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All Hell Let Loose cover art

All Hell Let Loose

By: Max Hastings
Narrated by: Cameron Stewart
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Summary

The complete magisterial history of the greatest and most terrible event in history, from one of the finest historians of the Second World War. This shows the impact of war upon hundreds of millions of people around the world - soldiers, sailors and airmen; housewives, farm workers and children.

Reflecting Max Hastings' 35 years of research on World War II, All Hell Let Loose describes the course of events but focuses chiefly upon human experience. There are vivid descriptions of the tragedies and triumphs of a host of ordinary people, in uniform and out of it, in an 'everyman's story'.

This is now the entire audiobook, not in two parts.

©2011 Max Hastings (P)2014 Audible, Inc.
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

What listeners say about All Hell Let Loose

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  • Overall
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  • MR
  • 10-09-16

40 hours long yet still felt too short.

A balanced and unbiased look at the second world war from the perspective of not only the military and political leaders of the time but if the normal everyday people that experienced the horror of war themselves.

This is a book that I can see myself revisiting time and time again.

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35 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Dr
  • 23-12-12

Gripping Fascinating, Illuminating

This has been in my library for some time but I have only just got around to listening to it - why I can't imagine!

I was a child during the war and experienced some bombing, rationing and so on but it was all quite exciting and I had no idea how close we came to losing, how ill prepared and ill equipped we were or how much of the propaganda was far from accurate and designed, reasonably effectively as far as I can recall, to keep up our spirits.. The book is rich in quotations from indiviuals involved which bring home the sheer scale of the misery experienced by millions and from which I, secure in my Devon village for much of the time, was largely protected.I very strongly recommend this to anyone, who like me , lived through the war, but also for a younger generation who I find are woefully ignorant about it - why it occurred, how it progressed and , above all, how the outcome could have been very different had better decision been made, especially by Hitler. I shudder to think what our lives would be like today had he won. This excellent book makes it very clear that a German victory was a distinct possibility. With the aid of hindsight, and Max Hastings's insight, some of Hitler's decisions beggar belief - Thank God!

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33 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A superb history of the second world war

This is a very long book, but I was gripped throughout by the fast-paced narrative that illuminated the horrors of war and the extraordinary heroism of the men and women who put up with unspeakable conditions in all the theatres of war. The basic details of the war are well-known but where this book excels is in combining the global/national facts with extensive material from letters and diaries that more than anything evoke what it was really like on the ground, in the air, and on and under the seas.

This is no jingoistic telling of WWII from the British perspective. The failings, mistakes and barbarities of all the protagonists are revealed, often with hindsight as the author acknowledges.

It’s not a book to be ‘enjoyed’ as the sheer number of people killed was enormous and the devastation of parts of the world catastrophic for many years after the war, however I finished the book feeling humbled by what the generation before mine had endured.

It’s a salutary reminder that megalomaniacs, such as Hitler and Stalin, can galvanise such monumental horrors in the 20th century and depressing that people are still enduring these tyrants and horrors on Europe’s doorstep.

The narrator is superb.

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32 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Stunning audio

I also have the hardback version of this and initially hesitated buying the audio, but I am glad that I did. It is superbly read by Cameron Stewart. I have listened to each day as I walk to and from work. Loosing track of what you have listened to can be a problem with some of the larger history books, but not in this case. It is entirely memorable. The detail is superb and there is a wealth of little known detail through out. I am looking forward to listening to part 2.

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31 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Poor value

I have enjoyed this as it's entertaining and superbly narrated - but I have to say i'm disappointed at the pricing of this book in terms of needing two credits. Other quality WW2 history books have a similar listening time and remain at one credit. For example the fairly recent 'The Storm of War - Andrew Roberts' (a slightly better book in my opinion)

My most recent purchase is 'The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich - W. Shirer' This runs to fifty seven hours of listening for one credit, compared to the fourteen hours for part one of this.

Not great value when other comparable (and better) books are cheaper.

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23 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Kaleidoscopic first person history

Hastings uses first person experiences to illustrate a consistently independent and thought provoking analysis of the war. I wasn't sure about this purchase because it seemed hard to believe that there was anything original or new to say but it's a pleasure to report that I grossly underestimated Hastings' ability to create something that's both gripping and touching. First hand accounts culled from combatants' letters home often conclude with a post-script that the letter was recovered from the writer's body shortly afterwards and over time we begin to get a sense of the human tragedy behind the casualty figures. The work required to produce such a clear account from such a large body of material must have been enormous and while I'd prefer to get both volumes for a single credit I didn't feel short-changed in terms of the duration of each volume or the quality of the writing.

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12 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Awesome in detail and refreshing in perspective.

I thought I knew a great deal already but this book taught me more. Particular credit for the real life stories included. Only downside is the audio at times alters in tone due to recording inconsistency.
Highly recommended

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11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • R
  • 07-01-14

Placing events in context

If you could sum up All Hell Let Loose, Volume 1 in three words, what would they be?

Very well written

What was one of the most memorable moments of All Hell Let Loose, Volume 1?

The attitude of the English towards the locals in the far east.

What does Cameron Stewart bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

A great story teller he puts you right into the book.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Yes it made me re-think those events at the start of the war which we held as true

Any additional comments?

Max Hastings has again provide a very thought provoking documentary piece by using the thought and recollections of people across the whole spectrum of society and from both sides.

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11 people found this helpful

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You think you know the WWII history!

Fills in the lesser known facts. Provides a 360° view covering the non Anglo-Saxon viewpoint.

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10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Mr
  • 19-06-12

Bluntly put!

. it takes out all the we won the war an replaces with some facts- History usually is written by the victors for the victors.. this work writes it as it is.. success and failure- Just a point.. the issues are a bit mixed up, there are 4 books, Book one Vol 1 & 2. and book 2 vol 1 & 2.. but whoever put it on here has got Vol 2 somewhat muddled up and calls them Vol 2 pt 2 and Vol 2 pt 3...- ?Just check it before you listen..- Well worth the money.

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10 people found this helpful