 13 minutes
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What listeners say about Appeasement
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Amazon Customer
- 06-26-19
Detailed and informative account of run up to WWII
Very well written and researched, this terrific narrative history provided me a much clearer understanding of what appeasement meant at the time and why that was (at the beginning at least, but excluding Churchill) the predominant thinking in Britain and other nations. It wasn't only Chamberlain by far. Although the narration is somewhat controversial, once I got used to his style, I was quite riveted to the story telling - normally I only listen to audio books during commutes, but I often continued listening long after reaching my destination (i.e. can't put the book down). Yes, the narration gets slightly over the top on occasion (so 4 stars for him), but he truly grabs my attention and does a reasonable job of impersonating historical characters such as Churchill and Roosevelt. Much prefer his style to the monotone recitals of many other narrators. Guess it's a matter of taste.
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3 people found this helpful
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- Rocky Stonebreaker
- 09-01-19
Reader unacceptable !
The reader goes from loud to very quiet. There is no way to listen at one volume setting! Also the reader is way too dramatic,
I cannot concentrate on the content of the book! Very poor performance!
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- Chris Corsini
- 08-19-19
Narration not as bad as some reviewers say
The narration isn’t great, but it isn’t so bad as to pass on this excellent audiobook.
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3 people found this helpful
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- mottsgoma
- 05-29-24
Great Book/Horrible Narration
This book filled with fascinating information regarding the events and the deal-making going on behind the scenes in the lead-up to WWII. However, the audio version was almost impossible to listen to and is certainly, difficult to enjoy. Believe what others have said about the narration. It is over-the-top with drama and has no consistency of volume for the speaker. He will begin a sentence with shouting and then end it in a whisper making it challenging to understand what is being said. Many times I had to rewind and modulate the volume to hear what was being said. The narrator also tries to imitate speakers like Chamberlain and Churchill, which was really annoying most of the time.
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- John Simon
- 09-25-19
"What we don't learn we'll be doomed to repeat"
This book brought the Fifteen song "Over and Over" to mind, especially the lyric in the headline...
"Appeasement" is a necessary read for anyone interested in politics, history, and the rise of nefarious charlatans that con entire countries into following destructive creeds that lead to generational coda. It is necessary for humanity to stop wasting lives, treasure, aspirations and possible innovations over the selfish urges of a few autocrats and despots.
We are witnessing the rise of neo-fascism and implementation of cronyism and kleptocracy hidden under the guise of popularism, and this book showcases how we have been here before, leading to the bloodiest conflict in human history.
Read this book and remain vigilant.
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- Deal W. Hudson
- 07-31-19
One of the best narrations I've ever heard!
As a longtime listener to audiobooks, I REGARD JOHN SESSIONS' PERFORMANCE A TRIUMPH! I've listened to hundreds of audiobooks (over 800), and this goes in my top twenty five. Sessons should be nomimated for, and win, an Audie Award.
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- Alexander Velasquez
- 11-07-23
The Authoritative Book on Appeasement
The audiobook is worth purchasing for the narration alone. An excellent performance backed by excellent scholarship.
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- LaurenB
- 01-17-20
I love Audible books when they are audible.
Tim Bouverie wrote an excellent book. It is well written and covers the topic with specifics and insight. In fact, if it weren't an outstanding book, I would have bailed because the narration is so frustrating. The reader is annoyingly dramatic, but the real problem is that the reader's voice swings between a shout and a murmur. I find myself having to hit the replay button when the narration goes to an imperceptible sotto voce whisper. I love Audible books but not when they are inaudible.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Charlie Kendall
- 02-11-20
So Much History
This book describes the failure of powerful people to check Hitler by failing to enforce the Treaty of Versailles and allowing Hitler to violate the treaty with out consequences inch by inch. Amazing how people placed in a position of public trust seem to be more concerned about their legacies rather than the well being of the citizens of their country. Also interesting how the failure of of a country’s leadership to keep their country militarily strong played in to the lack of the ability to make strong decisions to thwart the inevitable war.
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- Tammy
- 07-31-20
Narrator has overly Shakespearean drama touch
The book is long and overworked but necessary to do justice to such a difficult and complex topic. The book gives insight to such convoluted political beurocracy it is nightmarish in form. The dramatic narrator distracts from the topic and is only tolerable after drinking a glass of wine. Please get a different narrator to do the book and I will gladly purchase the book again.
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1 person found this helpful