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A World Undone: The Story of the Great War, 1914 to 1918 Audiobook
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(4.02) - 656 listener ratings
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NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Drawing on exhaustive research, this intimate account details how World War I reduced Europe’s mightiest empires to rubble, killed twenty million people, and cracked the foundations of our modern world
“Thundering, magnificent . . . [A World Undone] is a book of true greatness that prompts moments of sheer joy and pleasure. . . . It will earn generations of admirers.”—The Washington Times
On a summer day in 1914, a nineteen-year-old Serbian nationalist gunned down Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo. While the world slumbered, monumental forces were shaken. In less than a month, a combination of ambition, deceit, fear, jealousy, missed opportunities, and miscalculation sent Austro-Hungarian troops marching into Serbia, German troops streaming toward Paris, and a vast Russian army into war, with England as its ally. As crowds cheered their armies on, no one could guess what lay ahead in the First World War: four long years of slaughter, physical and moral exhaustion, and the near collapse of a civilization that until 1914 had dominated the globe.
Praise for A World Undone
“Meyer’s sketches of the British Cabinet, the Russian Empire, the aging Austro-Hungarian Empire . . . are lifelike and plausible. His account of the tragic folly of Gallipoli is masterful. . . . [A World Undone] has an instructive value that can scarcely be measured”—Los Angeles Times
“An original and very readable account of one of the most significant and often misunderstood events of the last century.”—Steve Gillon, resident historian, The History Channel
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"Doing research for the sequel to my novel I started reading a number of histories of World War I. This is simply put: an amazing single volume history of the war, its causes, and course of events (but not the post-treaty fallout). I've read hundreds (or more) of history books, and as single volume war histories go -- this is excellent. I'd recommend it to anyone who wants to understand the world we live in, because the modern political arena was forged in World War I (far more than WWII). The often autocratic (or at least Imperialist) regiems of Europe were not prepared for what it really meant to bring the full might of post industrial powers into conflict. The last real shakeup of Europe had been a hundred years earlier with the Napoleonic wars, but the 19th century had remade the economies of the world. The clash, cataclysmic in terms of everything, ended the old world order. All of the big old autocratic states collapsed (Prussia, Russia, the Hapsburgs, the Ottomans) and even the winners were left unable to hold onto their empires. Meyer does a great job introducing the players gradually so as to not overburden the story of the war's origins with background. It reads like a taut horror novel -- and that's pretty much what it is."
— Andy (5 out of 5 stars)
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A World Undone is an original and very readable account of one of the most significant and often misunderstood events of the last century. With an historians eye for clear headed analysis and a storytellers talent for detail and narrative, G.J Meyer presents a compelling account of the blunders that produced the world's first "great war" and set the stage for many of the tragic events that followed.
— Steve Gillon, Resident Historian, The History Channel -
"This is one of those books where you read every page.... Meyer organizes his book chronologically, and accompanies each chapter with a short background essay.... [A World Undone] has the very best qualities for this kind of comprehensive approach: a gift for compression and an eye for the telling detail.
— Milwaukee Journal Sentinel -
A comprehensive history aimed at the general reader....You finish this book feeling you’ve learned everything anyone reasonably needs to know about The Great War.
— Pittsburgh Tribune-Review -
Meyer breathes life into the human story within the Great War. He provides in-depth profiles of many of the political and military leaders of that era, and explains why they were so important....This is a literary vision of WWI that few of us have ever encountered. Simply put, this is historical reporting at its best.
— Smoky Mountain Sentinel -
Thundering, magnificent...this is a book of true greatness that prompts moments of sheer joy and pleasure. Researched to last possible dot...It will earn generations of admirers.
— Washington Times -
Especially suited for the interested American reader…. Meyer's sketches of the British Cabinet, the Russian Empire, the aging Austro-Hungarian Empire, the leaders of Prussia with their newly minted swagger, are lifelike and plausible. His account of the tragic folly of Gallipoli is masterful…. It should go without saying that in 2006 … [A World Undone] has an instructive value that can scarely be measured.
— Los Angeles Times -
Accomplished with brio... [Meyer] blends 'foreground, background, and sidelights' to highlight the complex interactions of apparently unconnected events behind the four-year catastrophic war that destroyed a world and defined a century.
