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The Birth of the Modern: World Society 1815–1830 Audiobook
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(4.02) - 315 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
This is an extraordinary chronicle of the fifteen years, 1815–1830, that laid the foundations of modern society. It is a history of people, ideas, politics, manners, morals, economics, art, science and technology, diplomacy, business and commerce, literature, and revolution.
From Wellington at Waterloo and Jackson at New Orleans to the surge of democratic power and reform, this tumultuous period saw the United States transform itself from an ex-colony into a formidable nation, Britain become the first industrial world power, Russia develop the fatal flaws that would engulf her in the twentieth century, and China and Japan set the stage for future development and catastrophe. Provocative, challenging, and listenable, this remarkable story is told through the lives and actions of its outstanding, curious, and ordinary people.
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"Do you really need 1,000 pages to chronicle 15 years? With these particular years, absolutely. Especially if you're not Eurocentric, which too many such histories are. Johnson even goes so far as to cite the opening of the first ad agency in Venezuela."
— Jeff (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“A colossal effort of energy and imagination.”
— Hugh Thomas, author of Rivers of Gold -
“Fascinating…A savory social history, spiced with lively gossip…It is never dull. In many ways a tour de force.”
— New York Times Book Review -
“Amazing…Crowded with wonderful portraiture, heroic feats of intellect and imagination…Reads at times like one of the novels it describes so brilliantly.”
— Wall Street Journal -
“A considerable achievement…Immensely readable…Readers will learn a lot from The Birth of the Modern and have a good time while they’re at it.”
— Newsday -
“We meet an enormous gallery of brilliant, eccentric, and (especially the poets) licentious characters…The author’s sheer enthusiasm [makes] the tiniest fragments of recorded history burst with light and color.”
— Los Angeles Times Book Review -
“Marvelously readable.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“Lively…Provocative.”
— Library Journal -
“Johnson…is a master of vigorous narratives on epic topics. Astoundingly, he writes with fascination about events and movements in virtually all fields of human endeavor…A lively and readable history.”
— Kirkus Reviews
Awards
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A New York Times Notable Book for New York Times Notable Book
The Birth of the Modern Listener Reviews
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" Fascinating and brilliant. A book to work through (I did for over a year), not a quick read, but worth the work. I consider myself a much more educated person for having read this. "
— Rivka, 1/6/2014 -
" Great read. A forgotten century. "
— Brian, 12/23/2013 -
" A fascinating book on the world in the early 19th Century on how society was progressing to the modern world. "
— Bill, 12/14/2013 -
" I preferred this to Modern Times. Fantastic use of "revealing" anecdotes and a casual but beautiful style. "
— Charles, 12/1/2013 -
" Great book and a remarkable perspective of such a narrow period of time. Great thesis of the birth of the modern in this short time span. "
— Bill, 11/29/2013 -
" Liked the history and it was well written. Informative "
— Cheryl, 9/13/2013 -
" I thoroughly enjoyed this walking tour through European, mostly English, culture during the Regency period and just after. "
— Sherwood, 8/11/2013 -
" 'modern' history, synergies build the modern, roads, females, napoleon, the gothic. entertaining and beyond. "
— Kevin, 7/6/2013 -
" Filled with interesting details about the period in history from 1815 to 1830. It makes it easy to see how what humans do can echo down through history and have unintended and unknown consequences. "
— Jimmy, 5/28/2013 -
" This is an utterly awesome book looking at history centered around 1815 and spanning the entire globe. It is highly entertaining, challenging, and a little frustrating in its depth and span. "
— Todd, 4/20/2013 -
" An interesting take on Europe in 1815 and the characters that shaped the coming century (up to 1914. "
— Michael, 3/29/2013 -
" A very comprehensive account of the development of British society "
— Steve, 1/23/2013 -
" Excellent cultural history. Highly recommended. "
— Avis, 12/26/2012 -
" Rather long, but very readable! I especially enjoyed the chapter about the growth of roads and transportation and its dramatic effects on the course of society. "
— Colleen, 12/9/2012 -
" I thought this was a lucid and comprehensive account of the birth of the Modern Age; Johnson makes a compelling case that the fifteen years immediately after the defeat of Napoleon laid the foundation for the world as we have known it up to now. "
— Kevin, 9/2/2012
About Paul Johnson
Paul Johnson, British author and historian, is the author of many books, including Modern Times, A History of the Jews, Intellectuals, The Birth of the Modern, and The Quest for God, which have been translated into many languages. He has been a frequent contributor to the Daily Telegraph, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Spectator, and other newspapers and magazines. He has lectured to academic, business, and political audiences all over the world.
About Wanda McCaddon
Wanda McCaddon (d. 2023) narrated well over six hundred titles for major audiobook publishers, sometimes with the pseudonym Nadia May or Donada Peters. She earned the prestigious Audio Award for best narration and numerous Earphones Awards. She was named a Golden Voice by AudioFile magazine.