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The Origins of the Second World War Audiobook
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From influential British historian A. J. P. Taylor comes the audio edition of The Origins of the Second World War. Controversial for its thesis that Hitler was an opportunist with no thorough plan, The Origins of the Second World War is an extensive exploration of the international politics and foreign policy that led up to the one of the bloodiest conflicts of the twentieth century.
Originally published in 1961, The Origins of the Second World War is a classic of modern history. A. J. P. Taylor’s years of research helped change the long-accepted view that Adolf Hitler had wanted and planned in detail for a war. With clear and relatable prose, Taylor articulately depicts the diplomatic mistakes from both the Allied and Axis powers that led to the outbreak of World War II.
A groundbreaking work, The Origins of the Second World War “is an almost faultless masterpiece, perfectly proportioned, perfectly controlled” (London Observer).
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"A revolutionary piece of work that offended and continues to offend the feeble minded, will require reading several times to truly appreciate it"
— Mustache (5 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“This is an almost faultless masterpiece.”
— Observer (London) -
“A masterpiece: lucid, compassionate, beautifully written.”
— New Statesman -
“Powerfully argued, brilliantly written, and always persuasive.”
— World Politics -
“The first major English ‘revisionist’ study of the background of the Second World War…a pleasure to read: concise…crackling with paradox and epigram.”
— St. Louis Globe Democrat
The Origins of the Second World War Listener Reviews
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John Welch, 10/17/2025
About A. J. P. Taylor
A. J. P. Taylor (1906–1990), born in Lancashire, studied at Oriel College, Oxford. From 1953 he was a lecturer in international history at Oxford, also enjoying a successful career as a broadcaster. Taylor’s many books include The Struggle for Mastery in Europe 1848-1918 and English History 1914-1945.
About Nigel Patterson
Nigel Patterson, British audiobook narrator and AudioFile Earphones Award winner, has many credits as a stage, screen, and voiceover actor that influence his powerful characterization across a broad range of genres. A graduate of the University of Oxford, he is fluent in French and Spanish.