The Sleepwalkers Audiobook By Christopher Clark cover art

The Sleepwalkers

How Europe Went to War in 1914

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The Sleepwalkers

By: Christopher Clark
Narrated by: Derek Perkins
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The Sleepwalkers is historian Christopher Clark's riveting account of the explosive beginnings of World War I. Drawing on new scholarship, Clark offers a fresh look at World War I, focusing not on the battles and atrocities of the war itself but on the complex events and relationships that led a group of well-meaning leaders into brutal conflict. Clark traces the paths to war in a minute-by-minute, action-packed narrative that cuts between the key decision centers in Vienna, Berlin, St. Petersburg, Paris, London, and Belgrade, and he examines the decades of history that informed the events of 1914 and details the mutual misunderstandings and unintended signals that drove the crisis forward in a few short weeks.

Meticulously researched and masterfully written, The Sleepwalkers is a dramatic and authoritative chronicle of Europe's descent into a war that tore the world apart.

©2012 Christopher Clark (P)2014 Tantor Europe Military Wars & Conflicts World War I War Imperialism Socialism Africa Middle Ages Winston Churchill Inspiring Soviet Union United Kingdom Russia Latin America British Empire Royalty Interwar Period Capitalism

Critic reviews

"For those who enjoy excellent scholarship joined with logical composition and an easy style of writing, save a (wide) spot on your bookshelf for Clark's work." (Kirkus)
Meticulous Historical Research • Comprehensive Diplomatic Analysis • Impeccable Pronunciation • Insightful Political Context
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I've read several books about the start of World War 1, but all of them seem to take the view that the war was inevitable because of a myriad of factors. This is the only book that I have read that instead of facing on blame, takes a holistic look at all of the players involved and gives a neutral assessment of their actions.

Refreshing take on the origins of WW1

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This is an excellent and very detailed discussion of the origins of WWI. The narrator struggles with a few names but otherwise is very good.

An excellent history

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This book was packed with details of the lead up to WW1. This type of history can be stranger than fiction.

I like the perspective

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This is a great deep dive into the nuances leading into WW1. If you really want to get something out of it, read/listen-to Guns of August first. In many ways, this is a response to that book, and others like it.

Overall, really interesting, but the reader is a little slow.

Read Guns of August first

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Wish the chapters in the audiobook lined up with the chapters in the book. Incredible book though

Great book

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clear presentation of very messed up decisions that
Led to catastrophic carnage in Europe 1914

Excellent portrayal of a very messy moment

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The convoluted story and complicated explanation of the many nations and diplomatic arrangements that finally led us to the First World War - - this is what Christopher Clark explains in a very good way. He is fair to all the parties and careful with the sources. To whom does he assign blame? The answer is that no one and everyone is to blame.

A summary that is now the definitive work

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Sleepwalkers is an engrossing account of the causes of the Great War. Clark’s masterful research completely changed my simplistic “it was Germany’s fault” notion of the origin of the war. This book sheds fascinating and essential light on the people and politics that lie at the root of the most important events of the 20th century. And, the narration by Derek Perkins is simply outstanding!

Excellently Done!

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As meticulous as the author is in the telling of this book the narrator had a way of giving the book focus and understanding. If you want to know every nuance and exchange leading up to the Great War then this is the book/audio to get. But if you just want to know the jist of the same than read about it in Wikipedia.

Detailed and long

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Excellent description of the lead up to world war i. Especially his conclusions at the end of the book.

Great book

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