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Postwar: A History of Europe Since 1945 Audiobook
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(4.01) - 2,337 listener ratings
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Plot Summary
On September 1st, 1939, an aggressively expanding, fascist Germany imputatively violated international accords and invaded Poland, setting off a chain reaction of alliances that resulted in the conflict known as World War II. For six years, this conflict raged, turning into what remains today as the bloodiest conflict in human history. Fighting occurred on every inhabited continent and involved countries from the United States to South Africa to Japan.
In 1945, when the belligerent Germany and Japan finally surrendered, the world was a left a dramatically different place. In the audiobook Postwar: A History of Europe Since 1945, narrated by Ralph Cosham, historian and Professor Tony Judt examines the events occurring in Europe after the end of the war. This book, which was written over the course of ten years, is a sweeping and yet detailed look at the way Europe was indelibly shaped by World War II.
From the politics of the Cold War to the ethnic violence in the Balkan region during the 1990's, Judt examines the inexorable link between the results of the Second World War and the developments in Europe during the years following. Judt inspects these events in a way that avoids ideological pandering or narrative fallacy, presenting the facts in an objective and unbiased manner. Instead of enforcing a contrived "overarching theme", Judt instead opts for a simple retelling devoid of pontification. For the serious student of history, or anyone seeking a greater understanding of the world we live in and how it came to be, this audiobook is a must have.
Tony Judt, who passed away in 2010, was a professor of European History at the University of New York and the founder of the Remarque Institute of European Studies. He authored 11 books, and is remembered as one of the prominent historians of the contemporary age.
"It's hard to write a review of this, but I think if I could say one thing about it it would be that it is probably one of the best books that conceptualizes Europe, as big or small as it may seem, as one thing while still acknowledging the differences within its states and regions. This is a very good book for understanding the interconnected and cosmopolitan situation in modern Europe and where that comes from."
— Mike (4 out of 5 stars)
Publisher Summary
Finalist for the Pulitzer Prize • Winner of the Council on Foreign Relations Arthur Ross Book Award • One of the New York Times’ Ten Best Books of the Year
“Impressive . . . Mr. Judt writes with enormous authority.” —The Wall Street Journal
“Magisterial . . . It is, without a doubt, the most comprehensive, authoritative, and yes, readable postwar history.” —The Boston Globe
Almost a decade in the making, this much-anticipated grand history of postwar Europe from one of the world’s most esteemed historians and intellectuals is a singular achievement. Postwar is the first modern history that covers all of Europe, both east and west, drawing on research in six languages to sweep listeners through thirty-four nations and sixty years of political and cultural change—all in one integrated, enthralling narrative. The book incorporates international relations, domestic politics, ideas, social change, economic development, and culture—high and low. Every country has its chance to play the lead, and although the big themes are superbly handled—including the cold war, the love/hate relationship with America, cultural and economic malaise and rebirth, and the myth and reality of unification—none of them is allowed to overshadow the rich pageant that is the whole. Vividly and clearly written for the general listener, witty, opinionated, and full of fresh and surprising stories and asides, Postwar is a movable feast for lovers of history and lovers of Europe alike.
Both intellectually ambitious and compelling, thrilling in its scope and delightful in its small details, Postwar is a rare joy.
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Quotes
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“Remarkable…The writing is vivid; the coverage—of little countries as well as of great ones—is virtually superhuman.”
— New Yorker -
“A book that has the pace of a thriller and the scope of an encyclopedia…A very considerable achievement…Brilliant.”
— New York Review of Books -
“Massive, kaleidoscopic, and thoroughly readable…[Judt’s] book now becomes the definitive account of Europe’s rise from the ashes and its takeoff into an uncertain future.”
— Time -
“Nobody is more qualified than Judt to combine serious descriptive history with incisive, original political analysis, to cover both Western and Eastern Europe, and to pass stinging yet informed judgments on the behavior and evasions, the deeds and the failings, of his subjects…This monumental work is a tour de force.”
— Foreign Affairs -
“A riveting and totally involving listening experience as narrated by Ralph Cosham. The sheer variety of languages and place names demand the most experienced and very best of readers and Cosham, a former journalist and stage and screen actor, is more than up to this task…Cosham’s masterful reading makes this accessible to many who might find reading the nearly 850 pages intimidating or overwhelming. For anyone who listens, especially those who have lived through much of this, Postwar will be eye-opening.”
— SoundCommentary.com (starred review) -
“This is the best history we have of Europe in the postwar period and not likely to be surpassed for many years…Here [Judt] combines deep knowledge with a sharply honed style and an eye for the expressive detail…This is history writing at its very best.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review) -
“Few listeners can hope to absorb all the complex maneuverings, but…the task becomes more palatable with the voice of narrator Ralph Cosham. His smooth facility with the spoken word and linguistic nuance keeps one moving forward. He also rises to the author’s verbal complexity, in English and in delivery of smatterings of foreign words.”
