The Great War Audiobook By Peter Hart cover art

The Great War

A Combat History of the First World War

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The Great War

By: Peter Hart
Narrated by: Roger Davis
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Named one of the 10 Best Books of 2013 by The Economist

World War I altered the landscape of the modern world in every conceivable arena. Millions died; empires collapsed; new ideologies and political movements arose; poison gas, warplanes, tanks, submarines, and other technologies appeared. "Total war" emerged as a grim, mature reality.

In The Great War, Peter Hart provides a masterful combat history of this global conflict. Focusing on the decisive engagements, Hart explores the immense challenges faced by the commanders on all sides. He surveys the belligerent nations, analyzing their strengths, weaknesses, and strategic imperatives. Russia, for example, was obsessed with securing an exit from the Black Sea, while France - having lost to Prussia in 1871, before Germany united - constructed a network of defensive alliances, even as it held a grudge over the loss of Alsace-Lorraine. Hart offers deft portraits of the commanders, the prewar plans, and the unexpected obstacles and setbacks that upended the initial operations.

©2013 Peter Hart (P)2021 Tantor Europe Military Wars & Conflicts World War I War Submarine Russia Soviet Union Imperialism Technology
Well-rounded Accounting • Vibrant Shocking Accounts • Excellent Narration • In-depth Recount • Engaging Storyline
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Peter Hart’s work and writing is superb. It is a compelling story. The narration is excellent.

Well Done!

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The scope and depth this book manages to cover is an achievement. Peter Hart ties in the larger events of the war with vibrant and shocking accounts from the people who lived through it. It's as comprehensive as possible, while keeping a narrative focus. It's well balanced with it's judgements. And it's hard to hear some of the stories. if you're looking for a good jumping off point for delving into the history of the great war, I really can't recommend anything higher than this.

Absolutely astounding, and horrifying

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Amazing details of this human tragedy. I loved this narration, the accents were very good. The American on made me chuckle. Nicely performed.

Awsome work by Peter Hart!

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As always, Peter Hart knocks it out of the park with this book. His combat history is just that with fair analysis and limited to no revisionist history. Too often historians try to justify or apologize for the past seeming mistakes. Hart puts it all in perspective and it’s fair and very unbiased, which is always refreshing today. It’s linear and easy to follow and doesn’t bog down the reader. It just doesn’t get better. And with Roger Davis’s narration it just makes it the very best. Davis is in a class by himself.

The best of the best WWI Combat histories

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I had a great time listening to this book. It doesn't just focus on the Western Front in WwI; it covers most areas of the war. A very good listen. I'll probably listen to it again at some point.

One of those books i didn't want to end.

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Amazing in-depth recount of just about every angle of combat taken during The Great War. Gives a surreal look of the human during the inhumane.

Great history

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This book, Hew Strachen’s work of the same name and The World Undone are the three books I recommend to anyone wanted to get a really well rounded accounting of WW1. Lucky for us all three are on Audible. I would put this one in the middle. The World Undone read by the late Robin Sachs’s is in a league of its own. Following next is this one. If you’re interested in The Great War, absolutely give this one a listen.

One of the seminal works in WW1

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Peter hart books are so good to listen to. I highly recommend listening to this book and his other books.

Great book.

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A great read, but a less enjoyable listen. The halting/clipped cadence of the narrator is tremendously distracting. It''s possibly the result of over-editing, but worth noting for anyone who is particular about this kind of thing.

Thorough account of the Great War; less than Great narration.

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Another great book by Peter Hart, but it’s nails on the chalkboard to listen too.

Horrible Listen

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