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The first volume of a ground-breaking and truly global trilogy on the Second World War, from an exciting, prize-winning academic.

Between 1931 and 1949, a series of crises broke out that threatened collective security, world order and the internal cohesion of states across the globe. At the heart of these crises was a world war that shook the foundations of global power, a watershed moment in the history of the Twentieth Century. Collapse is the first volume of an authoritative trilogy that tells the story of the Second World War through this international lens, covering theatres of war in multiple continents and analysing worldwide trends.

Through exciting new sources in 14 languages and from over 50 archives across the world, Professor Jonathan Fennell examines the first part of this "long war", from 1931-1942, and explores what it really meant to live through this violent time. Using an innovative approach which explores the personal alongside the political, the global alongside the local, he shows how a world that many considered civilised collapsed into barbarity.

Through immersive storytelling and a cast of characters, from 'bands of brothers' to 'sisters in arms' and 'warwoven lovers', Collapse links the home and battle fronts and ties together the stories of great campaigns with the dramatic political and social changes of the Twentieth Century, and in doing so, transforms our understanding of this monumental conflict.

'An incredible story . . . absolutely recommend it' Al Murray, on Fighting the People's War

© Jonathan Fennell 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026