— AudioFile
Awards
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A 2005 New York Times Book Review Top 10 Books of the Year
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A 2006 Pulitzer Prize Finalist for General Nonfiction
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A 2005 San Francisco Chronicle Best Book
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A 2005 Time Magazine Best Book
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Winner of the 2006 Arthur Ross Book Award
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A 2005 Los Angeles Times Book Prize Nominee for History
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A Guardian Pick of Best Books of the 21st Century
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A SoundCommentary.com’s The Best of the Best in Audio
Postwar Listener Reviews
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Timothy Mott Sr, 7/1/2016
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pat, 5/5/2016
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" This is a magisterial history of Europe from the end of the Second World War up until when it was written (mid 2000s). "
— Ian, 2/15/2014 -
" difficult read - but essential from a political and social perspective. heard the author lecture at the library. he was so good that three couples created a book club using this book as the foundation for our political/history interests. "
— Millicent, 2/7/2014 -
" Oh God. This is such a great "this is what happened because of..." book. It makes everything make sense. It's readable. If you're not interested in the topic, you should still read it. I say no more. But seriously, kids, read this. Even if, to you, non-fiction blows goats. "
— Lauren, 1/26/2014 -
" There are few authors of history better than Judt - his research and writing both are exquisite!! And the man was brilliant - I miss the idea of him being on the planet. RIP, Tony. "
— Denise, 1/15/2014 -
" A great overview of Europe after World War II until the end of the century. "
— Diane, 1/14/2014 -
" Brilliant. 1945 to present Europe in a tidy...878 pages. OK, it's not a beach read, but you can skim. Also great for the '90s. In college I wasn't really keeping up with the Balkan situation, but here it is. Socialism vs. Communism vs. Capitalism, all for the price of one. Check it out. "
— Chris, 12/6/2013 -
" An exhaustive, highly informative social and political history of Europe. "
— Ianto, 11/29/2013 -
" The late Tony Judt has penned a masterful history of the tragedy and rebirth of Europe. "
— Wf, 10/6/2013 -
" Simply superb. Destined to be a classic work on the second half of the twentieth century. "
— Dave, 2/23/2013 -
" Impressive and thorough marshaling of scads on information. The guy can write. The guy can synthesize. The guy can organize. Judt does not shy away from controversy and is very well equipped to argue whatever point he is making. "
— Bob, 2/4/2013 -
" Amazing coverage. Some parts weaker than others, of course, but truly a fantastic achievement. "
— K., 10/10/2012 -
" Brilliant! A comprehensive, compelling and readable analysis of post-War 'Europe'. Very long, though... "
— Akin, 10/4/2012 -
" well-written, detailed and insightful history that covers virtually every aspect of the last 60 years of european history. "
— Jim, 9/8/2012 -
" Absolutely superb, I thought. I vaguely remember seeing footage of the coup in Moscow at the begining of the Nineties when I was about 10, and some of the most interesting stuff in this book is on recent history that I'm not clear on like this. "
— Darran, 5/6/2012 -
" I got through about 2/5ths of this - on audible, and doubt I will finish it in the foreseeable future, since my 'car' time is now spent listening to music. The sections I listened to are, of course, very impressive, and cover the 1930s and 1940's, up to the death of Stalin. "
— AC, 2/6/2012 -
" Alas I used up all of my renewals at the library but this is an amazing book. "
— Jessica, 11/6/2011 -
" Nobody should be allowed to know this much, and pulling it all together with such vinegar and style just adds insult to injury - one is left feeling so very stupid by comparison. "
— Richard, 3/10/2011 -
" I have started this long book which brilliantly looks not only at Western but Eastern Europe between 1945 and 2005. Tony Judt's writing style is so clear, his analysis so stringent and his viewpoint so full of humanity that it makes it only sadder that he is no longer with us. "
— Judy, 3/9/2011 -
" Very thorough and impressive study of a very broad area/era in history. Filled in a lot of gaps in my historical knowledge. "
— Kaworu, 3/9/2011 -
" difficult read - but essential from a political and social perspective. heard the author lecture at the library. he was so good that three couples created a book club using this book as the foundation for our political/history interests.<br/> "
— Millicent, 3/2/2011 -
" The definitive history of post war Europe. Clearly written and enjoyable to read "
— Chris, 12/31/2010 -
" A massive, comprehensive, yet very readable history of Europe since WWII. Its one of those books that any educated reader simply has to read. "
— Alexander, 12/26/2010 -
" Everything you want to know about the postwar period in Europe---- written in a very readable manner. "
— Toula, 11/29/2010 -
" Amazing history lesson, great writer. "
— Amy, 11/22/2010
About Tony Judt
Tony Judt (1948–2010) was a British historian, essayist, author, editor, and university professor. He specialized in European history, was the Erich Maria Remarque Professor in European Studies at New York University, and director of NYU’s Erich Maria Remarque Institute. He was a frequent contributor to the New York Review of Books, the Times Literary Supplement, the New Republic, the New York Times, and many other journals in Europe and the United States. In 1996 he was elected a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and in 2007 a corresponding fellow of the British Academy. His book Postwar: A History of Europe Since 1945 was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize.
About Geoffrey Howard
Geoffrey Howard (a.k.a. Ralph Cosham) was a stage actor and an award-winning narrator. He recorded more than 100 audiobooks in his lifetime and won the prestigious Audio Award for Best Narration and several AudioFile Earphones Awards.