— Publishers Weekly, starred review
A World Undone Listener Reviews
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Pamela Sorensen, 3/25/2018
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" This is the most complete book on the 1st World War that I have ever read or heard. It deals with all the major and minor combatants including the key political and military players from each country. The narration by Robin Sachs is probably the best I have ever heard. Highly recommend. "
— Joseph, 6/5/2016 -
" One of the best histories, of any era, that I've read. "
— Edmund, 2/19/2014 -
" Very thorough review of the tragic events of World War I. Highly recommendable for history fans with an interest in the subject. "
— Verena, 2/17/2014 -
" This is an excellent one-volume history of World War I that balances the imperative to be comprehensive with the imperative to be readable and concise (quite a trick for a 600+ page book). The book does equal justice to the politics of the war and the strategies and tactics of the armies with neither getting short shrift or excessive attention. As readable a history of World War I as ever penned. "
— Chris, 2/17/2014 -
" I loved this book. It is a fairly easy read with a lot of good information. Wow! I am learned so much about this horrible war that I didn't know before. I have learned that it wasn't so much political leaders/emperors/tzars that wanted war - it was glory hungry military leaders that led Europe into a literal bloodbath. I didn't know that Winston Churchill was so involved in WWI (though sidelined about halfway through) and the development of the tank. This book has changed the way I think about historical figures of WWI (Kaiser Wilhelm II, Tzar Nicholas II etc.) and the history of war in the last 100 years. "
— Christi, 2/6/2014 -
" A really great book covering all of WWI. It contained a lot of background on the politics, as well as the reasons it all started. Also discussion of particular battled, commanders and armies, which I wasn't as interested in compared to the geo-policital material. Really easy to follow, the author does a really good job of getting it all in one book (600+) pages. Left me feeling unbelievably ignorant for not understanding this earlier in my life. So much of the past 100 years of history, as well as a lot from my lifetime, was set up by this war and aftermath. "
— Sueroberts123, 1/28/2014 -
" An all in one book about The 'Great' War (aka WWI). Wow. "
— Bob, 1/20/2014 -
" Probably the best one-volume history of the Great War I've ever read. "
— Jon, 1/4/2014 -
" A good book for historical minded people. This book is not an easy read, even for someone extremely intrested in the topic. You will be well rewarded when you finish with a dramatically better understanding of the world we live in today. "
— Beau, 12/31/2013 -
" Outstanding read. Could use more maps. "
— Todd, 12/5/2013 -
" Excellent presentation of a complex subject. Short, chronological chapters interlaced with essays that expand upon specific key elements to give you a better understanding of WWI's historic context. "
— Kathryn, 11/22/2013 -
" I was engrossed with Meyer's story telling of WW1. The way he navigates through the complex web that lead to the beginning of the war was great. I couldn't recommend this book enough. "
— asf_73, 11/14/2013 -
" Feaking fantastic in detail, background and scope. "
— Jay, 6/29/2013 -
" In depth but quite readable account of the first world war. It's not often that I would describe a non-fiction book of this length as a page turner but this meets that description. If only all popular history were written this well. "
— Mike, 5/16/2013 -
" wow, great read "
— Fred, 6/20/2012 -
" Easier to read than Gilbert's history of the war. Just finished reading it for the fourth time. "
— Peter, 6/5/2012
About G. J. Meyer
G. J. Meyer is a professional writer whose bylines have appeared in the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Boston Globe, Harper’s, and many other newspapers and magazines. While working for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, he was awarded a Nieman Fellowship by Harvard University. He is the New York Times bestselling author of The Tudors, the Edgar Award–winning The Memphis Murders, and other works. He lives in Wiltshire, England, and is currently at work on his next book, The Borgias.
About Robin Sachs
Robin Sachs (1951–2013), actor and narrator, was raised in London and trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. His audiobook narrations earned ten Earphones Awards. His acting credits include Alias, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Dynasty, Nowhere Man, Babylon 5, Diagnosis Murder, Galaxy Quest, Northfork, Ocean’s 11, The Lost World: Jurassic Park, and Megalodon.