
World’s End
The Lanny Budd Novels, Book 1
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Narrated by:
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Bronson Pinchot
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By:
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Upton Sinclair
About this listen
From the acclaimed author of The Jungle: the first in a Pulitzer Prize-winning historical saga about the son of an American arms dealer during WWI
Lanning “Lanny” Budd spends his first 13 years in Europe, living at the center of his mother’s glamourous circle of friends on the French Riviera. In 1913, he enters a prestigious Swiss boarding school and befriends Rick, an English boy, and Kurt, a German. The three schoolmates are privileged, happy, and precocious - but their world is about to come to an abrupt and violent end.
When the gathering storm clouds of war finally burst, raining chaos and death over the continent, Lanny must put the innocence of youth behind him; his language skills and talent for decoding messages are in high demand. At his father’s side, he meets many important political and military figures, learns about the myriad causes of the conflict, and closely follows the First World War’s progress. When the bloody hostilities eventually conclude, Lanny joins the Paris Peace Conference as the assistant to a geographer asked by President Woodrow Wilson to redraw the map of Europe.
Perfect for fans of The Winds of War, World’s End is the magnificent opening chapter of a monumental series that brings the first half of the 20th century to vivid life. A thrilling mix of history, adventure, and romance, the Lanny Budd Novels are a testament to the breathtaking scope of Upton Sinclair’s vision and his singular talents as a storyteller.
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Performance
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Well done
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Bronson Pinchot’s narration is truly outstanding. In fact, it’s perfect. Bravo!
Bravo. Bravo. Bravo!
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Lanny is a lens through which we can watch
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Brilliant
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Intriguing Historical Novel
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Very good
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Superb storyline; A+ narration
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American students are taught that Woodrow Wilson fought for certain peace agreements that never came to pass. Here, Sinclair goes into great detail as to the whys and what-ifs and failures of the French need to punish the Germans at the peace accords. And as it was published just as Europe was coming apart all over again in the late 1930s, it both accurately portrays the moment in time while proving itself correct in its predictions for WWII.
And lastly - this narration proves yet again that Bronson Pinchot (while you’re permitted to adore him for his comedic roles) is one of the best audio book readers on the planet.
Fantastic Historical Fiction w/ perfect narration
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Story and narration excellent
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Great performance
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