To Hell and Back Audiobook By Ian Kershaw cover art

To Hell and Back

Europe, 1914-1949

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To Hell and Back

By: Ian Kershaw
Narrated by: Leighton Pugh
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In the summer of 1914 most of Europe plunged into a war so catastrophic that it unhinged the continent's politics and beliefs in a way that took generations to recover from.

The disaster terrified its survivors, shocked that a civilization that had blandly assumed itself to be a model for the rest of the world had collapsed into a chaotic savagery beyond any comparison.

In 1939 Europeans would initiate a second conflict that managed to be even worse - a war in which the killing of civilians was central and which culminated in the Holocaust.

To Hell and Back tells this story with humanity, flair and originality. Kershaw gives a compelling narrative of events, but he also wrestles with the most difficult issues that the events raise - with what it meant for the Europeans who initiated and lived through such fearful times - and what this means for us.

©2015 Ian Kershaw (P)2015 Audible, Ltd 20th Century Europe Military Modern Wars & Conflicts World War I World War II
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This is a good book, it is detailed but it never loses it pace and overview of the vast number of very significant events that happened in Europe in the first 5 decades of the 20th century. Voice was clear and evenly paced. A minor complaint can be made about the fake accents used for the quotes.

broad and detailed

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Superb writing, superb narration. Bravo. Very much looking forward to the next volume on postwar Europe...

Superb on all fronts.

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While it’s not as good as Pursuit of Power for eloquence in my opinion it’s still an excellent survey of European history for this period.

Another Penguin Classic

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