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: John Curless
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The Penguin History of Europe series reaches the 20th century with acclaimed scholar Ian Kershaw's long-anticipated analysis of the pivotal years of World War I and World War II.

The European catastrophe, the long, continuous period from 1914 to1949, was unprecedented in human history - an extraordinarily dramatic, often traumatic, and endlessly fascinating period of upheaval and transformation. This new volume in the Penguin History of Europe series offers comprehensive coverage of this tumultuous era. Beginning with the outbreak of World War I through the rise of Hitler and the aftermath of the Second World War, award-winning British historian Ian Kershaw combines his characteristic original scholarship and gripping prose as he profiles the key decision makers and the violent shocks of war as they affected the entire European continent and radically altered the course of European history. Kershaw identifies four major causes for this catastrophe: an explosion of ethnic-racist nationalism, bitter and irreconcilable demands for territorial revisionism, acute class conflict given concrete focus through the Bolshevik Revolution, and a protracted crisis of capitalism.

Incisive, brilliantly written, and filled with penetrating insights, To Hell and Back offers an indispensable study of a period in European history whose effects are still being felt today.

©2015 Ian Kershaw (P)2015 Recorded Books 20th Century Europe Military Modern Wars & Conflicts World War I World War II War Soviet Union Self-Determination Socialism Imperialism Interwar Period Russia Africa Capitalism Refugee Middle Ages Thought-Provoking Social justice Middle East Latin America Winston Churchill Taxation Holocaust
Comprehensive Historical Overview • Thought-provoking Analysis • Professional Narration • Engaging Storytelling
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This is a long, detailed, and insightful work of scholarship. It is well worth hearing.

Absolutely excellent!

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great performance. engaging but due to its thoroughness, this book is not to be listened casually

comprehensive review of modern European history

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I have read and studied this time period for decades, but I've always looked at each issue or incident in isolation. it's quite eye opening to "read" the history of this time period as a single narrative. it definitely adds a new perspective.

Perfect. eye opening.

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There have been many books written describing the events from 1914 through 1949 - biographies of the important historical figures of this period, histories of World War I and World War II, descriptions of the rise of Adolph Hitler and the effects of the Great Depression, but all the books I have read have been dedicated to one specific aspect of the period. There are many books on World War I, many more on World War II and a great many books on the rise and fall of Adolph Hitler, but what I have not seen until now was a history that covered the entire period and that described the events in all of Europe, eastern and western, and that delved into questions about why things turned out the way they did.

For example, why did Fascism gain hold in Italy and Germany, but not in other authoritarian governments in Eastern Europe? What was the role of neutral governments during World War II, and how neutral were they? Were Spain and Portugal partners of the Axis powers? Or of the Allies? Or of both? Why was Communism such a powerful draw for some people in Europe, but not for others? What effect did World War II have on the intellectuals in Europe, and on their writings? How did the period affect religious institutions? And was the Papacy an active ally of the Nazis? Of the Allies? And how did many of the European countries recover from the effects of World War I and World War II?

What Mr Kershaw has given us is a wide ranging and informative view of 35 years of European History covering all of the countries in Europe, and not just a look at the events leading up to World War II. Almost every book I had read prior to this book covered Western Europe with an emphasis on the UK, France, Germany, Italy and the Soviet Union with little mention of Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey, Poland, Yugoslavia, Albania, and so on. Mr Kershaw has done a great service opening up all go European history in looking at this period.

I found the narration to be OK, if not. inspired, and the material to be helpful in answering questions I never knew I had. I would recommend this book to anyone with an interest in this period of history.

35 years of European History

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I have listened to Erik Larson's Dead Wake and In the Garden of Beasts, as well as Dan Carlin's Hardcore History Podcast. This made me somewhat familiar with the events. The presentation is very straight forward. It's a history of Europe from 1919-1949.

A Survey of the WWI and WWII in Europe

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The two world wars were the result of so many disparate factors. So if you really wish to understand them and their many impacts on our lives up to this date, you should make the time and effort and listen to this audiobook. Even though Kershaw floods us with so much information, it never gets boring. He dispels many of the myths of both conflicts and provides us with what really happened and the impacts on so many groups of people. The endless atrocities are described in full detail and the inhumane motivations for them are almost always provided. You get to know not only what happened but also why, something that traditional history books never seem to accomplish. From my personal point of view, this audiobook has dramatically changed the way I see the world and has provided me with some context regarding the bigotry, misogyny, and cruelness that pervades many of today's societies. Finally, John Curless' performance is outstanding, especially when considering the high level of difficulty of the text.

Listen if you wish to understand the 20th century

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Ian Kershaw's book is more less a fly over of Europe's decent from 1914-1949. To say that the continent went through a chaotic nightmare is an understatement. Fascism was the definition of the era. And right on time, history is rapidly repeating itself as fascism reemerges and clamps its jackboots back down on citizens across the world. History always repeats itself regardless of the efforts of those issuing dire warnings. And this book reiterates that fact. The only issue with this book is it is not linear and somewhat difficult to follow. The discussion could be on the end of WWII and then skip back to some time pre-war without warning. And with all the countries east and west to cover it makes it that much more difficult. But given the enormous task of this assignment, it's an excellent work.

Nice Overview

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I’ve read more detailed accounts of shorter periods during the wars, but this was a very good synopsis of A large period of time. Just enough information to wet your appetite on many geo political subjects. The narrator did a great job with the material. My only negative observation would be that the Author gave me the impression of a left-of-center socialist and it definitely colored his depiction and in interpretation of some of the history.

A good thumbnail sketch an eventful piece of history

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Narration: slightly sing-songish but otherwise good.

Content: insightful, unique analysis of the psychological, cultural, sociological reasons why Germans steadfastly resisted surrender right up to the end of the war. Not only did they resist surrender when all hope was lost; they also until the very end ruthlessly continued to embrace nazism and enact its brutal, prescribe, inhumane policies.

Highly recommended.

Complementary audios include:
Childers’ World War Two: a military and social history. This audio complements the concluding chapters of Childers’ Great Courses audio.
Masters of the Air is a history of the air war in Europe and adumbrates descriptions and evaluation of the 7th air forces role in bombing the heck out of Germany. Kershaw poignantly describes the effects of these raids.
A Woman in Berlin recounts the cruel indignities inflicted on Berliners especially women, during their East Prussia-to-Berlin. Included, of course, is Russian subjugation during the oppupation.

Excellent, unique analysis

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Detail amazing. Only for those who wish for such lengthy and I at times tedious detail

Very detailed. Brilliant in breadth and scope.

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